Day 3
Starting location: Buffalo Creek
Ending location: North Fork of Lost Creek
Distance: 13.5 miles
Elevation gained: 3200 ft
Photo: camped above the clouds
1 word summary of the day: UPHILL

Lots of elevation gain today! The trail started climbing up pretty much as soon as Brandon and I had left camp, and didn't really stop climbing up for almost 13 miles! It was a bit of a slog at times, especially as I was feeling a little tired after the first two days, and once again it was hot with no water sources along the way which meant that I had to carry almost 10 lbs of water with me :-(. Good thing that I had lightened up my pack weight before the trip; bad thing that essentially I judged added back that weight with water.

About halfway through the day it started to sprinkle a little, which was actually kind of refreshing! But then the sprinkle turned to rain with accompanying thunder, and I ended up walking in the rain for the next 4 hours.

Met some more people on the trail today - Crystal, Larkin and Boscoe the rescue dog, along with Cynthia (all of whom are from Colorado). Oh and I also briefly ran into the older couple who are hiking with their dog and two llamas (to carry their gear) but apparently it had been a bad day for one of the llamas who rebelled at one point and then was walking very slowly after that.

I got into camp a couple of hours ago, threw up the tent quickly (it was still raining) and then changed into some dry clothes to warm up (I was finally cold!). Still couldn't get warm so jumped in the sleeping bag for a mid-afternoon nap. Love the hiking lifestyle when you can nap in the middle of the day and not feel guilty!

Looks like it may stop raining soon and I can make a break for dinner and dry some gear out. Tomorrow should be less uphill climbing, which will be a good break - like to switch things up!