April 4, 2007

I began my hike today because it's my sister's birthday.  Cheryl would have turned 54.  I will celebrate her life with every step.  My husband, Bruce, known as Manbug to my hiker friends, drove Murph and me to the trailhead in Campo, Mexico.  I stopped by the Border Patrol to check-in and I also changed into cooler clothes.  It was going to be a hot one.  After a brief photo opportunity at the PCT monument and good-bye affections with Manbug, I set off carrying a 50 pound pack.

My hike was spent catching up with Murph and getting accustomed to my new appendage.  We hiked 11.8 miles before deciding jointly to camp.  I had camped at this site last year and fell asleep without even eating.  This year, I cooked a Mountain House Pro Pac dinner which was delicious! Murph told me a creepy cop story from his days as a sheriff.

I was just getting snug and ready to doze off when a herd of illegal aliens stormed past our campsite.  I knew that this area had illegal activity...drug smuggling and such...so I became concerned.  I asked Murph if he was scared and he said, "Yes".  So it was day one of my hike and I was camping with a retired sheriff who shared my fear.  Damn.  We kept quiet and Murph fell asleep.  I hid in my sleeping bag paralyzed with fear as two more large herds of illegals sneak into our country.  For the duration of the night, I hid in my sleeping bag with my ears perked.  I slept a total of one hour before a fourth very large group of aliens stormed by.  The leader of the group walked up to Murph's tent and peeked inside.  I hid so that I couldn't be seen.  I am guessing approximately 50 illegal aliens passed my campsite.  It was a full moon.