Mile 1605, Day 90
Up until four days ago I only had four full zeros for the whole trip. I now have eight. About a week ago (maybe more or less, my concept of time is a little off) I started experiencing some ankle pain that has still not been clearly identified. I kept walking on it for a few days until maybe the third or fourth day when it got really painful. I got to a town and took a night of then tried to hike again the next day, but was not a happy camper. So I went back down the hill, and decided I was going to skip the 100 miles between Mount Shasta and Etna and stay in Etna for the amount of time it would have taken me to walk that distance. So here I am, doubling my zeros and being the laziest I have ever been in my life. I’m not sure what is wrong with my ankle. It could be a low shin splint, at worst I may have a small fracture, but I’m hoping its just some soreness that can be rested and gently walked off.
I did have an awesome hitch up here! I hitched up I-5 and then another highway to get to Etna. I was hitching to the town of Dunsmuir with two other hikers when a guy in a little black Mazda Miata pulled over to talk to us about what we were doing. After a few minutes I asked him if he’d be willing to give us a ride, and he agreed! In his two seater shiny little sports car he shuttled me and the others to town then joined us for breakfast. Afterward he offered to drive me as far as I needed up I-5. So me, looking like hiker trash, got an incredible hitch in a fancy little sports car. Life is good, and hitching has been fun!
The hiker hut in Etna, with showers, laundry, beds, loaner clothes, a fridge, and a tv. Everything a hiker could want for his or her day off!
Hiker weigh in! All the guys have lost weight since the border, the ladies have maintained.
Mike and his Mazda Miata!
The Long Walk 