Etna

I got off the trail at Etna Summit and got a ride into town with two dayhikers.  They visit Etna every year.  Jackie was with me and had then drop us off at Bob's restaurant.  It's a family style diner with delicious homemade pies.  Then we walked over to this charming bed & breakfast with a "Hiker Hut" in the side yard.  It's a surprisingly restfull place.  It's a large wooden shed that has been carpeted and furnished with bunkbeds, living area, kitchen, & bath.  Etna itself is a tiny town and people are friendly.  Everyone waves or says hi and seem to know everyone.  Two small boys had a hotdog and lemonade stand set up in their front yard.  The hut supplied us with bicycles to get around town with.  It's a good place for me to stop and ice up my sore spots before hiking on.  My propeller (on my hat) is still spinning!

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July 29, 1586 - 1606

I left the Trinity Alps Wilderness behind and entered the Russian Wilderness.  It's just as beautiful.  I woke up a little sore and tired so hiked slower, took it easy.  I hiked with Jackie the section hiker again and had a good day.  A good day with one exception.  All my talk about being a seasoned hiker now and I go and fall again.  It was a steep downhill section strewn with rocks and very sandy.  I slipped on the sand, tripped on a rock and went headfirst down the trail.  Kinda like diving for home base in baseball.  It was a bad fall but I came out ok with just scrapes and bruises.  I'll probably be stiff & sore in the morning.  I was glad to have Jackie there to dust me off.

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July 26, 1506 - 1524

It was a hot, hard climb but oh so worth it.  I'm camped in an open area with several camping spots and an amazing view.  I pitched my tent facing Mt Shasta, Castle Rocks, and surrounding mountains.  It's beautiful and I should be able to see a lot of stars tonight.  This morning I made a sign 'PCT hiker to trail', and got picked up right away.  His name is Forest and he moved to this area from Portland six months ago.  I really appreciated the ride.

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July 28, 1554 - 1586

What can I say about today?  I started off hiking with a section hiker.  He's a teacher and has been spending his summers on the PCT for years.  I enjoyed his company.  Then later I met another section hiker and a thru hiker.  I felt a new sense of trail maturity and relaxation about the day as I hiked.  The trail entered the Trinity Alps Wilderness in the Klamath National Forest today.  It has lived up to its reputation of stunning scenery.  I saw some snow on distant peaks, rust colored rocky hillsides, green hillsides, meadows, wildflowers, and panoramic vistas.  It's a great section.  I'm camped now near Hwy 93 where there is trailhead parking.  It's a nice spot, flat, shaded, and away from the parking lot.  Two adults and a child rode by on horseback.  They gave me a bottle of gatorade which was perfect.  I was thirsty and my water is rationed for breakfast tomorrow and the 5 mile stretch to the next water. 

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July 27, 1524 - 1554

The trail gained 4000 feet in elevation over 13 miles up to the Trinity divide.  I hiked half of it yesterday and the rest of it today.  Once on top its been fairly flat.  I like being up high.  This section has great panoramic views and Mt Shasta continues to dominate the landscape.  I took a lot of pictures of Shasta.  It's been rocky in places with towering, rust colored cliffs.  But what's interesting is that the rocks change to gray, then back to rust.  It's the weekend so there were a lot of day and weekend hikers out.  It's always fun to meet and talk with these people.  A lady was out with her young daughter and teenage boys.  She teaches school in Shasta and gave me several plums from Chico.  They were the best plums I've ever had.  I could easily become addicted to them if I lived here.  Yummy.  That was this afternoon.  This morning at 9 I hit trail magic.  A 2011 PCT hiker was out with two friends cooking pancakes.  So I had pancakes and orange soda.  It was a great day.  I'm really impressed with Northern California.  And not because of the food.  It's just very beautiful.  So even though I'm anxious to finish California and get to Oregon, I'm really enjoying this part of the trail.

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July 24, 1487 - 1506

I woke up.  I walked 500 miles.  Then I walked 500 more.  I liked it.  So I walked 500 more.  1500 miles!  Oregon is in sight!  I think I will cry when I get to Oregon.  Although the trail north of here is supposed to be really beautiful.  A lot of hikers have dropped off the trail for various reasons.  I think after the emotional high and 'wow' factor of the Sierras to not as many views, combined with the physical tiredness of all the high mountain passes are factors.  I've been hiking in the Trinity Alps National Forest.  The trail went west and passed south of Shasta then turned North to pass to the west of Shasta.  It was mostly downhill today to I 5 freeway.  I caught up to Chris at Amirattis Market in Castella where we both have packages.  The market is two miles from the trail.  I got my resupply box, my new Dirty Girl gaiters, & a gps clip for my pack.  We got a ride into Mt Shasta for the night.  Yippee. 

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July 21, 1424 - 1429

Burney Falls State Park is a busy place on the weekend.  It's a nice park with fishing and boating.  You can rent kayaks, canoes, & power boats.  The falls are pretty too, the way they seem to gush out of the rocks and over the rocks.  I slept in and then spent most of the day sitting at a picnic table outside of the store.  I was charging my phone and ipod in the outlet there.  A lot if hikers came and went while I was there.  Most of them hitched into town for resupplying.  The camp store didn't have much to offer.  It was 90 degrees today!  So I waited til evening to leave and only hiked five miles.  I'm cowboy camping next to a river.  There isn't enough room to set up my tent.  Texas Chill, The Newman, & Robocop are here as well.  Tomorrow is going to be really hot again so I'm going to get up at 430.  I'll hike till noon or so, take a siesta, and hike mire in the evening when its cooler.  This is a picture of the dam just past Burney Falls.

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July 23, 1456 - 1487

I started the day off watching the sun rise over the mountains while I ate my oatmeal and drank my tea.  It turned the sky shades of pink.  I was met by fantastic views of Mt Shasta in the morning light on my descent from the ridge.  It was a beautiful morning.  I saw a lot of wildlife today.  They don't see or hear me coming till I'm right there and then we all jump. Last night it was a deer.  Today it was a bear, a deer, & a snake.  I didn't get a good look at the bear.  It was brown, round, & fuzzy and went crashing down the mountain side as fast as it could go.  So I started talking loudly as I walked.  First to myself, then to the trail, then to any animals out there.  "Human coming through." I keep catching up to Chris.  He's a very fast hiker but his feet are hurting real bad.  He needs new shoes.  Hiking on through the woods its still a jungle but improving.  There was a lot of water and I got to soak my feet in cold water.  Aahh...  I'm pitching camp early again.  It's only 530 but I already hiked a lot of miles today and don't need to do more.  I feel funny wasting daylight though.  Rest is good.

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July 22, 1429 - 1456

Section O begins!  It feels like I'm walking in a jungle.  The trail is winding through thick forest with a lot of low level ground plants, shrubs, & ferns.  In places its completely overgrown the trail.  It's the rolling foothills of the southern cascades.  There have been great views of Mt Shasta though.  There are a lot of flowers and water has been sufficient.  I got up early for the heat but it wasn't to hot due to all of the shade.  I've been leapfrogging Chris & Texas Chill today.  I stopped to camp on the ridge though before the trail descends back into the buggy lower elevations.  I'm glad I did, because I have phone reception!  I have no bugs and a beautiful view!

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July 21, 1424 - 1429

Burney Falls State Park is a busy place on the weekend.  It's a nice park with fishing and boating.  You can rent kayaks, canoes, & power boats.  The falls are pretty too, the way they seem to gush out of the rocks and over the rocks.  I slept in and then spent most of the day sitting at a picnic table outside of the store.  I felt very peaceful.  I was charging my phone and ipod in the outlet there.  A lot if hikers came and went while I was there.  Most of them hitched into town for resupplying.  The camp store didn't have much to offer.  It was 90 degrees today!  So I waited til evening to leave and only hiked five miles.  I'm cowboy camping next to a river.  There isn't enough room to set up my tent.  Texas Chill, The Newman, & Robocop are here as well.  Tomorrow is going to be really hot again so I'm going to get up at 430.  I'll hike till noon or so, take a siesta, and hike mire in the evening when its cooler.  This is a picture of the dam just past Burney Falls.

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July 20, 1398 - 1424

The trail was flat, hot, and rather boring for much of the day.  The exceptions were the black lava rocks on the way down off the rim and the first views of Mt Shasta in the distance.  Seeing Shasta really perked me up!  Other than that it was just trees, tall grasses, rocks and only one water source in the middle of my 26 mile day.  I would pick a tree or object in the distance, hike to it, then pick another.  I'm not complaining, it was fast.  I made good time to Burney Falls State Park.  Eight miles from the park someone left a tote bag with ice cold gatorade for hikers.  Mine still had ice in it so it was a gatorade slushee.  I was so grateful.  The water in my platypus bladder was warm.  I was hot.  So this really helped fuel the last few miles to the park.  When I got here, I found other hikers.  I got food at the store, picked up my resupply box, took a shower, & washed my clothes.  They are the usual chores.  I met some people from Bend, OR.  They were very interested in my hike and gave me a cold lemonade and watched my things for me while I ran around.  The biggest thing for me on the trail has been the kindness of strangers.  It's really been profound and has touched my heart.  I'm camping here in the park with Sunset and the Bee Man.  It's nice to share camp with other hikers.

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July 19, 1367 - 1398

Last night I had a visitor.  A four legged one.  I was awakened by loud rustling and stomping around my tent.  My thoughts in quick succession were Bear? My food!? Headlamp? Headlamp on, it took awhile for my eyes to adjust.  All I saw was a big dark shape with 4 legs.  Turns out it was a deer.  An unafraid, persistent deer.  It wanted what was next to my tent!  I would scare it off and it would just come back.  I finally gave up and went back to sleep.  "It's your forest deer, just don't knock over my tent please." The trail left Lassen Park and headed towards Old Station and Hat Creek Rim.  At Old Station I stopped in at the RV resort to eat at the deli and buy some extra snacks.  Next stop was Subway Cave.  I didn't go to the cave but I filled up my water bottles at the spigots there.  There were some nice people there who talked to me and gave me some carrots and a couple bannanas.  What a treat!  They were very interested in the PCT.  Hat Creek Rim begins shortly after the cave.  There is no water for 30 miles, and temperatures can get to 110.  I'd been worried about it and figured I'd have to night hike most of it.  However, it was cloudy and windy with a hint of rain.  I decided to go for it.  I left the cave area at 1 pm and hiked most of the rim.  The temperature was high 70's.  I couldn't have asked for better weather!  How lucky am I.  There was also a water cache oasis with chairs at mile 1398.  This was a nice welcome surprise.  So I got more water for tomorrow and camped a quarter mile further.  Here is a picture of me with Kermit the Frog.  He has been all over the states with this lady I met as an ambassador for preserving natural resources. (I hope I got that right). Also pictures from the rim.

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July 18, 1353 - 1367

I've been on the trail 3 months today.  And I got sucked into the vortex of DGR.  I was going to hike out this morning but decided to stay for breakfast.  Then I decided to stay a bit linger and soak my sore muscles in the hot spring pool.  Then it was almost time for lunch so I stayed for lunch.  Finally I was able to drag myself out of there and start hiking.  Really it was just hard to leave people and food behind to hike solo again.  None if the other hikers there were ready to leave.  So far Lassen Park is not what I expected.  It is heavily forested with a lot of beautiful lakes.  I talked to a few dayhikers from the ranch on my hike out and had a good afternoon.  Fifteen miles today in spite of lingering to long.

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July 17, 1335 - 1354

After a very restful zero day in Chester and after sleeping 11 hours straight, I was ready to hike today.  I felt great.  I attempted to hitch to the trailhead 8 miles away with no luck.  No one would stop.  So I walked to the Best Western two blocks away looking for other hikers who might have the phone # of the trail angel.  No luck.  Inside the hotel I asked about taxi service.  "Chester doesn't have a taxi.  Where do you need to go?" Asked the receptionist.  When I told her she said "We'll take you." And they did.  How awesome is that?  I've really been touched by the kindness of strangers on this hike.  Sunset was at the trail when I got there and I hiked a little with him before pushing ahead.  A cold front came through and cooled things off so it was great hiking weather.  The trail entered Lassen National Park.  One more park to check off my list.  It's been pine forest for awhile and the ground is littered with giant pine cones. The kind you pay a lot of money for at Christmas as decoration.  There are hot springs and geysers in the park.  I only hiked as far as Drakesbad Guest Ranch.  It's a very hiker friendly place.  The cabins are expensive and booked up long in advance but there is a campground nearby.  At the ranch they gave me loaner shorts & Tshirt and washed my hiker clothes.  They gave me soap and a towel for a shower.  And they fed me a yummy pasta dinner.  Ice cream for dessert.  All for $10.  I had dinner outside on the picnic table with several other hikers.  There were place settings with mats,silverware & plates, and coffee cups.  Fancy for an outdoor dinner.  It was served family style to us after the guests of the ranch had eaten.  The other hikers here are Chris, Sunjay, Sunset, Birdy, La La, and two others.

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July 15, 1313 - 1335

Halfway on the PCT baby! Yes! What a fantastic day.  We caught up to and shared the trail with Moonwalker and her daughter and Mark Trail.  The 7 of us reached the midpoint together and had lunch there.  Then we took off and reached hwy 36 in record time.  There was trail magic at the road and we called a trail angel for a ride to Chester.  We celebrated the milestone with a good dinner and mint chocolate chip icecream with fudge topping.  Always nice to shower & do laundry as well.  Chester is a small friendly town.  We are staying at the Antler motel.  It's comfy and clean.  It's been a good week with the group.  Tomorrow we'll split up as we have different plans.  However, we should regroup in Old Station.  The first half of the trail was a great adventure.  I had good and bad days just like 'real' life.  I'm looking forward to the second half.  What surprises lie around the corner?  What will I see?  Experience?  Bring it on!  I've got Oregon get there itis.  And I think I'll be even more excited about finishing California and making it to Oregon than I am about this halfway point.

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July 14, 1290 - 1313

After a good night at Little Haven, the trail angel's place for hikers, we headed back to the trail.  The day started with a bang.  It began with a long 14 mile, 5000 foot climb.  It took most of the day to get to the top.  The trail entered the Lassen National Forest.  After a bit more hiking we got our first views of Lassen Volcano in the distance.  We played some fun trail games to make the time fly.  Last minute and I sang parts of theme songs from Disney animated movies.  Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo, The Lion King, and the Little Mermaid for example.  I'm really having fun with this group.

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July 13, 1261 - 1289

It was a fast day through the Buckhorn Wilderness.  After a climb it was all downhill to Belden.  We all felt like we stepped from the woods to another planet.  It was an alien world & what is going on? People were running around in bathing suits.  Some were carrying inflatable flotation devices.  And in the background is the thump thump of bass.  Turns out its a rave.  So live music, djs, tents, & a stage were happening on the river.  We got food and called the trail angels the Braatens to pick us up.  I have a resupply box here.  We will hike out in the morning.  Here are some pictures from today.  Also a shout out to my friends competing at and attending the Portland Dance Festival this weekend.  Randy & Rhonda Shotts put on a good event.

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July 12, 1232 - 1261

Lookout Rock.  After a 10 mile hill climb we arrived here in time to watch the sunset.  Beautiful.  Today had a few surprises.  First there was th swimming hole at the middle fork of the feather river.  We got there at 2 pm and dived in.  After a refreshing swim we ate lunch and laid on the boulders in the sun.  The water temp was perfect.  Just cold enough to feel good after a hot hike.  Then there was a spring before reaching camp that had delicious water.  And finally Lookout Rock.  Another great day.

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July 11, 1205 - 1232

I'm cruising through the alphabet.  Finished section L & started section M.  Last night we hiked out of Sierra City at 5 pm to the top of a 2700 foot climb.  There was a great campsite at the top.  We lost Caff. He is somewhere ahead.  So our group is now Last Minute, Ruby Locks, Reim, and I.
The miles came easy today.  We hiked steadily but took breaks.  We all are meshing well and its been some good conversation.  A good day.  The trail has been almost entirely in the trees today with only a few scenic spots.  But they were nice.  There's been some good springs.  The best one was called the A tree spring.  The water was cold, crisp, & clean.  I drank & drank.  I made up a lemonade packet and drank some more.  It was that good.  We had lunch at this fine spot.  Sometimes the water is just a seep, like where we are camping tonight.  Bit its still good water.

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July 10, Sierra City -?

I had a very nice rest day. I ate a lot. I slept a lot. I hung out & socialized. Now that its cooled off I'm heading out with Last Minute, Ruby Locks, & Caff.

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July 9, 1172 - 1198 Sierra City

I'm still walking.  I woke up early and decided to just get started.  I'm stiff and sore.  Once I got moving though my body loosened up and I got a good rhythm going.  It's exciting to see other hikers when you're hiking solo.  Late morning Q ball zoomed by.  He slowed enough to say hi, then kept on running.  Q ball is an ultra runner.  A little layer as I was walking down the hill to the reservoir, I saw an old guy walking towards me.  It was Billy Goat!  Billy Goat is a legend on the PCT.  He's been hiking around on the trail for years.  He told me I looked like I was floating down the trail.  That made me smile.  I really enjoyed talking to him, but he said there was trail magic at the bottom of the hill.  So off I went.  Sure enough, Bruce from Reno had a cooler of gatorade and water and lawn chairs.  A great time to take a break and rest.  While I rested, Beardo showed up.  It was fun to see him as well.  He hikes with Q ball, Wolf Pack, and Jeremiah Johnson.  We are all headed to Sierra City to resupply.  Thanks to my early start I had 15 miles in by 10 am and got to Sierra City by 3.  Grit & Maple were already here.  There is a bed & breakfast called the Moose Inn that is run by two awesome trail angels, Margaret & Bill.  They let hikers camp in th back yard, do laundry, & shower for free.  I was so hungry when I got here I ate a huge 1 lb hamburger.  Two and a half hours later I was able to eat a rib dinner of carrots, potatoes, baked beans and ribs.  I'm a scrawny 104 lbs.  I need to put weight on or at least maintain.  My battery was dead so no pictures of today.

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July 8, 1146 - 1172

I'm on top of the world! (was). The trail climbed up a hill, went around Tinkers Knob, and was then on the crest with panoramic views on both sides.  I saw a deer.  It was very close and checked me out as it walked by.  I hiked over Donner's pass and at highway 40 walked the quarter mile down the road to Donner Ski Ranch.  I was with Atlas and the two of us gobbled up breakfast burritos, Haagen Daas icecream bars and soda.  Then back to the trail.  Again there were lots of dayhikers.  I talked with one couple, and the guy had hiked the PCT in 2008.  The trail then passed the I80 rest stop.  There were no vending machines but water and bathrooms were nice.  Also on the trail today was the Peter Grubb hut, a hut maintained by the Sierra club.  It was nice and cool inside and made a good spot for a snack & rest break. It's been a pretty easy, fast trail the last couple days.  I've been doing well, not falling, & good miles.  That ended when. I took a good tumble this evening.  I laid in the trail for a few minutes, to tired to get up.  I finally did and all seemed well so I hiked on.  About a mile later I started to hurt.  So I found a place to camp and stopped early.  Rest and food will make me fine in the morning.

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July 7, 1115 - 1146

I was the last one out of camp this morning.  I caught up to Atlas and Sunset when they stopped for a break.  I kept going because my energy level was still high.  I stopped at Barker pass for lunch.  Super Girl, Shameless, Paws, and a few others were already there sitting at a picnic table playing cards.  So I joined them.  It was nice to see new and old faces.  They're a fun group.  The trail today followed the Tahoe Rim Trail for awhile so there were a lot of great views of Lake Tahoe.  At one point I was on a ridge where the ground dropped off on both sides.  Lake Tahoe was on one side and other mountains on the other side.  Then the trail skirted the ski boundary of Squaw Valley Ski Resort.  I skiied Squaw Valley several years ago with my friend Daryl so it was fun seeing it in the summer.  I saw a grouse (I think) and watched it for a few minutes.  There were a lot of day and weekend hikers today and its always nice to stop and chat.  I finally made it to camp.  Pineapple & Express were already here camping.  I hadn't seen them since Mammoth Lakes.  I like camping with other hikers, especially when I've spent most of the day solo.  So a great day, but I'm one tired chickie.

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July 6, Back on the Trail 1095 - 1115

I spent the 5th doing laundry and getting back to Echo Lake from South Lake Tahoe.  I stayed with Steve & Peggy again at their cabin.  Atlas, Sunset, Northstar, & Shutterbug were also there.  Sunset has hiked all 3 long trails.  This is his second time doing the PCT.  In the morning I woke up to a sore and swollen left knee.  Everyone se was already up & eating breakfast.  I ate and then laid down on the couch with an ice wrap on my knee.  Everyone left for the trail and I fell asleep.  When I woke up 90 minutes later I was a new person.  I felt tons better.  So back to the trail I went.  I had a helicopter moment at the trailhead.  I heard my name 'Helicopter' being called but didn't see the hiker right away.  Right in front of my nose was Chili and Pepper!  They are a father & son duo who started with me.  I hadn't seen them in weeks.  So it was cool to catch up with them.  They were waiting for the PO to open.  Well no one was ready to start hiking so I took off solo.  It felt strange.  After hiking with a partner for so long, leaving people & town comforts behind was just strange.  But I was and am happy to be hiking again.  I passed a lot of day & weekend hikers.  The trail is currently in the Desolation Wilderness.  It hasn't been very desolate.  There are a lot of people out for the weekend and a lot of mosquitos.  Shortly after Dicks Pass and 6 miles from camp I caught up to Atlas & Sunset.  I finished the day out hiking with them.  My knee is holding up and I had good energy today.  I didn't fall once!  I passed a lot of beautiful lakes.  Here are some pictures from today including Chili & Pepper.

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