QUELLE JOURNEE!

This was the first time I slept in a primitive campground. It was not a certified site, and there were no amenities. I was immersed in a forest somewhere in the middle of Idaho. Regardless, I still managed to get some shut-eye. Sleep was decent, and I was before the sun. Before hitting the road, I ate an RX bar and used my lifestraw to slurp from the nearby stream. My rations were low, and my water supply was not plentiful either. I had no choice but to keep moving. 

One negative about beating the sun is that the previous day's laundry is not dry yet. My shoes were still soaked, but there was no other option. Even with my sweatshirt equipped, the morning was freezing cold. As the sun slowly rose, shining spots became my sanctuary. It was a humorous turn of events. Usually, I seek shade as my solace, but not this morning. The sun was warming and energizing. After some seventeen miles, I found my turn-off point. I paused to finish off that can of spam and to drink from the river. Now, officially out of purified water, I filled my bottles with river water. Who knows when I will see water again? 

My new route was reckless and much more intense. It was full of ferocious rocks, uneven pathing, deep white sand, and erosion from river overflow. These obstacles were not enough, so let us add an endless incline as well. After the first three miles of straight climb, I yelled to the heavens, is that all you fucking got!? I was hurting badly, and it was not even halfway to the summit. Little did I know that I had to climb an entire fucking mountain today. After about five more miles of pure pain and torture, I made it to the peak. Undoubtedly that was the hardest climb of my life. I refueled with my last granola bar and slurped from the lifestraw. 

Naturally, I was rewarded with some downhill, which was greatly appreciated. Rocky Bar was the first town I encountered since Boise. That is, if you can even call it a town. It was practically abandoned, with a population of only three residents. This old mining town was a helpful history lesson, but there was no espresso here for me. Needing energy badly, I kept moving. Eight miles later, I arrived in the small township of Featherville. It did not take long for me to successfully seek out their local cafe. My order was a chicken sandwich, a grilled cheese sandwich, fries, cottage cheese, salad, coffee, and a beer. This chow down was gluttony at its finest. 

After stuffing myself, I still had four miles to my campsite. The treacherous trail ended when I hit Featherville. It was pure pavement to Paradise Hot Springs. After registering with the front office, I hastily unpacked my camp. This huge hot spring was abandoned. Once again, by pure happenstance, I had an amazing thing all to myself. My body thanked me as I soaked it in that sizzling water. The evening was dedicated to finishing my TEFL final project and relaxing in that warming water. Tomorrow is my one-month anniversary of homelessness. Check out my climb here. Only 5,220 feet of elevation gain.