Day 114 - 8/17/12 -Nobody Actually Wants to Hike!

Contents:  Highway 140 - Snow Lakes (23.5 miles)

Today was a good day.  Mud Flap's friends, Stacy and Ben, gave us a lift back to the trail around 9:15.  As soon as we arrived at the trail, we ran into Weather Carrot and Bobcat who I hadn't met before.  It was great to meet some new folks, and they informed us that Bacon Bits and Gumbi who I'd met in Tuolumene were just ahead with Action Pack.

We had more super flat terrain today and made really good time.  Shortly after leaving the trail head, we ran into two trail angels on horses who were handing out goodies.  They were much appreciated.  We did lunch at Christi Spring which was in a brushy, manzanita-like forest.  Very cool.  We finally got a few good vistsa from a ridge late in the day. 

I'm currently camped at a small lake located about .2 miles off the trail with Smiles, Mellow, Shameless, Mud Flap, and a SOBO Section hiker.  It's overcast and there's a chance of thunderstorms, but only Mud Flap and the Section hiker bothered to set up tents.  The rest of us are crossing our fingers.  It sure is muggy though!

I'm still having fun, but I'm starting to get a little burnt out on walking.  After 1800 miles, I'm running out of things to think about.  I've tried to come up with solutions for many of the world's problems, analyzed every major life decision I've ever made, contemplated the merits and downfalls of every guy I've ever dated and given substantial thought to my future.  Kids, partners, jobs, school......you name it and I've thought about it.  I also get tired of listening to music and sometimes wish for an audio book.  The good news is that we never seem to run out of things to talk about and I learn new things about my friends every day.  Also, I think we get crazier and crazier and laugh more and more with the passage of time.  We find humor in everything out here.  Nevertheless, the miles are sometimes monotonous.

Off to bed!  We're pushing toward Crater Lake now and should arrive tomorrow or early Sunday.

Day 113 - 8/16/12 -Lake of the Woods Shenannigans

Contents:  Big Springs - Highway 140 (17.6 miles)

Remember that thing called the PCT?  I think I was hiking on it earlier today and then something went terribly awry!  One thing led to another and suddenly Mellow, Smiles, Shameless, and I were standing on the side of Highway 140 with our thumbs out.  We were about 18 miles into our day and trying to get to a very spontaneous hitch to a small community called Butte Falls.  We didn't know much about this place, but Mellow thought we could reach it via 140 and he was confident we could find a lounge there.  He'd been to Butte Falls last summer while leading a trail crew in the area.

We'd just about given up on the hitch and had said we'd wait for one more car when a guy flipped a u-ee and pulled up across from us.  This very nice gentleman informed us that we were no where near Butte Falls but that there was a resort called Lake of the Woods nearby and he was happy to give us a lift.  We couldn't believe our luck!  Our friend, Mud Flap, had been planning to head into Lake of the Woods via an alternate trail earlier today.  We had declined his invitation to join but could now meet up with him.

Needless to say, the hitch was fantastic.  Our chauffeur was a doctor named Joel who had removed three uteruses today and was on his way to volunteer at a triathlon in the area.  On top of all this, he refused to let us out of his car without making us take $40 to spend on dinner.  What a guy!  It was truly magical.  We even have his phone number in case we need to ride back to the trail in the morning. 

We ran into Mud Flap as soon as we arrived at the resort.  Dinner was great, and we all got ice cream at the general store for dessert.  In addition, we somehow got invited to spend the night on a employee housing area across the lake.  This was too interesting of an opportunity to pass up and any plans of returning to the trail this evening quickly vanished.  Anyways, we killed some time on the beach in front of the restaurant before deciding it was time to make our way to the party.  And now for the best part--Shameless (being Shameless) walked right up to a couple climbing into their boat and asked if they would give us a ride across the lake.  Their response?  Hell yeah!  So before I knew it, I was zipping across the water as the sun was setting in a speed boat.  SO awesome!

The day didn't go quite as planned, but it has been a blast.  I definitely didn't expect to find myself camped in employee housing at Lake of the Woods Resort this evening, but sometimes you just have to go with the flow out here. Without a doubt, the best adventures are the ones you don't see coming!  Cheesy, but so true.  Off to bed now and back to the trail tomorrow.  Crater Lake on Saturday.

Day 112 - 815/12 - Chookooloo

Contents:  Spring Fed Pipe by Pond - Big Springs (24.2 miles)

I am so tired and going to keep this short.  I don't know why I'm so out of it....I might have a touch of something.  I had a bad headache all day.

Thankfully, the walking was easy today.  We'd thought water would be a little scarce but wound up stumbling upon some unexpected aqueducts.....not sure if we were supposed to take water but we did.  Mellow, Mud Flap, Amigo, and Sleeping Bag caught up to Smiles, Shameless, and me at lunch.  After a nap, a liter of water, and a couple Vitamin I's, I felt a little better, but I was glad to make it to camp.

We're currently crashed on a road.  Not the greatest locale, but it will do as long as we don't get run over.  Hoping I feel a bit perkier tomorrow!

Day 111 - 8/14/12 Ashland Aftermath

Contents:  Ashland-Spring Fed Pipe By Pond (11.7 miles)

Sometimes getting back to the trail is an accomplishment in and of itself, and making miles becomes virtually irrelevant.  Today was one of those days!  We were all super tired and unmotivated this morning and wound up having a fantastic night out last night and many people were feeling the effects this morning.  The pizza place was really cool.  Great pizza that reminded me of Pagliacci's, some chill live music, and lots of concert posters on the wall.  After dinner, we hit a nearby bar where an oldies cover band was playing and proceeded to shut the place down.  Definitely a night well lived.

Anyway, back to today.  We had a relaxed morning at the hostel.  Our friend Sidhartha's parents live in Ashland and were hosting a bbq/pool party today as he just made it into town, so there was much discussion about whether to attend.  Since I'd already taken one zero, I was leaning toward hiking out, as were Shameless and Smiles.  Unfortunately, Mellow on the other hand, needed to stick around in order to finish drying his freshly washed sleeping bag and pick up his credit card which he'd left at the bar last night.  

The four of us got breakfast at the Green Tea Leaf before Smiles, Shameless, and I parted company with Mellow so that we could head back to the trail.  Before getting a hitch, we stopped by a running store so Shameless could look for new shorts (no dice!) but I wound up buying a new t-shirt to replace the extremely holey one I'd been wearing.

The hitch was easy.  We got picked up right away by a women who'd thru-hiked in 2000.  Super nice, and we were back at Callahan's in no time.  The hiking was kind of brutal today....we were all exhausted and moving slowly in the heat.  The terrain was fairly gentle but less than spectacular scenery-wise.  Gorgeous sunset though and we are camped by a spring with delicious water.  A SOBO hiker named Gary joined us for dinner and Cheers and Heavy, two NOBO's who skipped ahead recently rolled in as well.  

Off to bed!  Have a great night!

Day 110 - 8/13/12 - Team Slacker in Ashland!

Contents:  0.0 miles

Today was a productive day in Ashland.  Despite staying up way too late with Amigo, Sleeping Bag, Tank, and Satay, I woke up a little after 6 and didn't fall back to sleep.  It was hot.  Tourist, Nugs, and I went to a bakery for breakfast and then I walked them to the PO where we parted company.  It was hard to say goodbye to those guys......I've been with both for over 1000 miles and probably won't seem them again on the trail.  Fortunately, Nugs lives in Portland and I plan to visit him as soon as I'm settled in Seattle and Tourists' folks live in the Seattle area, so I'm confident our paths will cross again as well.

Enter Team Slacker, currently drinking in a parking lot after getting kicked out of the laundromat!  In fact, I was just informed that my hike has been changed for the better!  Anyway, Mellow, Smiles and Shameless rolled in around mid-morning and immediately convinced me to stick around for another night and hike out tomorrow.  It was great to get back together with those guys....they get the miles done but don't take anything too seriously.  It's always an adventure!

After wasting time at the hostel and motivating myself with a couple cups of coffee, Shameless, Mellow, Smiles and I ventured out on the town.  Our first stop was the gear shop that I had visited yesterday.  After leaving the gear shop, we split up.  Smiles and I trekked on to Safeway where we resupplied for the upcoming stretch to Crater Lake.  Smiles also picked up food to mail to Shelter Cove Resort, a later Oregon stop with limited resupply possibilities.  I'm banking on it, but I may regret this later.  After shopping, we headed to the PO so Smiles could get her package mailed out and then moseyed back to the hostel.  It was definitely awesome to spend some girl time with Smiles while taking care of chores!

We reconvened with Mellow at the hostel.  The washing machine was out of commission after springing a leak last night, so Mellow and Smiles wanted to head to the only laundromat in town which was naturally all the way across town.  I had already done laundry but wanted to the Rite Aid next door in order to pick up a new memory card for my camera, so the three of us set out together hoping to get a hitch or catch a bus.  The bus worked out perfectly and we're currently chilling outside the laundromat.  Shameless is here too.

Funny laundromat story....We were hanging out in the laundromat when this little lady asked us to watch her teeny tiny but very fluffy dog who was sitting in a bag. The woman was practically gone before we had a chance to respond, and we assumed she would be back right away.  Well, the minutes started ticking by and there was no sign of her.  We wondered what she was thinking leaving her angel in the hands of four homeless (some of whom were intoxicated) hikers, but things seems to be going well and Fluffy stayed put in the bag.  Fast forward a few minutes......A man with three cumbersome suitcases suddenly opens the door to the laundromat, and Fluffy decided it's time to make the great escape.  Within seconds, she's streaked out the door and is in the busy strip mall parking lot.  Fortunately, we were able to track her down and were rolling with laughter while doing it.  You just never know what's going to happen out here, but you can always count on something!

Pizza dinner soon and then back to the hostel.  More hiking tomorrow!

Day 109 - 8/12/12 - Ashland

Contents:  Long John's Saddle - Ashland (15.9 miles)

I made it to Ashland this afternoon and all is well.  The hiking was good....rolling terrain with lots of road crossings.   We got our first Oregon trail magic, a cooler full of Shasta colas, right near Grouse Camp.  So nice, and it came complete with lawn chairs and a great view of Mt. Shasta which we can't quite escape.

We arrived at Callahan's Lodge, our exit point for Ashland, a little before 1.  Before heading into town, we got lunch and drinks at Callahan's.  It was a very homey place, and the first beer for thru-hikers was on the house.  Can't beat that!  They also have $7.00 camping on their lawn, which I might take advantage of tomorrow night.

Nips and Wildflower were able to yogi a ride from some lodge guests for the 15 minute trip to Ashland, and Tourist, Nugs, and I got a hitch before we even made it to the I-5 on-ramp.  It was probably my easiest hitch yet and we were dropped off right at the Ashland Hostel.

Since we weren't able to check into the hostel right away, Nugs and I walked into town to check out the gear shop.  I bought a new pair of Darn Tough socks to replace my Smart Wools which get holes way too quickly.  The Darn Toughs have a lifetime guarantee and are super popular on the trail, so I'm excited to try them out.

After leaving the gear shop, Nugs and I split up.  I wandered around town and ultimately wound up treating myself to the most wonderful pedicure ever.  I was in desperate need of a respite from the trail, and a pedicure was just the ticket.  That said, I think the woman at the spa was completely horrified by my feet.  It's quite possible I was her most difficult case ever and to make matters worse, I hadn't showered yet.  Nevertheless, they look and feel amazing now!

Post pedicure, I ran into Mud Flap who had met up with college friends and his girlfriend who lives in Ashland.  I killed some time with them before moseying to the famous Shakespeare Center for a free mariachi music and dancing show at the outdoor theater. It was a relaxing way to kick off the evening.  After the performance, we made our way to the local brew pub where we spent the duration of the night.  Definitely not a bad day!

Town chores tomorrow.  I haven't figured out my plan for getting out of town yet.  My usual crew is speeding up for various reasons.  Nugs has to finish by September 22nd in order to start school so I think he's going to be setting off on his own.  Nips and Wildflower also have to pick up the pace in order to meet Wildflower's mother and sister in Crater Lake on Thursday.  I think Tourist will probably stick with them.  I'm on the fence.  I don't have anything I need to get back to so I'm really not in a rush.  I'd also like to reconnect with Mellow and Smiles who are still behind and will probably arrive in Ashland early tomorrow.  My tenative plan is to zero tomorrow, possibly head back to Callahan's for the night, and then hike out with Mud Flap Tuesday morning.  I'll be without my homeys but I'll probably catch Nips and Wildflower in Crater Lake when they're spending time with fam and I can always wait for Mellow and Smiles.  I think this is a decent option, and Mud Flap and I seem to have pretty compatible hiking schedules.  Also, it's good to shake things up out here from time to time.  However, I'll DEFINITELY miss Nugs and Tourist who I probably won't see again on the trail.

Off to bed!  Have a wonderful night!

Day 108 - 8/11/12 - Oregon Baby!

Contents:  Slaughterhouse Meadow - Long John's Saddle (28.3 miles)

We're in Oregon!!! Today was awesome!  I am so proud of myself for making it here.  I pretty much smiled every step the last four miles before the border.  We had a great party.  We all packed in drinks.  I was with Nugs, Tourist, Nips, Wildflower, Mud Flap, and Houdini.  Couldn't have asked for a better crew.

The miles flew up today.  I was half listening to music, half spaced out, but I felt like I could walk forever.  I was definitely in the zone.  They say you walk 4 mph in Oregon and I could almost believe it!

According to the sign at the border, we were 1706 miles from the Mexico border and 962 miles from Canada.  I can't believe the spread....we have made so much progress over the last few weeks. We're actually doing this thing!

I'm tired and off to bed.  Cheers to my old friend California and my new friend Oregon.  It sure feels great to be back in the northwest!

Day 107 - 8/10/12 - Seiad Valley and the Cali Finale!

Contents:  Grider Creek Campground - Slughterhouse Meadow (Approx. 25 miles)

Excellent day today!  We got up early and cruised the 6.4 road miles to Seiad Valley arriving shortly after 8.  The miles went quickly and we amused ourselves with our favorite word game from the desert as well as a new music lyrics game.  The word game is great.  One person picks a word and gives the rest of the group the first letter.  The group tries to guess the word by asking questions.  The person who picked the word attempts to answer each question with a no by stating any plausible response that starts with the same letter.  There are other rules, but that's the jist of it.  For the lyrics game, we divided into two teams, picked a word (our first was "road"), and went back and forth singing lyrics that included the word of choice until one team ran out of songs.  Super fun and a great way to make the miles fly by.

Seiad Valley was an interesting place.  It is Jefferson State Central, and the California I didn't know about before the trail.  Definitely red neck....maybe even a little like parts of Alaska.  In some ways, it also reminded me of the Waipio Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii.  Very anti-government.  We got the opportunity to talk with a lot of local residents and almost all had extreme perspectives.  There's an outside movement to turn the area into a national monument which locals are extremely opposed to.  We saw tons of signs and propaganda.  It definitely felt like we could have been in a different country.  

The pancake challenge was insane.  The goal was to eat five one pound pancakes in under two hours.  The pancakes were served on a pizza pan.  The restaurant, the Seiad Valley Cafe, has been ranked #3 by the Travel Channel on their list of best places to pig out in the U.S.  Needless to say, it was an epic fail for Peels, Tourist, and Nugs.  Tourist put one away, Nugs downed a pancake and a half, and I was in the middle at about one and a quarter.  But so fun and we definitely had to try.   When we finally left, our friend Amigo was working on his fourth and not looking so good.  We were all rooting for him though!  I'm feeling fine now, but I think I'll probably order an omelet for breakfast in Ashland.

We wound up doing about 13 more miles of road walking out of Seiad Valley due to a huge fire that is burning right by the trail.  The fire was started by a lightning strike a few days ago.  I remember the day as we had thunder all afternoon but didn't get rained on.  We had to do a ton of climbing, but it was actually less than we would have done on the trail.  We rejoined the PCT about 5.5 miles from camp and had a chill ridge walk to end the day.  I'm currently camped with Nugs, Tourist, Nips, Wildflower, Mud Flap, and Houdini, who I met just a couple days ago.

Tonight is my last night in California.  We should cross the Oregon border tomorrow afternoon.  Thank you, California, for being such an incredible place.  I can honestly say that I haven't walked a mile without seeing beauty. I've been in California for 3.5 months and feel like I've lived here.  In fact, there are few places I wouldn't consider living.  There is a little bit of everything in this state along with some of the most amazing people I've met.  I couldn't have asked for a more positive experience, and I'll always feel a deep personal connection to California.

Big day tomorrow....can't wait!  Have a great night!

PCT Album #7 - Sierra City to Ashland

Check out Peel's new photo album.  (See "Link to Photos" at the top of her home page).  It has pictures from Sierra City to Ashland.  Enjoy.

Day 106 - 8/09/12 - The Countdown Begins: Less Than 1000 Miles to Canada!

Contents:  Maple Valley Camp - Grider Creek Campground (25.2 miles)

We are less than 1000 miles from Canada!  Yee haw!!! Believe it or not, this is a number I can actually wrap my mind around and it feels SO GOOD!

Today was pretty chill.  We did some climbing in the morning but had downhill all afternoon.  It wasn't too steep or rocky, so it went relatively fast.  We stopped for lunch at a spring near a crazy three-pronged tree.  Definitely one of the neater trees I've ever seen.  There are fires in the area, one of which we could see, so it was quite hazy.  Still beautiful though.  And hot and humid.

We caught up with Tourist, Nugs, Nips and Wildflower in camp.  I'm glad to be back with those guys.  We're planning to get up early to make the 6.4 mile road walk to Seiad Valley for the pancake challenge.  We're definitely going to need some recovery time, but the current plan is to hit the trail as soon as possible.  At this point, it's just a mad dash for Oregon!

Hasta manana!

Day 105 - 8/08/12 - Back At It

Contents:  Etna - Maple Valley Camp (24.8 miles)

Today was great.  After making a quick trip downtown for a grocery/coffee shop breakfast, I got a $5 ride out of town from someone at the hostel with Amigo, Sleeping Bag, Shameless, and Mud Flap.  I wound up ditching Mellow and Smiles, but it made sense to take the available ride.

The hiking was really nice today. We were kind of slackers but it was fun.  We stopped for "lunch" at the first water we encountered about 11 miles from the car.  While we were eating, we met a couple of back packers who were responsible for the delightful cooler of beverages we found at the trail head on our way into Etna.  Definitely appreciated, and we actually added some sodas we'd bought in town this morning.  It never hurts to pay a little magic forward out here!  Shortly after leaving the creek where we had lunch, we stumbled upon a delightful lake and we couldn't resist stopping for a swim.  Unplanned breaks are the best!

The last few miles of the day were spectacular.  I arrived in a bit later than usual (after 9) but got to enjoy a beautiful sunset from a ridge top.  I was above a huge valley and could only see layer after layer of mountains in the distance.  It made me think of the view of the Hoh Valley from High Divide in the Olympics.  It was definitely an evening to remember.

We're about 32 miles south of Seiad Valley.  There is a 6.5 mile walk into town.  Ick!  The current plan is to camp at the beginning of the road walk tomorrow night and then knock out the road Friday morning.  The 6.5 miles should be just enough to work up a HUGE appetite for pancakes.  I'm hoping we'll catch Nugs and the rest of that group in Seiad Valley.

Off to bed!

Day 104 - 8/07/12 - Peelsy's Day Off

Contents:  0.0 miles

I took a zero today and it was so nice.  After waking up Nugs, Amigo and I grabbed some bikes and headed back to Bobb's for breakfast.  On our way to the diner, we made a quick stop at a laundromat so Nugs and I could get some wash going.  Breakfast was really good.  Both the boys ordered eggs, so I went against my usual pancake order and got a burrito as I knew pancake envy wouldn't be a problem.  It was an excellent call.  The burrito was delicious....heaps of salsa and sour cream.

After breakfast, Nugs and I parted ways with Amigo and pedaled back to the laundromat to finish up laundry.  From there, we went to the grocery to resupply and then split up for the rest of our chores.  I stopped by the drug store in search of travel size toothpaste and baby wipes (no dice) as well the post office.  I found Nips, Wildflower, and others outside the drug store and agreed to meet them at the brewery as soon as I finished at the PO.

The brewery was awesome, and I spent most of the afternoon there.  Tons of thru-hikers were hanging out or at least stopped by at some point......Nips, Wildflowers, Tourist, Mud Flap, Itchy, Scratchy, Shameless, Sleeping Bag, Amigo, Nugs, and possibly others who I'm forgetting at the moment.  Also, Mellow and Smiles rolled in......so GREAT to see them!  I think all the razzing we'd done paid off and got them motivated!

Tourist, Nips, and Wildflower headed back to the trail head this evening with plans to take the first camp they found and I'm planning to hitch out with Smiles, Mellow, Shameless, Mud Flap, and possibly others first thing in the morning.  Hopefully we'll catch the rest of the crew....I'm going to miss them all!

Mellow and Smiles are stealth camping at a park in town but I'm sticking around the hostel with lots of others.  We watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off this evening......such a classic!  I'd forgotten how funny it was.  Otherwise, just hanging out on the lawn, watching Olympics pretty much just doing as little as possible.  

We are just 2 days out of Seiad Valley, our final California stop and home of the 5 pound pancake challenge.  With any luck, we'll get in and out of there on Friday, cross the Oregon border on Saturday, and roll into Ashland on Sunday.  Lots of good times ahead!

Day 103 -8/06/12 - Lovely Etna

Contents:  Ridge Camp - Etna (approx. 13.5 miles)

Today was a great day.  I think we got up around 7 but made pretty good time to the highway.  Nugs and I were the last ones out of camp and walked together most of the day.  Once again, the terrain was rocky and hilly.  The rocks are killing my feet....my toes are pretty much numb now.  I think this is normal out here though!

Nugs, Tangent, Holstein, and I got a hitch into town after about 30 minutes or so.  The road was totally dead.  We even took some pictures of me lying on the double yellow line.  Fortunately, one of the very first vehicles to pass, a flat bed truck, picked us up and we all piled in the back for the windy 10 mile ride down to town. 

Etna is awesome.  It has that idyllic small town feel that makes you want to curl up in a hammock with a good book.  We are deep in the State of Jefferson and there definitely is a strong Christian population.  We're staying at a small hostel called Hiker Hut.  I'll probably sleep outside but there are a few bunks in the lounge as well as a trailer.  We hit up a small cafe for sodas and pizza by the slice as soon as we arrived and then moved on to the old-fashioned soda fountain at the drug store.  We got dinner at Bobb's and are now back at the hostel watching the Olympics and hanging out.  The hostel has bikes which are great fun (but not necessary) for getting around town.

Brewery and town chores tomorrow.  We have a huge crew here so it should be fun.  I think I've talked Amigo and Sleeping Bag into sticking around with us by offering to buy each a pitcher of beer.  We may all hike a few miles in the evening but I'm not sure yet.  We'll see how the day unfolds!

Hasta manana!

Day 102 - 8/05/12 - "The love you take is equal to the love you make. I came up with that" - Holstein

Contents:  Highway 3 - Ridge Camp (Approx. 26.3 miles)

Our day started with a fantastic breakfast of fresh fruit, pastries, bacon, and egg burritos, courtesy of Unload and Eric.  Thanks, guys!  We really appreciated it!  We finally made our way out of camp around 8:30 after leaving Mellow, Action Pack, and Smiles a note telling them to catch up and proceeded to knock out 27 hard miles.  We spent most of the day in the Trinity Alps Wilderness which was beautiful.  It was more rugged than most of the terrain we've seen recently, and it felt like we spent the entire day going up.  Not bad though.

We'd planned to camp at a spot where the PCT crosses a 4-wheeler road but there were a ton of cows in the area and we didn't want to spend the entire night listening to their bells.  We decided to hike a little farther up to a ride in hopes of finding better camping but got totally skunked.  The ridge was super rocky and had steep sides.  We wound up following the ridge and were fortunate to find a saddle with enough space to crash, but I think we were all starting to worry we were on for a 30+ mile day.  Nips and Wildflower didn't make it here, but I'm sure they'll catch us in town tomorrow....I'm actually thinking they may have backtracked to the road.  Things were looking a bit bleak for a while.

I think we're about 13 miles out of Etna.  I'm considering taking a semi-unplanned zero in order to hit the brewery on Tuesday (it's closed tomorrow) and watch some Olympics.  There are a lot of peeps who seem to be on board with the plan, and it'll also give Mellow, Smiles, and Action Pack a chance to catch up.  Should be a good time.  Etna is the last California stop!

Day 101 - 8/04/12 - Magic at Highway 3

Contents:  Deadfall Lake - Highway 3 (23.9 miles)

Today was a great day.  When I woke up, my magic sensors were sounding loudly!  I had a hunch that there would be trail magic at Highway 3, about 24 miles ahead.  The primary factors I considered in making this prediction were the presence of a major highway, close proximity to surrounding communities, a car campground, and a weekend arrival.  And sometimes you just gotta believe!  Trail magic is a lot like Santa.  While there were a couple of doubters as always, my posse has learned to trust my sensors.  We were all hopeful.

We managed to get out of camp before 7 which is quite a feat these days.  The hiking was super chill and we knocked out the 24 miles by 6:30 or so in spite of taking long breaks practically every hour.  

Fall Risk convinced us all to supplement our lunches with carpenter ants today.  He claimed they would taste like lemon drops.....I'm not convinced this was the case but I was more than happy to reduce the world ant population.

Worth noting....we saw carnivorous plants today.  There are plants that eat animals.....pretty crazy!  Also, in spite of spending most of the day traveling south (always frustrating but probably necessary in order to skirt private property), I picked up my first Oregon radio station today.  We are so close!

The trail magic is awesome.  It is courtesy of Unload who hiked last year and his brother Eric.  Great BBQ, drinks, and breakfast tomorrow.  I have a feeling it's going to be tough to leave.

More walking tomorrow....we're currently about 40 miles out of our Etna resupply.  We should roll in there the day after tomorrow.

Day 100 - 8/03/12 - Lakeside Camping After a Lazy Day

Contents:  Full Moon Saddle Camp - Deadfall Lake (approx. 20.1 miles)

Today was a chill day, but I was super tired.  I feel like I'm tired all the time now.  I miss zeroing in every town!  I think we're all in the same boat at this point.

The hiking was pretty moderate today....lots of contouring and ridge walking with some great views of Mt. Shasta.  It was definitely hot.....I think the heat is a major energy zap as well.  Tourist, Nugs, Shameless, and I collapsed next to the trail after only about 8 miles of hiking.  Our 15 minute break turned into an hour plus and I pounded nearly an entire family-size box of wheat thins.  I was feeling a bit annoyed about this lapse in self control when Shameless suddenly announced that he had just polished off three "unscheduled" candy bars.  Oops!  These things definitely happen to the best of us out here.

I'm currently camped by a really lovely lake with Nips, Wildflower, Nugs, Tourists, Shameless, Fall Risk, Mud Flap, Free, and Just a Guy.  Some of us had originally been planning to do a few more miles but changed plans in order to camp with Nips and Wildflower who'd already put in a 27 mile day.  The lake would have been hard to pass by anyways.....I don't think I've camped next to a lake since the Sierra.

More miles tomorrow!  And anyways......since when did 20 miles become a lazy day?!?!

Day 99 - 8/02/12 - Thirsty Thursday

Contents:  Mt. Shasta - Full Moon Saddle Camp (Approx. 15.8 miles)

Today was another successful day.  Shameless and I had a great night camped behind the Shasta Basecamp Gear Shop.  Jaw Bone and Night Watch also crashed with us.  It was a bright night with the full moon but I slept really well.  We definitely appreciated the hook up and were glad to save money by not paying for a motel.

After Shameless and I woke up, we stopped by the motel and then hit a coffee shop a few blocks away for pastries and drinks.  From there, we headed back to the motel, organized, and then mosied to the natural foods store where we hoped to yogi for a ride.  Within minutes we were all on our way back to the trail.  The town of Mt. Shasta was pretty great.  It's located within the state of Jefferson and definitely attracts a lot of unique characters......an interesting mix of hippies and libertarians.  Our cab driver yesterday told us were to find magic if we were "open."  It was certainly a very spiritual and wonderful place.

The hiking today was hot and thirsty.  We were feeling LAZY!  We took the first few miles slowly and never really picked things up.  We hiked past the Castle Crags which were absolutely gorgeous and did our last few miles by moonlight.  I'm now camped on a wooded saddle with Nugs, Tourist, Shameless, Itchy and Scratchy.  Nips and Wildflower were with us for most of the day but split out at a trail junction to meet up with one of Nips' college mentors who's passing through the area.  With any luck, they'll catch us tomorrow.  

It's super late!  Off to bed!

Day 98 - 8/01/12 - Batman in Mt. Shasta

Contents:  I-5 Vista Camp - Mt. Shasta (Approx. 5.0 miles)

Today was another great day.  The 5 miles down to I-5 were super cruiser.  The hitch into Shasta wound up being a little trickier than we'd hoped.  Thee were 8 of us trying to get rides.  Nugs and I decided to try hitching from the interstate itself so more drivers would see us, while the rest waited at the bottom of the ramp in hopes of getting a lift from someone getting on the highway right there.  Four of us were able to get a ride, but Tourist, Shameless, Nugs, and I finally gave up after standing in the sun for way too long.  It's frustrating when empty cars just keep whizzing by.  We wound up calling a taxi and got a $40 ride into town.  It was worth the money at that point!

Once we made it to town, we hit up the Black Bear Diner for breakfast.  I went for some delicious cinnamon french toast, though I was still a bit hungry when I finished.  After breakfast, I hit B of A, the two gear shops in town and the laundromat.  I needed a new Sawyer pouch and wasn't able to find one, but the second gear shop I stopped at gave me a new Platypus bladder for free.  So nice!  Thru-hikers get a lot of perks!

After doing laundry, I hit the motel room that Tourist, Nugs, Fall Risk, and Mud Flap are splitting.  The hotel managers are super strict about their four guests per room policy, but Shameless and I talked them into letting us shower for $5.00 each.  The two of us are planning to crash behind one of the gear shops tonight.

Post shower, I walked to the grocery to resupply, hit Rite Aide, and then meet the rest of my posse for a 5:10 showing of Batman.  Batman was awesome, and it was great to zone out and totally forget about the trail for a few hours.  Couldn't argue with a little A/C either!  Needless to say, we all looked like a bunch of senior citizens when we stood up at the end of the show.  We did dinner at a bar after the movie, grabbed ice cream at the grocery, and are now hunkered down in Nips and Wildflowers' room watching the Olympics.

There is a big fire in the area.  We're hoping to make it back to the trail tomorrow but I-5 is currently closed.  There seem to be a lot of folks stuck in Mt. Shasta.  Gas stations are out of fuel, restaurants are low on food, and hotels are totally booked.  We have power but have heard that it is out in surrounding areas.  We're definitely crossing our fingers that we don't have problems tomorrow.

I want to give a shout out to all my friends in Seattle who are going to be adventuring around the passes this summer.  Believe it or not, PCT-ers are already hitting Washington.  Many hikers got really early starts this year due to the low Sierra snowpack.  Please keep am eye out for us trying to hitch down from the passes or back up to the trail from nearby communities.  Most of us will be resupplying from White, Snoqualmie, and Stevens Passes and will REALLY appreciate a ride.  We may be filthy and smelly, but we'll all have stories to share and most of us are more than willing to chip in for gas.  Thank you in advance!  If all goes as planned, I should cross into Washington at Cascade Locks Labor Day weekend or just a tad sooner.  Still lots of miles to go, but I'm already looking forward to it.

More hiking tomorrow!  Have a great night!

FAST BREAKING NEWS!!!!!

Contents:  Peels has arrived in Oregon (1700 PCT miles in 108 days)! We are sure there is much celebration happening......We received a SPOT location just a few minutes ago:

 Kristy's SPOT
 Latitude:42.00364
 Longitude:-122.90918
 GPS location Date/Time:08/11/2012 13:31:47 PDT

Please join us in congratulating Peels on an amazing CA PCT journey!  She has had tons of fun, worked very hard, made numerous wonderful lifetime friends, seen amazing scenery, endured, survived, and conquered: deserts, the High Sierras, blisters, sore feet, painful knees, dirt, dirt, dirt, carrying water, eating trail food that is often monotonous, AND the PCT plague of being constantly hungry.  Peels has learned so much about herself as well as the generosity and kindness of others.  The journey is not over but this is a huge chapter closed.

We are very proud of her.

Sarah and Rodney (Mom and Dad to Peels) 

Day 97 - 7/31/12 - Goodbye Ichiro!

Contents:  Ash Camp - I-5 Vista Camp (approx. 25.5 miles)

The miles came way easier today!  I soaked my feet and legs from the knees down before leaving camp, and as always, that made a huge difference.  We did a lot of up and down but I felt good.  I knocked out the first 10ish miles of the day without stopping.  It's always nice to get that kind of mileage out of the way early.  I was able to do another leg soak (and swim!) when we stopped for lunch at Squaw Valley Creek.  It was definitely one of the best swimming holes we've found so far and we were there for close to 3 hours.  There is no doubt breaks are the best part of the PCT!

We hit 1,500 miles today.  We have just over 1,100 miles to go.  Time is moving quickly now.  We're just shy of 200 PCT miles south of the Oregon border.  I'm trying to savor every step because I know Oregon and Washington are going to fly by and I'm not ready for this journey to end.  That said, I'm starting to get a clearer picture of how I'd like my life to look after the trail.  There's plenty of time to think about that kind of thing out here, and I'm better able to identify what's important to me after spending some time away from the real world!

I'm camped in sight of I-5 tonight!  I don't think I've ever been so happy to see I-5, one of my hometown freeways.  We have a 5ish mile hike tomorrow morning and then a short hitch north on the 5 to resupply in Shasta.  Looking forward to my first interstate hitch!

I also wanted to mention my winning dinner combination this evening.....tuna-raemin-stuffing!  Only a thru-hiker could appreciate that creation.  It was so, so good though!

I was able to get some phone service and received a text from a friend saying that Ichiro was traded to the Yankees.  I couldn't believe it!  And to the Yankees?!?!  I know he'll be seriously missed in Seattle.  

Hasta manana!  Hope all is well!

Day 96 - 7/30/12 - The Great Migration

Contents:  Shasta Saddle Camp - Ash Camp (28.2 miles)

Today was another good one, but my feet and legs are SO tired and sore!  These miles are taking their toll!  Nevertheless, all 12 of us made our way from last night's camp to Ash Camp, over 28 PCT miles north.

We woke up to a beautiful morning.  Sleeping Bag and Amigo made coffee and Nips and Wildflower contributed graham crackers with frosting.  It was an excellent start to the day.  The hiking was good......had some views of Mt. Shasta and gently rolling terrain.  We had a huge group lunch in the middle of the trail.  I absolutely LOVE our huge posse.  Itchy and Scratchy had some extra tortellini which Tourist and I shared....so good!  Extra calories are always appreciated out here!

My legs were feeling it today, but it helps to be with so many people.  As Wildflower says, "If nothings hurting at this point in the game, you've definitely been hitch hiking!"  So true!  The good news is that we're definitely in this together, and it's easy to lose yourself in conversation with someone and crank out a few miles without even thinking about it.  We are all so close out here.  I've never experienced a community like this before.  Nothing is taboo out here.

My Israeli friend Amigo is looking for people in Seattle to celebrate the Jewish New Year in September.  I couldn't think of any Jewish friends off the top of my head but offered to mention something in my blog to see if anyone knew of someone who'd be willing to include him.  Amigo is totally awesome!  His email is shakhaf.avital@gmail.com.  Thank you!

Off to bed!  Another big day tomorrow followed by a nero into Shasta.  Looking forward to a real meal already!

Day 95 - 7/29/12 - Shameless' Big Zucchini

Contents:  Burney Falls State Park - Shasta Saddle Camp (24.3 miles)

Today was good....it felt like we did a lot of miles even though it was a pretty typical day.  I left camp earlier than usual with Nips and Wildflower......so good to be hiking with them again.  It was great to catch up.

We did a lot of climbing today and didn't get many views until late in the day.  However, it was worth the wait and we were rewarded with spectacular views of Shasta.  It's great to be back in the land of big volcanoes!

Our camp is awesome, and our group is 12 strong.  Tourist, Nugs, Nips, Wildflower, Itchy, Scratchy, Shameless, Sleeping Bag, Amigo, Fall Risk, and Mud Flap are all here.  Dinner was ridiculously fun.  Shameless carried a HUGE zucchini that some campers had given him yesterday when he was trying to yogi some soap for a shower and it was so good.  It was the perfect addition to my pasta with spaghetti sauce, salmon, and parmesan cheese.  Definitely one of my better dinners.

Really tired, so off to bed!

Day 94 - 7/28/12 - Burney Falls Park

Contents:  Conrad Ranch Road - Burney Falls State Park (approx. 14 miles)

Today was another good day.  The walking was hot and at least it was flat.  I left camp around 8:30 and reached the creek about a mile and a half later.  I got water and found iPod breaking his camp.  From the creek, I made my way a short distance up the trail to a fish hatchery.  I lost the trail around the fish hatchery and accidentally circled back to iPod's camp.  I felt a bit silly, but fortunately we were able to locate the trail together.

iPod went ahead but wound up slowing down because he wasn't feeling well, so we walked together for a few miles into Burney Falls State Park.  The park is great.  The falls were featured on the PCT poster I had hanging in my apartment all winter, so it was fun to see them in real life.  I went for a swim.  We're currently camped at a public campground within the park.  I picked up my resupply box and had a fabulous hot fudge sundae.....Life is good.  Mellow, Smiles, and Action Pack haven't caught up yet, so I'm guessing they're in the actual town of Burney resupplying.  Hopefully we'll see them again soon.

More hiking tomorrow.

Day 93 - 7/27/12 - Desert Flashbacks Along Hat Creek Rim

Contents:  Campground Near Subway Cave - Conrad Ranch Road (27.7 miles)

Great day today!  I was a little under the weather this morning but felt better as the day progressed.  After leaving camp, we took a short side trip to the Subway Cave.  The Subway Cave was actually a lava tube.  It was about 1/3 of a mile long, and we were able to walk all the way through it.  It was totally awesome.  It reminded me of the second part of the Thurston Lava Tube on the Big Island which I visited a couple of years ago.  Tourist did a great photo shoot with Nips, Shameless, and I using a headlamp to create really cool streaks of light, including one shot that actually spelled out the letters PCT.  Definitely worth the trip!

We spent so much time in the lava tube that Mellow and Smiles managed to catch up.  They had spent the night in Old Station.  After leaving the cave, we all made our way back to the trail together.  The hiking today wasn't too hilly, but it was hot and rocky.  The Hat Creek Rim is notorious for being a tough section.  We're in the middle of a 30 mile day stretch and all left camp with at least 4 liters of water.  I couldn't remember the last time I carried more than a liter or so!

I had a lot of fun today.  Highlights included the water some kind people gave us when we were resting at a trail head (beer for Shameless....now you know how he got his name!), more great views of Mt. Lassen and our first views of Mt. Shasta (5,000 feet), figuring out a bet the boys had going about me (I unintentionally revealed that outcome today!), trail magic from Action Dad, and a cooler of cold sodas in the twig-loo at cache 22 that another angel left at a road crossing about 2 miles before camp.  Can't beat that without a couple of rain drops!

Due to all our slacking, we rolled into camp late tonight.  I think it was close to 11:00 when we arrived, and we stopped just short of the water source.  However, we all have enough water to get us through the night.  I walked the last 10+ miles with Tourist and we had a lot of fun.  I feel like it had been awhile since we'd last had a good Peels/Tourist session.  We stopped for a great salmon pesto dinner as the sun was setting.  I made way too much and fortunately Tourist was able to help me out. Our final miles were filled with lots of weird dirt road crossings and they were a bit spooky.  I was glad he was there. to spice things up a bit, I decided to give us a good old case of the heebie jeebies and drew on my go to scenario of coming across a random man waiting in the bushes next to the trail.  As I was describing this scene in great color to Tourist, we walked around a corner and our headlamps suddenly reflected on a partial skeleton of a cow right next to the trail.  Aaaah!!!! On the skeleton, someone had written, "They're all dead!"  Aaaah!!!!  Now we REALLY had a case of the heebie-jeebies!  WE booked it out of there, but downed branches suddenly took the form of arms sticking up out of the ground, and deep depressions became mass graves.  It was all quite fun, and a little extra adrenalin does wonders for sore feet, if only for a minute or so.

Tourist, Nugs, and I are stopped for the night about 13 miles south of the highway into Burney Falls State Park and the town of Burney.  We're all planning to resupply tomorrow.  I think Nips and Wildflower probably are camped at the creek and Mellow and Smiles are ahead.  I'm not sure about Action Pack, but we'll definitely regroup tomorrow.  We're less that 300 miles and counting from the Oregon border now.

Have a great night!

Day 92 - 7/26/12 - Old Station

Contents:  Warner Valley Campground/Drakesbad Guest Ranch - Campground Near Subway Cave (27.6 miles)

Today was flat!  We had a short climb out of camp but otherwise got flat or down.  It made for a relatively easy 28 mile day.  Nevertheless, I'm really tired and want to get to bed so I'm going to keep this entry short.

We cruised through the very small town of Old Station this evening.  We'd been thinking about stopping there for the night but most of us decided to put in a few additional miles to position ourselves at the start of the 29 mile dry stretch.  This should eliminate the need to dry camp tomorrow night.  I'm currently camped with Nips, Wildflower, Nugs, Tourist, Action Pack, Shameless, iPod, Itchy, and Scratchy.  We're actually at a campground which is nice.  Action Pack's father, Action Dad, is here as well.  He flew out from Wisconsin to hike a few miles with Action Pack.  Loving our big group!

When we were at the small general store in Old Station, I got super dizzy and nearly passed out.  I'm not sure what was wrong, but I'm feeling better now.  I took the last few miles to the campground fairly slow and iPod walked with me to make sure I was ok.  Hoping I feel totally normal in the morning.  

Off to bed!  Have a great night!

Day 91 - 7/25/12 - The Gravy of All Zeros

Contents:  0.0 miles

Today was SO GOOD!  It was right up there with Casa De Luna for the best zero ever.  Drakesbad is awesome.  I woke up this morning so happy to have the day off.  I had a leisurely morning in camp before making the 10 minute walk back to the ranch.  Holstein, Tangent, Pounce, and others were eating breakfast outside (same system as dinner), so I sat down with them even though I'd already eaten at camp.  After breakfast, we donned loaner swimwear from the ranch (a very sexy bikini for me), and made our way to the hot springs area.  We hit the bath house to clean up and then went for the pool.  The pool was fantastic.  It was a perfect 98-100 degrees, just right for hours of soaking.  I pretty much spent the whole afternoon alternating between the pool and a lounge chair.  I expect to see the rest of my gang by early afternoon.  Can't wait for some serious relaxing!

Best part of the day....Nips and Wildflower showed up!  So awesome to see them.  We hadn't been together since the Kearsarge Pass junction where Wash Out and I exited to resupply.  That feels like eons ago!  Action Pack also rolled in later in the afternoon.

The chefs at the restaurant had the night off, so the other employees hosted a big BBQ that was open to the public.  Really great burgers, sausages, steak, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, salads, and brownies.  After dinner, we headed back to the pool for more soaking.

Love this place..  The real guests pay about $200 per person per day to stay in rustic cabins without electricity.  It's pretty sweet that they welcome thru-hikers for virtually nothing.  On to Old Station tomorrow.  I think it's about 25 miles but super flat.

Day 90 - 7/24/12 - Drakesbad Delivers

Contents:  Soldier Creek - Warner Valley Campground/Drakesbad Guest Ranch (22.5 miles)

Today was a great day.  I was the last one out of camp this morning (very unusual!!) but made good time to Highway 36.  At the highway, I found the rest of my posse getting ready to head into Chester.  Another thru-hiker's father, Sleeping Bare, had just dropped off his son, Nugio, at the trail head and was offering a ride back to town.  Given the easy hitch, everyone had decided to make the trip.  I seriously considered joining as pancakes were sounding awfully tempting but wound up deciding to stick to my plan to head straight to Drakesbad.  I really want to zero tomorrow and knew that heading to town would make it less likely I would reach Drakesbad tonight.

Posse gone, I hit up some fruit left at the trail head and then knocked out the 19-ish miles to Drakesbad without any issues.  It was nice to be on my own for most of the day.  I only saw one other hiker until I got very close to Drakesbad.  The solitude was welcome.  I stopped for water and foot soaks at Stover Spring and the North Fork of the Feather River where I also ate lunch but otherwise kept my breaks to a minimum.  A couple miles out of Drakesbad, I did a short side trip that my guide book had recommended to see a geyser.  I was able to get super close to it which was neat, but I decided it wasn't quite worth the extra effort.  Once you've seen one geyser, I think you've just about seen them all!

I arrived at Drakesbad hungry but feeling good.  I'd done the last 9.5-ish miles plus the side trip on a small mashed potato packet and was totally out of food.  Drakesbad is great!  Double Sprainbow, Mad Dog, Rapunzel, and Mr. Pibbs were all hanging out when I arrived, and Tangent and Holstein showed up during dinner.  There is trail magic at the campground nearby where I am spending the night.  We ate dinner at the ranch, as it has a super fancy restaurant that gives thru-hikers dinner for a significantly reduced price after the other patrons have been served.  It was a little funny, but it is hard to turn down a meal of shrimp scampi lasagna, bread, chocolate mousse, and coffee for $10.  We definitely got the leftovers, but they were heavenly.

Also picked up my resupply box today.....thank you Sharon for the best bars EVER!  They are sooooo yummy!  I shared a couple and everybody loved them.  However, I didn't share nearly as many as I was planning as they were way too good to give up!

Back to the ranch tomorrow for a shower and hot springing.  I expect to see the rest of my gang by early afternoon.  Can't wait for some serious relaxing!

Day 89 - 7/23/12 - Halfway There!!!!

Contents:  Cold Springs - Soldier Creek - (23.1 miles)

We made it to the halfway point today!!!!  I didn't think this would be too big of a milestone, but it feels great.  It's a HUGE psychological boost to be over the hump.  The past couple weeks were a little tough mentally as it felt like we'd already come so far and yet we have even farther to go.  That said, the PCT is absolutely amazing, and I don't want it to ever end.  I thought it would be awesome, but it is about 10 times cooler that I ever hoped it could be.  The journal doesn't convey the fun we have out here.  I laugh until my stomach hurts every single day.  There have certainly been challenging days, but I've had very few (if any!) bad days out here.  Deciding to hike the PCT might be the best decision I've ever made.

Hiking-wise, today was a good day.  Anything was going to feel mellow after yesterday's 5000 feet climb off the dock.  We did some ridge walking today and a lot of contouring.  We had great views of Mt. Lassen, one of Nor. CA's volcanoes.  It was humid, and there was a lot of thunder and some rain in the afternoon.  This was followed by a double rainbow on our last stretch into camp.  We also came across a very healthy rattle snake coiled up in the middle of the trail today.  Proving his insanity, Tourist picked it up with his trekking poles.  His snake handling skills were unreal.  I took tons of pictures.

Tomorrow, we have a 4-ish mile walk to Highway 36 where Mellow is going to hitch a few miles into Chester to resupply.  The rest of us have a 21 or so mile day to Drakesbad Guest Ranch, a hot springs resort that offers free camping (I think!) where I'm going to pick up a box.  The ranch has been a must do in past years, but it's under new management now so we're not sure what to expect.  If it's as great as we're hoping, we'll probably zero tomorrow, our first zero since the 4th of July.  We're due for a break! Mellow will either catch us there tomorrow evening or the following morning. I'm hoping Nips and Wildflower will catch up as well.

Off to bed.  Cheers, to a great first half and an equally awesome second half!  Oregon definitely feels like it's in striking distance.  Thanks for all the support......We're definitely hikin' on a prayer out here!

Day 88 - 7/22/12 - Hump Day Eve

Contents:  Belden - Cold Springs (19.1 miles)

Great day today....We got out of town around 10:30 after a ginomous breakfast at Belden Town Resort.  I went for the full stack of pancakes with a side of eggs.  Totally huge.  The crew had serious doubts that I would put it all away but I powered through.  It was excellent training for the pancake challenge in Seiad Valley.

We had a ridiculous climb out of town, and I definitely had some pancake regrets.  We did about 5000 feet over 14 miles.  The good news was that the climb wasn't nearly as exposed as I'd anticipated.  There was a short burned section, but we were in the trees most of the time.  I LOVED hiking with Smiles.  That girl is truly a kindred spirit.  Also spent a lot of time walking with Nugs.  Love them both.

I'm currently camped with Tourist, Mellow, Nugs, and Smiles.  Mellow made a toxic sludge for dinner.  It was simply inedible and looked exactly like puke.  Most of it is now sealed in a ziplock bag and the rest is buried outside of camp.  The sound effects that were made as the ziplock bag was filled were priceless.  I think our laughter could be heard for miles.

Halfway tomorrow!

Day 87 - 7/21/12 - Smiles and Peels Reunited!

Contents:  Campsite Above Buck Creek - Belden (17.3 miles)

Let the laughter begin!  We made it to Belden and caught up with Smiles today.  So happy!  I've missed that girl.  The boys say I've been pink blazing.

Anyways, Mr. Pibbs and I got up early and blew past Tourist, Nugs, and Mellow who were passed out beside the trail on a helipad.  We had a lovely ridge walk before a grueling 5000-ish feet descent into Belden.  It's great to be here.  Belden is a strange place.  It's known for its raves, but there are none this weekend.  However, there is some sort of biker rally going on. Mr. Pibbs and I stopped in at the Belden Town Resort where we ran into Night Watch.  He had already called the Braatens, and they were on their way to pick him up.  They live about a mile out of town, but they're on a busy highway and discourage walking or hitching.  We got a ride in no time.

The Braaten's home, Hiker Haven is wonderful.  They have a separate MIL-type unit which we have totally taken over.  Mrs. Braaten was able to pick up my package so I have my maps for the next section.  We just had a great meal at the Caribou Diner....best chocolate - PB milkshake so far on the trail......I'm currently relaxing on the porch and icing my knee.  It's feeling good, but I'm trying to baby it given all the downhill pounding it had to endure today.

Resupplying tomorrow morning and then I think we have an exposed 5000 feet climb out of here.  Life is good though!

P.S.  I exchanged texts with Wildflowers and Nips today after seeing their names in a register.  They were just ahead but had to get off the trail for a wedding this weekend.  They'll be hiking out of Belden tomorrow evening and trying to catch up.  Can't wait to see those guys too!

Day 86 - 7/20/12 - An Easier Day

Contents:  Middle Fork Feather River - Campsite Above Bucks Creek (21.5 miles)

Today was a good day.  We enjoyed a leisurely morning in camp before beginning the 3000 ft. climb up to Lookout Rock.  Lookout Rock was pretty sweet and we ate lunch there.  Speaking of lunch I made a Ramein/Cous-Cous combo that was pretty stellar.  After lunch the terrain was gently rolling and we were able to pick up the pace a bit.  I felt pretty strong considering I did 30 miles yesterday but I did feel the slightest twinge in my right knee.  Just to be safe, I immediately began a regimen of some knee bending exercises I learned in PT and calf raises, the Peels cure-all, at each break.  

I'm currently camped with Mr. Pibbs.  Tourist, Mellow, and Nugs put in a few extra miles, but I didn't want to push it after such a big day yesterday.  I'm planning to get up early tomrrow and either catch them along the trail or meet them in Belden.  I think I'm about 17.5 miles out of town.  

We're planning to stay with the Braatens, some trail angels who live right outside Belden tomorrow night.  I'm planning to resupply at the small store in town.  I should also be receiving a package containing maps for the next leg.  The Braatens were going to pick it up for me since the PO won't be open tomorrow, but I didn't realize I was supposed to also call the postmaster to authorize release....Now I'm a bit worried they won't have been able to get it.  Oh well.......I'll deal with that tomorrow if I need to.

We're getting close to the halfway point.  This milestone is both exciting and daunting.  While I don't want this trip to ever end, it's overwhelming to think about walking all these miles again.  I feel like I'm married to the trail.  There was the awkward sex phase early on, then the honeymoon phase where everything was wonderful, and now we're in the hard work phase.  I still love the trail and haven't for a second wanted out, but like all relationships, some days come easily and others take a lot of work.  The love is there, but we've had a few fights.  The good news is that the challenging days make the great ones that much more special and I crawl into my bag every night knowing I've done the best I can.  Also, I know I have the golden years to look forward to in Washington.

Day 85 - 7/19/12 - Calling It A 30

Contents:  McRae Ridge - Middle Fork Feather River (29.7 miles)

We woke up around 6 to sprinkles this morning!  I could hardly believe it!  We were so fortunate the rain didn't start sooner, as there definitely wasn't space for us to pitch our tents.  I never would have heard the end of it!

For the record, in over 1200 miles of hiking, I've experienced one day of rain (the first day), one afternoon of thunderstorms, and three days with trace sprinkles.  Pretty unbelievable!  I still haven't pitched my tent since the kick off.  

The hiking today was cruiser.  Tourist and Nugs caught up to Mellow, Mr. Pibbs, and I when we stopped to get water from a spring a short distance off the trail.  We had sprinkles on and off throughout the morning but the afternoon was dry.  We mostly hiked through forest.  This isn't usually my fave, but I've found that the scenery doesn't matter as much when I'm just trying to churn out miles.  Easy grade and good footing excites me way more than grand vistas on these days!

I somehow managed to lose my earphones today but did pick up a Gap sweater that someone dropped along the trail.  I'm guessing that didn't come from a thru-hiker!  I've already planted it in Tourist's backpack.  His birthday is tomorrow and I'm going to tell him it's his gift when he discovers it.

I'm currently soaking my feet in the middle fork of the Feather River.  It's pretty amazing.  All things considered, I feel pretty good for having done 30 miles today.  I definitely didn't bring enough food for this stretch, but Mr. Pibbs packed way too much and has hooked me up with a few things.  We were both feeling it on the way into camp and thought about stopping short for the night, but I'd told Mellow, Tourist, and Nugs that I'd make it and didn't want them to be concerned.  Mr. Pibbs and I wound up stopping for dinner about half way down a long set of switchbacks to the river and both felt better after eating.  I was definitely ready for camp though.

Going to take it a little easier tomorrow.  We're less than 40 miles out of Belden and should roll in on Saturday as planned.

*I can't wait for a milkshake.  I have precisely 950 calories left in my food bag to get me through the night and the 17.5 miles.  I'm definitely going to be rolling in on empty!

Day 84 - 7/18/12 - "Why the f*ck am I on the summit of a mountain?" - Mellow Yellow to Peels upon arriving in camp

Contents:  Sierra City - McRae Ridge 24.2 miles)

Today was an eventful day at least by PCT standards.  Fall Risk's girlfriend, Leslie, was kind enough to drive Mellow and me to the trail head around 9.  Tourist and Nugs weren't quite ready yet, but she gave them a ride later in the morning.  Fall Risk decided to take a zero to spend time with her.  

Mellow and I kicked off the morning wiht a 7+ mile climb of nearly 3,000 feet.  We hadn't been looking forward to it but it went quickly.  Mellow kept me entertained with lots of good stories.

Once we reached the high point at a saddle, Mellow split off to run up Sierra Butte.  I'd thought about tagging the summit as it wasn't too far off the trail but decided to conserve my energy and meet Mellow at Summit Lake, another 7ish miles up the trail.  Sometimes the PCT is enough by itself, and it's hard work keeping up with the boys!

I'd expected smooth sailing to Summit Lake but got totally  confused near Sierra Butte trail head.  A ton of roads and trails all came together at the same spot and I had trouble figuring out where I was on my map.  Some day hikers had a bigger map with more detail of the area, and they helped point me in the right direction.  My map showed an actual trail, but in reality there wasn't a trail and I just had to road walk to a second trail head.  It all worked out.  I was definitely glad to see the PCT sign at the second trail head though.

I've always disliked road walking out here.  Not only is it less scenic, but you have to be super vigilant so as not to miss the spot where you pick up the trail again.  I HATE overshooting the trail.  And on paved roads like the one today, it's impossible to see footprints.  I am definitely a regular map reader out here, but also a champ at tracking Brooks Cascadia footprints, a sure sign a thru-hiker has passed by.  Knock on wood, but the dual map/Cascadia system hasn't led me astray yet!

Anyways, back to the hike.  Shortly after I joined the trail again, I caught up with Mr. Pibbs who had escaped town last night.  The two of us walked together to Summit Lake where we both needed to get water.  Summit Lake was a short walk off the PCT.  Long before we even got the road to the lake we started hearing gun shots.  As we approached the lake, we could tell the shots were being fired super close by.  However, we couldn't see the shooters.  It was scary but we really needed water.  Finally, I called out at the shooters just to let them know we were in the area.  I was so glad I did, as they seemed totally oblivious.  Fortunately, we were able to walk past and make our way to the other side of the lake.  As we walked away, they warned us that there were more shooters on the other side.  We couldn't believe it!  Neither of us said anything, but we both felt like they should be watching out for us and not the other way around!

Once we got our water, we hightailed it back to the PCT.  I left a note for Mellow (with hearts of course......gotta give that boy a reason to pick it up!) telling him that I would be at the next campsite a short distance away.  When Mr. Pibbs and I got to the campsite, we could still hear the shots and it generally felt creepy, so I left Mellow another note saying I'd gone a little farther.  A mile or so later, we found a nice spot to hang out and wait.  

Shortly after Mellow arrived, I took off.  He hung out a little longer in order to eat.  Our plan was to make dinner at the A-Tree Spring and then dry camp at a saddle a little over a mile beyond the spring.  Mr. Pibbs and I rendezvoused at the spring and quickly decided it made more sense to carry a little extra water and just cook at camp.  After all the saddle was only another mile.  I left Mellow more trail mail containing the new plan, and then Mr. Pibbs and I took off with Peels in the lead.  The saddle came much more quickly than anticipated (and that NEVER happens out here), so I deemed that it wasn't the place we intended to camp and convinced Mr. Pibbs to keep going.  Wrong decision!  Needless to say, we are now camped in a tiny spot on a very breezy and not flat ridge.  I don't know it I could even call it a campsite.  Mellow says it is more like a mountain top than a ridge.  Mr. Pibbs and I were hoping Mellow would use his better judgment and camp at the actual saddle but he explained that he had to follow me up here since I'd been leaving "love" notes all day.  In addition, I'd talked a backpacker I'd met just before the spring into doing the extra mile to camp with us, so he's here as well.  We always say "Never trust a day hiker" out here.  I'm sure his new motto is going to be "Never trust a thru-hiker!"  It's all good though.  I couldn't be having more fun!

New Photo Album Entry

 

See pictures such as these on Kristy's new photo album "PCT - Album #6 - Yosemite Valley Side Trip and Tuolumne Meadows - Sierra City.  On the blog home page, click the "Link to Photos" at the top of Kristy's blog and it will direct you to her photo albums.