Day 7 and 8

Day 7 - Brisk nigh, cool, overcast morning. Tent very wet with a lot of dew, but no sun until I'm leaving. Hot, barren hike across flats. Have to cross a number of hidden washes, some15 feet deep. Find a stockpond with water close to highway, and an old ranch that is just barely hidden from the highway. Looks deserted, but also looks like a set from a horror movie, so I avoid it. Cross highway (get some weird looks), then tracks, then hop a fence. More wasteland hiking for a bit, then I'm, back to the river, mile or so up from Woodside. Eat lunch. Hiking gets harder - some bushwhacking, some in and out of gullies above the river, a little scrambling. Finally make it to Summerville Wash. Spot 2 antelope watching me on a ridge. Find a campsite under an enormous cottonwood. Nice shade and river access, but heavy impact from cows and a lot of ants. Get water - river back to normal dirtiness. Two military helicopters fly over very low, low enough I can see the pilots. Climb hill and take pictures, gash foot. Lots of storm clouds roll by to the west, but all I get is a lot of wind. Wind finally dies down just before 7.

Disaster!! Go to make dinner just after 7 and my stove is broken and DEAD. Very, very pissed off. End up having power bars and jerky for dinner, stay up a little late reading, go to bed after 10.

Day 8 - Power bars and jerky again for breakfast. Woken up about 4 by a bunch of howling coyotes. Get up, pack up, head back for Woodside. Very warm morning. Back to Woodside just before noon (2 hours), sit by side of road across from the gas station. A few people stop and I ask to use cell phones, but none work. An old couple says they will call from Green River for me when they get reception. My mom shows up just after 2, and home by 3.