Day 14

(Stud) Strawberry Cienaga to Snow Canyon: 24 miles. Today was a loooonnggg day. We started hiking around 6:30am and didn't get finished until around 8:15 pm--a schedule largely dictated by water--which was only available 4.5 miles in, then not again for 20 miles. Up until noon we were hiking in the old growth pine--it was beautiful. After lunch we started the descent into Snow Canyon--a dry, open, hot area consisting mostly of rocks, dirt and dead grass. Dwight likened the difference in the two environs to working in the exective suite vs. the trenches. In the executive suite it is air conditioned(cool temperature), well appointed (old growth pines) and has nice carpeting (pine needle covered trail). In the trenches it is hot, dusty, god forsaken.

All told, we lost about 6500 feet in elevation.

Leslie is sleeping cowboy style for the first time tonite. She was too pooped to put up her tent. It's a great night for it: lots of stars in a clear sky and our warmest night on the trail so far.