Day 135, August 30: Mile 2317 to 2341

• Start: Mile 2316.7

• End: Mile 2340.5

• Miles: 23.8

• Ascent: 4091 | Descent: 3957

Today felt harder than I expected. There weren’t any singularly huge climbs, but rather many small to medium sized climbs that mentally and literally added up during the day. Plus, it was very hot and the heat took much more out of me than I expected. I dealt with terrible chafe everywhere and wooziness to the point of having to find shade to sit in immediately. Luckily, the views today and some special moments made it feel worth it:

• I woke up in the pre-dawn hours to get a head start on the mileage for the day, and got to see Mount Rainier in all its glory as the sun began to cast a soft pink light on its crown.

• I passed the serene, pine-encircled Dewey Lake, and enjoyed a few quiet moments to myself on its shore.

• I caught glimpses of the now far-off Mount Adams and Goat Rocks Wilderness to the south as I ascended past the also gorgeous Sheep Lake.

Other than enjoying the scenery and company of my friends, it was a pretty standard day of hiking. Everything hurt, I thought endlessly about real world comforts and how I can’t wait for this journey to be over, and how I don’t want it to end. It’s crazy to think I only have about two weeks left.