August 16

End: near an unmarked spring
Daily: 25.7
Total: 1694.2

Lily Pad Lake

Today was cow patty day. Seriously, almost every water source we came to was contaminated with cow crap. We've gotten so used to our crystal clear springs that we expect good water at every source. But there were cow prints and patties everywhere today, and for the last half of the day we walked to the rhythm of the cowbells all around us. Who needs an Ipod?

We passed up one good spring because we knew there was water everywhere, and then the next 3 water sources were contaminated, so we took water from one of them and treated it twice, but I still didn't drink it. I went 8 miles without drinking anything but a couple of sips from Chris's camelback that he had leftover. By the time we got to this spring (which comes directly out from under a tree and is GUSHING, thank God), we drank and drank and drank.

Waking up on the ridge this morning was a little disorienting, in a kind of awesome way. It's just not every day you wake up to a 3,000 foot drop on one side, roll over and see another 2,000 foot drop on the other side. I'm glad that ridge was not a foot thinner.

We also woke up to Cinnamon Toasters cereal and powdered milk. Oh man! Why haven't we been doing this more? In Washington, we're going to have to buy cereal that goes well with huckleberries.

We didn't see anyone else today, which is awesome. I hope it switches back and forth, but for now I'm happy for the solitude.

We'll be in Oregon tomorrow morning. I think it's all a giant lie and California never ends. How could it? It's so long! I'm reminded of Hotel California.