Tag: PCT

PCT 2018 Day 62, June 23, Saturday.

Start campsite at mile 1312.8

End mile 1328.8, highway 36, then get a ride to Chester 7.5 miles away

Miles walked: 16.0

More volcanic rock formations decorate the landscape. Mid-morning I reach the marker for the midpoint of the trail. At Hwy 36 Lizzie and her owner give me a ride into the the town of Chester. Lizzie just came from the vet, and is feeling fragile, so gets to ride (drive) up front. A couple of affordable motels in town are closed, so it is impractical to zero. Instead, I camp at the Lutheran church backyard for free, and resupply and snack, and will head back on the trail tomorrow after breakfast. Other hikers at the church are Celtic, Redbeard, Woodchuck, and a couple more, most sobo.

PCT 2018 Day 61, June 22, Friday.

Start mile 1284.7, just past trailhead, cowboy camp under power line tower

End campsite at mile 1312.8

Miles walked: 28.1

A bear was walking on PCT path coming towards me, 100 feet away walking on skree, and I saw it before it saw me. Clacking my trekking poles together was enough to cause it to turn and run away.

Climbing from 2.5k to 7k elevation took much of the day. Now in the Lassen national forest, one can see volcanic Eagle Rocks, perhaps a preview of what is to come at Lassen National Park in a couple of days. Today I saw 8 sobos, several flipping from Ashland.

Finished audiobook The Wisdom of Father Brown, by G K Chesterton.

PCT 2018 Day 60, June 21, Thursday.

Start mile 1261.7 flat spot

End mile 1284.7, just past trailhead, cowboy camp under power line tower

Miles walked: 23.0

Before climbing Bucks Summit, a history sign tells us that others had a more difficult time. I did not need to empty my pack to get up, and did not have any loose mules nearby, but have been called mule-headed, so that might serve. From 7k elevation the trail drops to a stunning 2.2k, on switchbacks that go for hours and miles. On this mountain the switchbacks are in shade, but on the next mountain over, you can just make out the switchbacks for tomorrow, exposed to the sun. Amazingly, a cargo plane zooms by in the deep canyon, below me, on some practice manuever. Finally at the town/resort of Belden, I can get a shower, laundry, and a meal. Atom, an artist-in-residence, has a tiny home he built himself and asks me to look over. Belden hosts half a dozen music festivals each year, with thousands coming to camp out and listen. “Atom, the World’s Fastest Artist”, gives a demonstration to me and a couple staying at the resort of his painting technique using cans of spray paint.

He paints and moves to music, with flashy painting tricks, like a street performer. Cool.

The staff of the resort are kind, with infinite free refills of my Dr Pepper as I charge devices and use their wifi. Saunter arrives later, and will take a room to rest a hurt knee. The resort charges for tent sites, but national forest land is near, so I start hiking out. A camper at the resort sees I am a PCT hiker, and offers me dinner, salad topped with steak, which would be impolite to refuse! Craig’s buddies did not arrive today, so he had extra food. He shared some personal life experiences. Now close to dark, I hike across the river and past the trailhead to a tiny flat spot next to the trail underneath an electric power line metal tower. In the dusk I almost get too close to poison oak, which is common from here to the next state border. I cowboy camp, and will start out early tomorrow to get past exposed switchbacks in the cool morning.