First shaky stepsMay 27 2017

This desert is getting old

May282017
Map thumbnail of location

I'm sick of the desert

I'll probably regret saying this soon enough, but I think I'm ready for this desert to be over. Specifically, I'm getting tired of:

  1. Always having to think about where the next water source is.
  2. Drinking out of sketchy water sources like cow troughs.
  3. Having a heavy bag because I need to carry up to 8 liters of water.
  4. Constantly picking burrs out of my socks because everything out here has thorns.
  5. Sweating from 5:30am until 9:30pm.

It's not all bad, though!

Just to clarify though: this is still a great time! And the desert is surprisingly vibrant and just teeming with life!

I love that the scenery is constantly changing. For example, you'll be walking through high desert chaparral, and then all of the sudden find yourself in an oak or pine forest, like this:

Unexpected!Unexpected!

Or a grove of Joshua trees:

So alienSo alien

But don't forget to look down, because the prickly pear cacti are still blooming:

I thought I'd left these guys behind long ago!I thought I'd left these guys behind long ago!

Plus, night hiking means I get to see spectacular sunrises and sunsets, so there's that, I guess.

Like this sunset.Like this sunset.
Peanut's first thirty!May 29 2017