After a relaxing morning, we headed to Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness a few hours North. I had planned on going to another wilderness area near where I stopped for the night last night, however decided to take it off the list and just head to De-Na-Zin. This is BLM land in an area surrounded by the Navajo people. In the last hour or less of my drive, I saw two dogs laying dead on the road, a sad sight, that makes five dead dogs on the road I have seen on this trip. The side-road to De-na-zin was well marked, with signs every few miles. There was one other car at the trailhead, I was almost surprised to see it as we were so in the middle of nowhere by this point. I put my supplies in my pack and headed out, writing my name and details in the trail registry to be on the safe side. It was a beautiful, quiet walk, I loved how I could just enjoy this place to myself, that is, until 3 guys a little older than me appeared a little ways off, I kept walking, ignoring them, trying to think of them as wonderful, kind young men like my brothers and not potential threats. They left and I started to panic about them breaking in to my car, 3 young guys, in an impoverished area knowing I wouldn’t be back for awhile, yes, I am quick to jump to the worst scenarios even with the rational part of me telling me they were probably great people. Only 30 minutes or so in to my hike, stressed by my troubling thoughts and not wanting to go very far in this basically trail-less wilderness, I turned back and soon realized I was lost. Panic mounted as I walked in the general direction that I had come from, I went over the supplies I had in my pack and what would help me find my car if I just ended up wandering through the endless fields. I considered how close range I’d have to be for my car alarm to go off to guide me to my vehicle, maybe those 3 guys would turn up and end up helping me, how ironic would that be. Each hill I climbed I looked desperately for a sign of my car. During all of this, Luna was having an absolute blast, she was running around sniffing, doing zoomies and smiling like a loony. I arrived at the top of one hill to find a valley that I had never seen before, cueing the hyperventilating. After some scouting, I turned left and ended up in terrain that looked more familiar. Finally, I reached the top of another hill to see the roof of my Lexus just across the field and a slight path to get to it, I was so relieved. I think I'm done with solo wilderness walks for awhile! Upon returning to my car at 3:30, I began setting it up for night, then settled in to read and stress-eat the rest of the afternoon away. Since this is BLM land, I can camp here free, there is just no water or outhouse. Tonight is supposed to be -6 degrees Celsius, I am not looking forward to it in the slightest. I have my long johns on, a jacket, a toque, warm socks and two sleeping bags, one I am in, one to cover Luna and I, I really hope it will be enough to have a somewhat comfortable night! I have set Luna’s bed right beside my head rather than where it was by my feet so I can more easily check how warm she is and cover her up after she moves around and uncovers herself. 
Apparently I was not at all focused when I took this picture, I chopped off the bottom of this heart shaped rock!
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