Saturday, July 25. Low-50s and sunny going up to upper 80s.
Up at 6:00. Very pretty sunrise. I’ll eat breakfast at Caribou Crossing. Packed up and on trail at 6:40.
Quite a descent with tons of switchbacks and burnt, difficult blowdowns. Departed the Bucks Lake Wilderness near the end of the descent before crossing the railroad tracks.
Arrived at Beldin at 8:35 and 4.6 miles. Bedazzled was there. Very dumpy, sketchy place. Campground and motel/bar/restaurant.
I left Beldin and headed 1.6 miles down the road to Caribou Crossroads. Arrived at Caribou at 9:15 after a road walk on CA Route 70.
Had a nice breakfast at Caribou, enjoyed a famous milkshake that lived up to the reputation, and used their WiFi to pay monthly bills and talk to Pitcrew.
Picked up a new fuel can and got a hitch back to trail at 11:00. Saved me a hot road walk with no shoulder. On trail and headed UP at 11:15. I have 11 to 13 miles depending on how I feel.
It is hot down here in the valley and I gotta climb past there by the end of today.
Crossed paths with Brad. He’s hiking South from Chester to Caribou Crossroads while waiting on a package to arrive.
Entered Lassen National Forest at 2:15.
This trail is starting to suck. Blowdowns, overgrown trail, lost trail at least 12 times. Plus it’s damn steep for many miles. Did I mention that a lot of the overgrown area is thorny?
Major milestone! Crossed from the Sierra Mountains into the Cascade Mountains.
Made camp at 7:30 and hiked 16 miles. Damn hard day. The trail has not had much maintenance, and the burnt blowdowns from the Dixie Fire are getting worse. I lost the trail a lot due to overgrowth in the late afternoon. And this section is super steep. The blowdowns and overgrowth get worse for the next two days until I reach Rt 36 and Chester, CA.
Odd…a couple hiked by my tent headed north at 11:00 pm. I just can’t imagine/understand that in general yet alone with this overgrown trail.
I realized something this evening. I’m now in the mindset that this is a job. I don’t look forward to hiking, and I don’t not look forward to it. I just know that I have to get up, hike as far as I can, make camp, eat dinner, write my blog, sleep, and repeat until I get to the next town or lodge. Then do that entire process over again until I break myself or reach Canada.
I have been hiking alone since Yosemite on Day 70 and mile 961. Now it’s day 93 and mile 1299.7. No complaints. I don’t see myself hiking with anyone the rest of the way to Canada.
Technical Notes:
- Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
- French toast x 3 450
- Eggs x 2. 200
- Sausage links x 3 200
- Coffee
- Blackberry milkshake 600
- Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per
- Mango (3-4p, 30g): 100 kcal, 25g carb, 0g fat, 0g protein per
- Quest bar 200 calories, 20g protein
- Salami: 300
- Cheap Ramen: 370 kcal, 54g carb, 14g fat, 8g protein
- Cheap Ramen: 370 kcal, 54g carb, 14g fat, 8g protein
- Tuna: 90 kcal, 4-7g carb, 1g fat, 14-16g protein
- Fritos: 400
- Skittles 250
- Water liters: 6
- Miles: 20
- Time: 12:46
- Up: 4701
- Down: 3852
- Calories consumed: 3689
- Calories burned: 3625
- iPhone battery used: 40%
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