My night wasn’t great for several reasons. First there was a cat, that tried very consistently to convince it’s owner to open the door to their RV. But the owner didn’t listen and the cat didn’t stop meowing. Then there were air conditioning units switching on and off, traffic going by and (of course) snoring fellow hikers. All in all a night much louder then on trail
As I decided to not go back on trail, I sleep in until 8:30h. By the time I leave my tent most of the hikers are gone. Still ab bit sleepy I go the the restaurant for breakfast, which was very delicious.
After breakfast I make some calls home. Unfortunately the Wi-Fi gets worse the more hikers find their way to the campground.
Because my ankle didn’t improve yesterday, I had decided to stay in town today, to give my feet some time to rest. After my calls I get some Epsom salt from the camp hosts and a bucked and I soak my right foot in it.
While I soak my foot, I talk with some other hikers, that just arrived. We share some trail stories and beer. Before the restaurant closes, which is at 2 p.m., I go and get some lunch.
After lunch I buy some resupplies for the trail at the local store. It’s a relatively small store, but it is very well set-up for hikers. I also get another bag of ice for my ankle.
During the evening we hikers talk a lot and have a few beers. While I am cooling my ankle, I am deciding that I will be going back on trail tomorrow as I don’t have pain. Neither when walking nor when moving my foot around. So it can’t be that bad, right?
Later that evening, I start preparing for an early departure tomorrow. It is supposed to be very hot again, so starting early makes it a bit easier. At around 8:30 p.m. I am in my tent and try to sleep.
Day 12
My fellow hikers, who want to do the same route then me, already start hiking at 6 a.m. I wake up at that time and prepare my departure and I am able to start hiking at 7:15 a.m., which is one of my earliest starts so far.
I decided to take the alternate routing out of Seiad Valley. The official trail is very steep and also exposed on a mountain ridge. Most hikers take the official route. The alternate route is unfortunately entirely a road walk. But therefore it is with shade and also two waterfalls. Also the elevation is constant but gradual and not so steep up and downs as the official routing.
After seven miles I make a rest at a creek, get some water, take off my shoes and socks and make a little nap in the shade. After a few snacks and one hour later I am back ascending the road.
A car drives by and the people in there ask me, if I would like a ride up to the point where the trail meets the road. I refuse that kind offer. While I’m not waling the official route, I want to make without help.
The higher I get the more the trees pull back and the more I have to walk in the sun. At around 1 p.m. I make it to the waterfalls. I would have expected them to be bigger. The second one isn’t even a waterfall at all in my opinion. But there is shade again and my goal for today isn’t far anymore.
With a lot of time to spare, I take another break while nearly sitting on the dirt road itself. Once I am sitting and eating, I am feeling tired again and I lay down for a short nap. Luckily no car comes by. But I would have heard it coming.
At around a quarter to three I arrive at my goal for today. There are already some other hikers around but most of them just go to the nearby spring to get some water and continue on the trail.
After a short break, I set up my tent and have dinner. Today was strenuous but my ankle is doing well. At least the swelling went back and I also didn’t have any pain. In my opinion, that’s a good sign.
The mountain ridge, where the official route goes along 
