The Salt Path

Raynor and Moth stay with Moth’s friend as they prepare. They participate in a “healing” experience in which the curator lights an unnamed drug while the participants silently meditate. Moth falls asleep and has trouble moving when he wakes up. It takes two weeks before he recovers from the experience and they can set out. On the bus to the trailhead, they meet a loud American couple who are dubious about Moth and Raynor’s plan. The Americans are also hiking but using a service to transfer their packs between accommodations. When they arrive at the beginning of the path, Raynor and Moth discover that their guidebook has understated how rugged the start of the trail will be. A family passes them, bemused by their plans. They struggle to find a place to camp. They pitch the tent but worry that it will rip.

Raynor struggles to sleep in the tent, which is poorly insulated. She gets out to pee early in the morning and is greeted by dog walkers. Moth sleeps late and tends to be sluggish in the mornings, so it is late when they break camp. Raynor has a lot of aches and an enormous blister on her foot.