The Sound of Silence

I walk alone

Today was the first day I saw absolutely nobody on trail. Not even someone in a car on one of the dirt roads.

I listened to music most of the day. I thought about almost nothing. I wasn't anxious because I knew there was a hiker somewhere a few hours in front of me, from their footprints.

It was peaceful.

I did almost cry when the song Only Time by Enya came on. It made me think back to the time when I had Outlaw and the other NoBo hikers I often ran into. Time went by so fast.

And now i'm here. In silence. No one to speak a word to. Walking through the desert.

In the trail register near the abandoned Chimney Peak Campground I'm at tonight, a hiker wrote "I've been hiking alone for 3 days...I'm getting lonely."

I've enjoyed the silence of today but I am hoping I fall into pace with one of the 3 hikers right in front of me or one of the 6 right behind. 

I've accomplished my goal of being able to camp alone in the wilderness, but I still don't enjoy it for more than a night or two...