Tag: California Section N

Monday, July 27. Mid-50s and sunny going up to mid-70s.

Up at 5:30. On trail at 6:20. My goal is to get a lot of this climb done before it gets hot as there is no water for 12.2 miles.

Said hi to Emmett on the way out. Had not seen him since before Yosemite. He and Bobbie hiked out just ahead of me.

Back in the burn area again by 7:15.

Finished my 6-mile climb at 9:05. Only used half a liter. That leaves me a little less than 2 liters to get to the next water in 6.5 miles. And it’s all downhill. No problem!

Woo hoo! I reached the PCT midpoint at 10:00. I can’t believe I finally made it. Only took me 95 days! I can’t take that long to do the second half. Chatted with Lipstick from Russia for a bit.

Got to water at 12:40. The last 2.5 hours have been tough. Overgrowth up to my chin at times and blowdowns hidden in the overgrowth! Here is what the trail looks like. I lost the trail many times this afternoon.

I have 3.3 miles to Hwy 36. Quick lunch of Fritos, then back on trail at 1:00. Hoping for an easy hitch into town around 3:00.

Last 2 miles were desolate burn and tree recovery area.

YouTube Video Day 95

Hitched into town at 2:50 with an English female who I have met several times but whose name escapes me. Had to wait about 30 minutes. Left 2 behind. Lipstick and a guy I recognized from Quincy.

Picked up some beverages and snacks at the grocery store. I’ll do real shopping tomorrow. It’s a 5-minute walk to my hotel. I can check in at 4:00. Lipstick arrived at the grocery store Starbucks while I was killing time. Hung out in the grocery store Starbucks with Trapper, Dirt Nap, and Lipstick until 4:00. We all look like dirty, bedraggled, homeless people after 4 days in the burn area. 

Maui showed up, and we chatted along with Dirt Nap. Maui skipped the last 4 days of the trail. The consensus is about 75% of hikers skipped this last section because of the blowdowns and overgrowth.

Walked to the Lake Almanor Lodge a bit after 4:00. Nice little place with a separate full kitchen.

Peeled off my insanely dirty clothes and showered. I think this is the dirtiest I’ve ever been on any trail. The black dust from the burnt area is everywhere! You get it crawling over downed burned trees and just walking. It’s so dry that in many places the dust is 1/4 of an inch thick on the trail and mixed with the burnt ash into a black talc-like powder.

Talked to Pitcrew for a while, then walked to Bing’s Bistro for dinner at 6:00. Only two short blocks, and I checked out the laundromat for tomorrow on the way. It looks clean and convenient.

My feet hurt.  New shoes needed I suppose. And my Achilles is being very problematic. I’m am starting to think that I need to get a professional to look at the Achilles. Ugh.

Technical Notes:

• Protein Shake (10oz): 330 cal, 19g carb, 13.5g fat, 36g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• 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 
• Fritos 300
• Dr Pepper 
• Large latte 
• Chicken Fried Steak
• Six wings
• More town food 
• Water liters: 2
• Miles: 15.9
• Time: 8:05
• Up: 2290
• Down: 3432
• Calories consumed: 5000
• Calories burned: 2286
• iPhone battery used: 30%

Sunday, July 26. Mid-50s and sunny going up to mid-70s.

Up at 6:30. I want to do big miles today so that I can get into Chester at a reasonable time (5:00) on Monday evening. I have no idea how much the blowdowns and overgrowth will slow me down. Fingers crossed. On trail at 7:55.

Crossed the 1300-mile mark.

Reached the summit finally at 9:05. Everything for many miles is burned.

Way in the distance, about a week or more hiking, is Mount Shasta

Thousands and thousands of orange butterflies for miles.

Stopped at Cold Spring for water at 11:45 and 7.7 miles. Last water for 8 miles.

Miles and miles and hours and hours of burn zone.

Mother nature is making a comeback.

Looking 15 miles to Chester and Lake Almanor. Unfortunately, it will take me 1.7 days and a hitch to get there.

Ran into Yelnats in the afternoon. We chatted for a few minutes before he moved on.

Made camp at 6:15. Wanted to go further, but there is no water for 12 miles. Bobbie and 3 others camped here too.

YouTube Video of Day 94

Long day, but I hoped for longer. The next water is dry, making for an annoying big water carry. I want to take 3-4 liters.

I booked a second night in Chester. I want a zero, and I have to resupply, get a package from the post office, and do laundry. Sounds like a full day to me.

I am the most dirty I have ever been. Four days in a burn zone, and everything is black from burnt logs. Me and my clothes!

Also, I have two holes in my CNOC. I’ll figure out a replacement tomorrow in town. I doubt I can buy one in Chester.

Technical Notes:

• Protein Shake (10oz): 330 cal, 19g carb, 13.5g fat, 36g protein 
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• Banana Chips (18p, 30g): 150 kcal, 20g carb, 8g fat, 1g protein
• 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 
• Fritos 300
• Quest bar: 200 cal, 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: 5
• Miles: 19.1
• Time: 10:11
• Up: 3455
• Down: 3251
• Calories consumed: 3010
• Calories burned: 2979
• iPhone battery used: 35%

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.

YouTube Video of Day 93

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%