Day 97 - The Heatwave Continues

Mile 1562.4 to Mile 1588.3 - 25.9 miles

It's been hot. Over 40 degrees yesterday & in the high 30s today with the heatwave forecast to continue for 2/3 days. It's a case of finding shade when you can and avoiding exposed climbs from 1.30 pm onwards - not always that easy to plan. Having said that, we had a few climbs today...1200 feet in the morning, 1500 feet at 12.30 pm & one to finish us off at days end...600 feet over less than a mile.
The day was spent in the Scott Mountains & Salmon Mountains that afforded us the best views we have had for a while. I spent most of the day walking with Poppy. After traversing south and west all morning, this is what north looks like

....from this point we headed...south.....sigh.
The snowy mountains I had seen to the south two days ago....were now not that far away

But after midday my shadow suddenly had me pointing north & it remained that way for the afternoon. In the Salmon Mountains we had trail through rocky sections

and an impressive outcrop of rocks for the last climb (one looking like Scooby Doo)

One of the characters out here is Ooftah from Minnesota who is wearing shoes that have lasted 1600 miles

No tread. No mesh. Bits falling off but still going strong (sort of) - good on you Salomon.
At days end I had a lovely Swiss couple and a North Carolina lass, Pop Tart, for company.
Pop Tart is on a warm up hike. She is having a crack at the unsupported southbound record of 59 days - starting 8th August with an average 45 miles a day (with a pack on her back). She did the PCT last year and had done the Appalachian Trail so knows her stuff. We wish her all the best in what is a tough ask....Weta