Mile 40.8 to Mile 54.9
We’re starting to find the rhythm of this trail now. Rather than focusing as much on daily mileage, we are just aiming for one pass per day during this first half of the trail. It seems to be ideal to camp near the bottom of the the large climbs so that we start the day with then when it is cool. This saves the downhill portion for the afternoon when it is much warmer.
This also means that we are camping in lower areas with trees for some protection from the wind. We typically avoid established campsites, and instead walk a little way off trail to find a good spot. We look for a location that is flat, level, and safe. Here in this area, we also need a durable surface to avoid damage to sensitive vegetation. We want to avoid areas prone to flooding or hazards like falling trees/rocks, etc.
One fun aspect of this trip is watching Rocket begin to take more responsibility for their own hike. This is the first time I’m starting to feel like they would be fine if I wasn’t here. That seems like a fairly significant milestone. It’s the goal of parenting in general, I guess, but it is intriguing to watch it play out in real time in such a tangible way.
Making good decisions about where to pitch their tent is a good example of this. Rocket is developing good instincts about where to look and what to avoid — a skill that I hope will translate beyond the woods to other, more consequential, areas of life.
RocketWalk 