Audiobooks Fuel Me Thru The Trail Blues

August 17, 2025

Mile 10.4-30.7 of Collegiate West (20.3 miles)

We had a hard time getting up this morning and weren't on trail until 8:30.

I felt good to start and Henry didn't. We had to sit down repeatedly for him to take a break. Then negative thoughts started flooding my mind of issues my family has been having with their health, I thought about Sawyer and missed him terribly. As these thoughts cycled through my head mile after mile all of a sudden I'd talked myself into feeling stupid for being out here and for "wasting my money". I felt homesick and like I'd made some sort of mistake. The sickness, weakness and my period were really taking a toll on my emotions.

The views today were the best yet but it was hard for me to soak them in and enjoy them. I listened to my audiobook City of Girls all day long to distract myself. I did feel better climbing today than I did yesterday at least. I took a caffeine capsule after our first ascent and we made better time than we had in the morning. I saw a big mule deer buck who laid down and gazed at me unfazed.

I cried on todays climb just like yesterdays. For us to make it to the end of the trail in time for our family vacation out west we have to do twenties with no zeroes thanks to all of our days off because of my giardia. It just felt impossible earlier.

The big almost full moon just rose behind the tent. It feels like an old friend, a sister and she makes me happier.