August 9

Today was a weird day. I was dropped off at my trailhead and was walking by 8:30 am. I met a few more nobo hikers, most of which seemed still in love with the trail. However, they all seemed a little eager to find a quick place to camp for the night. This was something I couldn't understand, but it all eventually became very clear as to why they were all acting in such a way. I had been hiking all day in the valleys and on the north side of Mt. Jefferson with the southern sky completely hidden from my view. As I neared the top of a ridge that furthered my southern view I saw what had the nobos so completely ready to take cover. I wasn't quite to the top of the ridge, so I couldn't see the extent of the storm coming my way. Thinking it might be a little shower from a cloudburst I set my pack against a tree and went to attend to nature's calling. I was in the most vulnerable of positions when the sky opened up with hailstones. I hurried the process as quickly as I could and set up my tarp and dove inside for cover. What came next was the most brilliant thunderstorm I've been in. Lighting hitting trees atop the ridge I was making myself up to, and thunder so loud it vibrated echoes in my body. Being so exhausted from the late night before I fell fast asleep at 5 pm and woke up at 9:30 pm in the dark. To make up my miles I'm going for a 3 am wake up call and try to make if to my resupply at Big Lake Youth Camp.