Wednesday 3/21 – Mile 0-11 (total 13)

We packed our packs, got 2L water each from a spigot at the store and headed down to the start of the trail, a two mile walk (“bonus miles”).

We met a handful of other hikers starting that day including Swede, Captain Awesome, Long Stride, and Bible, all of whom had trail names from previous thru-hikes on the Appalachian Trail (AT) or other hiking trips. We were simply Marcel and Elise from Houston.

Southern Terminus Monument

Group photo at the southern terminus.

Not too much to say about the first day. We walked and walked and walked. There were lots of lizards and bees were busy pollinating the trees in bloom. We did see our first rattler thanks to Bible writing “SNAKE” in the dirt just before we heard the rattle. That was pretty neat, and it was a lot more orange than I thought it would be. We took a break around mile 4.2 at a seasonal stream to fill up six liters each (13 lbs of water per person!) and soak our feet. We continued to march until it got dark and we were exhausted. We camped around mile 11 just before a marked campsite that was already occupied by two tents. The unmarked site we were at had plenty of space and was only occupied by a two large black beetles, the first of many to greet us along the trail. Dinner was rehydrated and we shooed away a curious mouse.

Obligatory 1 mile mark photo.

A dessert loofah?

3 mile mark at the railroad tracks

Soaking our feet then collecting 6 liters of foot water.

Bumbler on a manzanita.

Much like my sister and myself, this beetle sticks it’s butt in the air in self-defense.

Backpacking gear and backpacker laid out.