The Floppy Leg and The Aqua-Lizards

Day 50

PCT Mile Marker 1597.24 – 1611.58

Miles Hiked 14.34

One more breakfast at Bob’s Restaurant in the morning. Turtle and two other hikers went with me.

I took it easy on the coffee.

I packed up and headed out. Down the road I went, my thumb on the ready for any passing cars. About ten passed me without stopping, and then…

Tah-Dahhhh! A black pickup stopped! They said I could jump in the bed of the truck and they’d give me a ride.  

The wife leaped out of the passenger’s side just as I was letting down the tailgate. The husband leaped out of the driver’s seat. The tailgate opened all the way. They both started apologizing.  

And I saw what was in the back of the truck.

And it all happened at the same time.

“Oh My God – The Rabbit!” She Said.

“Sorry about The Rabbit!” He said.

A huge, dead jackrabbit was in the back of the truck. Skinned.

The husband jumped into the bed. “Yeah that’s really gross. Sorry. I’ll just move it over here.” He picked up the carcass and moved it to the other side of the bed, leaving a big bloody spot where it once was. Now there were two areas to avoid.

“It was for a skinning experiment,” the woman said. Lamely. And then got back in the truck.

I tucked myself and my pack as close to the cab as I could.

The truck took the hairpin turns, winding back up to the trail. I stared at the poor dead rabbit. His leg flopped over when we turned right. Then it flopped back when we turned left.  

I stared at the blood spot.

I tried to make myself stare at the scenery instead, but nope. Ten miles of watching that leg move and hoping the whole thing wouldn’t roll toward me.

I got out of the truck amidst more apologies. I thanked them for the ride and told them it was a series of firsts for me:

First time I actually used my thumb for hitchhiking.

First time since I was really young that I rode in the back of a pickup on a public road.

First time I have seen a skinned rabbit.

I headed back out to the wilderness and came across three gigantic piles of rocks neatly piled next to the trail. I wasn’t sure why they were there, but I picked up a rock and added it to a pile. Seemed like maybe it was a ‘thing’.

Trees in the forest were snapped in such a way that the trunks were splintered. Long, perfect splinters.  

Fresh Toothpicks For Giants.

My campsite was high and cold and windy. A million dollar view with the nearly-full moon over Marten Lake on one side and a canyon dropping away on the other, showcasing range after range of mountains. 

I went down to the lake to filter some water, and found little lizards in the water. With eel tails. And four feet with little hands that grabbed grasses and pushed off for a swim. They dove and were sweet and graceful. Black on top with maybe another color on their bellies? Is that what salamanders look like?

Did I find some salamanders?

I loved my little Aqua-Lizards and I watched them for a long time. They were so darling and made me laugh with every delightful little thing they did.

I ate my four servings of gluten-free cheddar broccoli soup with added black beans as the storm clouds over the valley changed from dazzling white to deep pink.

Then I ate a granola bar as the clouds turned a lighter pink.

Then I ate a package of fruit snacks as they clouds faded to night.

Then I ate three scoops of peanut butter for dessert.