I slept well during the night. It was hot but not too hot. I also started a little late, as today we had decided to walk just 12 miles to Eagles Nest Shelter. Quality water sources have been scarce on this stretch of the trail. Most of the campsites listed on FarOut are completely dry, so we will need to carry all of our water. While this is doable, it is heavy. And it’s also not ideal due to the extreme heat. Eagles Nest is reported to have running water, so that is where we will camp.
Confrontation with rattlesnakes
Around 11am, the heat started to rise. I was sweating profusely for much of the day, so drinking plenty of water and electrolytes was non-negotiable. At one point, I was drinking from my bottle when I heard a distinctive and extremely loud rattle. I couldn’t see the snake, but I immediately started running back down the trail.
It took me a second to locate it, but there was a large rattlesnake right at the edge of the trail. I had been standing right next to him. I was shocked, but to his credit, he did his best to give me fair warning. Every time I tried to walk past it, even from a distance, the noise would start again. Finally, I resigned myself to waiting and watched as it finally slid down the trail and into the brush. It was big, maybe three feet long, and I was impressed by how fast it could move.
Trail maintenance? I’ve never heard of her
With fear behind me, I spent the last few miles of the day on possibly my least favorite part of the trail yet. There were miles of tall, overgrown grass covering the trail and reaching past my knees. It seemed like I stopped every 200 feet to wipe my legs, hoping to keep the ticks away. I’m not sure who is in charge of maintaining the trail in that section, but as it exists now, it is a haven for snakes and ticks. Hikers, not so much.
Throw in the towel (sweaty)
I thought I had arrived at the shelter early, but by mid-afternoon the campsite was almost full. I guess many hikers were tired of the heat and were also hesitant to camp without water on the next dry stretch. Someone said they felt dizzy, like they were going to pass out, but they drank some fluids and are better now. The heat dome is upon us.
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