Today was a 6132 ft day. It's nice to know elevation gain so I know if all the climbs are doable for my mileage. So far, it's been consistent. I was out hiking by six but this time it was still dark. Maybe bc of all the smoke, being in the trees or summer is ending but I had to use my headlamp a bit as I was in the forest for awhile. The smoke was a bit better today but still ashes falling. I got to use my steripen a few times on clear water so that was nice. I think I'm getting the hang of it.

There was a river ford at the bottom of the hill down in a canyon. I was getting really nervous the closer I got and the louder the water was. There were a bunch of hikers sitting down on the rocks that I recognized. One of them was ying and she told me to cross downstream on this log. It wasn't as scary as it looked but I went past just fine. Everyone was having lunch there but I wanted to find a better tent site to rest. I started up the hill and did lunch on a flat spot below the trail. The rest of the afternoon was up another hill, down to some lakes and up piper pass. All of the climbs were gradual. It wasn't as bad as it seemed. After the pass, it was down down down on rocks that seemed like forever. I was trying to look for glacier lake for camp but it felt so far. I ended up taking a steep side trail down to the camp. I'm not looking fwd to climb up that in the morn. This place ended up sucking. Bugs everywhere and water was hard to get to. I should've kept walking but my legs couldn't go uphill anymore.

Had Annie's and a second dinner of ramen after. I have another two days worth of food I'm carrying. So intense. I'm worried about getting to the po tom before they close. I didn't think I'd get through this section so quick. But if my box isn't there yet, I guess I'll have to stay the night there. I can't wait to be out this smoke. The nights are getting longer. It's pitch black by eight and not light until after six. The intl ppl strolled into camp late and it's pretty loud. I'm sleepy. I want to hike out early but I don't want to do it in the dark.