Our first 50 – The Trek

Okay, maybe it doesn’t. Not when you’re sweating your face off in 30c/85f heat on the edge of a mountain with zero shade. In fact, I think time lasts doubly time. 

Okay okay okay, It’s not all that bad! But it sure is hot and definitely one of the most common complaints we hear from the kids.

We have been getting up early each day to hike before the heavy heat sets in and with this next section plan to get up even earlier. Hello 4:00 AM.

One thing at least I’m grateful for is low humidity.

Welcome to Campo 

We started off trail like lots do at CLEEF campground.  Our first night was stormy, cold, and the windiest I have ever camped in. The ground in the desert is finicky. You either have super soft sand which doesn’t hold pegs at all, or super condensed sand that needs a sledgehammer to get the peg into. We didn’t have any rocks to put over our tent since the other campers were using them, so in the middle of the night our tent flies flew up from the wind. I went outside and managed to find some water bottles to hold them down and all was good for the rest of the night. The temperature was -1c/ but all the kids slept comfy and cozy!

To be honest I much enjoy the wind as it masks the sounds of snoring. 

The next morning it was time to head out!

The weather was off and on heavy rains and then a minute later sunny. Rinse and repeat for most of the day. 

We started that day late so didn’t make it too many miles before we set up camp. We had a vision of how many miles per day we would do and realized very quickly that we needed to lessen our expectations.  It is sometimes hard seeing others with kids going faster and longer than us, but that’s just how it goes with some of our children being smaller.

 Our second day the forecast called for sunny weather all day long, but by mid day there was an unexpected hail and heavy rain storm that came up over a mountain. Because the kids got too wet and some gear, and we weren’t too far from the start, we decided to get off trail for the night. We heard later on about 30 others got off trail that day too due to the weather. The kids also developed head colds that seemed to worsen since we left so we allowed some time for them to rest and recover before heading back out. 

Since getting back on trail things have been going great. The rest did It’s job and everyone is doing so well. Despite the heat the kids have been making great gains, with my three year old covering 9 miles two days in a row and the next day 11!

Each new day we get more into the rhythm of how life will go for the next five and a half months. Packing up the tent and bags a bit quicker, maybe a bit more mileage than the day prior.

With saying everything is going great, that isn’t to say that there are zero moments where frustrations or even small temper tantrums take over. The adults we pass are hot and exhausted, so it goes without saying the children are hot and exhausted as well.

We utilize breaks OFTEN. Sometimes It’s 20 minutes and a quick sit under any amount of shade we can find, or sometimes It’s a longer rest for an hour or so to allow the body to recoup physically and mentally before starting again.

Another expectation down the drain 

The kids are dirty, no, I mean really dirty! Like some expectations stated earlier, I had some also for cleanliness. 

Washed hands, washed faces, as presentable as one could be in the backcountry. 
Well I was WRONG. Not only are we walking in dirt all day long, but come break times the kids are playing in the dirt. With showers few and far between, and lots of water unsafe for washing hands and faces, and filtered watered needing kept for drinking,  it is just something that doesn’t happen as often as I thought it would.

But they are happy. 
The dirt, the sore feet, the heat, and the long days. Despite moments of hardship, they are happy and we are loving spending this time together. I already know how hard it will be to go home. 

We are taking our first zero day today – which means no miles walked, and making plans for our next few days! Will try to update again soon! 

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