Day 68 Oh...These Woods Are Haunted!

Day 68 

26 miles (25 PCT miles +1 mile off trail for water)

PCT mile 1252

If you ever want to find out if a thru-hiker slept well...just ask them: "Did you hear any noises in the night, last night?"  If the answer is no they most definitely had a sound night of sleep. If they answer with "yes" it's most likely to follow with a colorful story.

Some of you have heard of my stories: "what sounded like an elephant stampeded by my tent at 4am" or "the snort that sounded much like a horse right outside my tent shortly after I crawled in it for the night." Let's be realistic an elephant and a horse? Most likely not the creatures to be found in the wild in the woods where the PCT travels. From process of elimination you may be able to guess exactly what I was hearing...or so I thought.

Last night proved me wrong. It was probably around 10pm, Vee and I had not long ago crawled into our tents and were not quite asleep yet. Then the noises began. It sounded like a person, 2 footed and not exactly quiet as it walks, I assumed it could probably be a thru-hiker walking around looking for a campsite. After a good 30 minutes of this nonsense, tree branches started falling between Vee's and my tent. I finally yell "What the hell was that?" Nothing from Vee...and then I hear the creature wander off.

The noises came back to me in my sleep. I could hear them from afar...I'll wake myself up when they get closer...I thought in my slumber. And I did just that. It was 2am and the creature came back. "Go away" and again I heard it wander off.

My conversation with Vee this morning, I ask "Did you hear those noises, last night?"

Vee replies, "I was so scared. I'm so glad you were here. I would have shit myself if you weren't."

"What the hell was it?" I ask.

"I thought it was Namaste looking for a campsite, as he doesn't have a headlamp. Until the branches started falling from the tree." He answered.

We spent the next few minutes discussing the noises and agreed it sounded more like a person than an animal. The mystery remained to be answered.

I have the answer...these woods are haunted. There are enchanted creatures that come out at night to spook thru-hikers. I spent the better half of my morning convincing myself of this. I became so convinced that I started seeing things in the woods and felt something was following me all day long, I'd see something out of the corner of my eye, I'd turn quickly to catch it, but it was gone before I could confront it eye to eye. Oh what a mess I have created!!!

One of natures smaller enchanted creatures I came across today.

Day 67

Day 67

July 26th

26 miles

PCT mile 1227

Good day with lots of miles... Not much to report on the happenings of the day. 

Towards the end of the day I came across a group of dirt bikers taking a break at the A Tree, I stopped and talked with them for a bit, they were fascinated by my adventure and had tons of questions. Then shortly after that I ran into 2 women section hikers that I had met at Ziggy and the Bears, over 1000 miles ago! They had hiked to Big Bear and then got back onto the trail yesterday. How cool was that to see them again.

Pilsbury was ahead of me for the entirety of the day, I got the message  from the ladies that she was going to stop somewhere between 26-30 miles for the day. I stopped at 26 I was happy with that mileage and wanted to have more rest then continue on to find Pilsbury. Not long after I set up camp I was joined by Vee...always happy to have the company of a fellow thru-hiker at night! 

Day 66 Leaving Sierra City

Day 66

July 25th

3 miles

PCT mile 1200.8

I wanted to have most of the day to rest and go out on the trail late afternoon/early evening just to get a few miles in.  Pilsbury was also down with that plan, so we did just that, hung out in town all day and got a ride back to the trail about 5:30ish. 

I had a fabulous breakfast at the Red Moose Inn Cafe. I have to say they make a pretty mean cup of coffee too.

My favorite town breakfast: eggs, bacon, pancakes and coffee.

I spent most of the day organizing resupply and repacking. I had a wonderful surprise box from my friend, Jen, and a few extra goodies stuffed into the box my mom sent, including my favorite chapstick. Since my new pack has bigger hip pockets, it can accommodate the odd shape, so I gladly ditched my old chapstick for my new one.

My favorite chapstick.

There is a 8.5 mile climb out of town, by the time we hit the trail our camping options were 3 miles in or 7.5 miles in, we decided 3 miles was good enough for today, our packs were loaded down with food and heavy. So we set up camp, ate dinner and called it a night.

The elevation profile heading out of town.

Pilsbury and I outside the Red a Moose Inn...finally got a picture of her/us to post.

Day 65 Sierra City

Day 65

July 24th

20 miles

PCT mile 1198

20 miles and I made it to my next resupply, Sierra City!!! Not before I had this awesome photo op with my visitor on my coffee break this morning.

Haven't seen this trail marker before.

Namaste and Pilsbury were up early and got to Sierra City before I did. I met them on the porch of the general store where we hung out and ate burgers, milkshakes, ice cream, and any other yummy snacks we could find.

Hikers at the general store.

I couldn't resist.

The store closed at 6 so we stocked up on food and beverages for the evening and went on to find a camping spot for the night. Pilsbury and I set up in the backyard of the Red Moose Inn (hiker friendly and free camping). Namaste joined us and as the evening went on the backyard began to fill by all our friends: Vee, 3D, and Far Out, as they came in from off the trail.

The numbers are getting closer!!!

Day 64

Day 64

July 23rd

25 miles

PCT mile 1178

Nothing too exciting to report today. I passed Highway 40 and the historic Donner Summit this morning, those of you unfamiliar with the significance, you can look it up for a little history lesson of the day. I did!

Between Highway 40 and Highway 80 there is 3.5 miles. I felt like I was hiking in the "in between land" not exactly wilderness between two highways. Once I came to Highway 80, I stopped at the rest stop to fill up on water and cook some breakfast and coffee. As I was spread out at one of the picnic tables, one curious bystander came over to ask about my backpacking trip. He disappeared only to return a few minutes later to offer some bottled water and some snacks. Of course I couldn't resist. He brought his cooler over to me and this is what I picked out. I ditched my breakfast and stowed it for a snack later and devoured these treats.

Pilsbury and Namaste left South Lake Tahoe together Sunday morning and were a half day ahead of me. Because we had cell service we kept each other updated on our locations, Monday they camped 4 miles ahead of me, Tuesday 2.5 miles, and today I finally caught up at 6:30. We were all happy to be reunited...for the short mile and half we hiked together. I wanted to do more miles today and have less to Sierra City tomorrow. They were tired and preferred to get up early and get it all done tomorrow. So we separated when they stopped to get water and I continued on, knowing we'd all see each other tomorrow and hang out in Sierra City together.

Day 63 Hiking Through The Back Country of Tahoe City's Ski Resorts

Day 63

July 22nd

25 miles 

PCT mile 1153

Today was a super fun day with superb views. Walking the rim around Tahoe being able to see 360 degrees around, with Lake Tahoe to the south, and nothing but wilderness to the north. Then walking the back boundaries of Squaw Valley Ski Area and then ending my night camping in the back country of Sugar Bowl Basin Ski Area. Loved it!!!

Lake Tahoe looking south

Squaw Valley

View from my camping spot.

Day 62 My Two Month Trail Anniversary!!!

Day 62 

July 21st

24 miles

PCT mile 1128

It's almost hard to believe that I have been at this for 2 months. It didn't seem that long ago that I was reflecting on my 30 days spent on the trail. Yet I think about where I was then and where I am now and everything that has happened in between: all the people I have met, all the miles I have walked, all the nature I have taken in, and all the memorable experiences I have had, so much has evolved and shaped me and my experience in the last month. I've learned a lot about myself and my ability to power on. I used to think I was a wuss and intolerable to cold temps and rain, but when I went out into the rain and left thru- hikers behind at Echo Lake and they're calling me badass or when Namaste and I were hiking through the rain on two separate occasions and you see hikers pulled off trail set up in their tents and I just kept walking, I start to think maybe I'm not as big of a wuss as I thought? Perhaps I can tolerate a lot more then I ever thought I could? But that's not why I continue on, I continue on because that's what thru-hikers do....I have a destination and a deadline I am determined to make. I must keep going if I stopped for every rain storm or inclement weather I'd never make it. 

Mother Nature was kind to me today she must have known it was a special day for me, she spared me of the rain today. 

A funny for today as I took a break at the top of Dick's Pass this morning. Far Out (another thru-hiker) came up and joined me..."so we've climbed the highest Dick and the highest Nipple there are, what do you think is next?" he asked. 

Dick's Pass

Enjoying some potato salad and iced latte at the top of Dick's Pass

And sporting my new visor from Pulse Endurance Sports in San Diego...Thank you Pulse Family for all your support!!!

Day 61 A Hiker and a Biker

Day 61 

July 20th

11 miles

PCT mile 1104

Typical get out of town day: intend for the morning, but last minute need to do this and this and this passes the morning hours quickly.

I made my 3rd trip to Keys Cafe and had the SAME breakfast sandwich for the 3rd day in a row, it's soooo good. And then I saw this:

I couldn't resist gluttony at it's best.

I ordered a new sleeping bag. I've been researching bags and finally decided on the Feathered Friends Swift Nano...they custom make the bag so it won't be delivered in time to Sierra City, so I had it delivered to Chester, CA my resupply stop in 10 days. My bag has been sufficient enough to this point but when the temps start to drop anymore then they have at night I'll start to get cold. I'm also cutting another pound so might as well get rid of the extra weight sooner than later.

Finally I was ready. Scott rode his bike to Tahoe from the city and agreed to give me a ride back to the trail. Picture this: a biker giving a backpacker wearing their pack a ride on a Harley. It was awesome!!! As we were pulling out of town we passed a handful of PCT hikers they were loving it, thumbs up, waving and laughing as we drove by.

I was on the trail by 1:30 which was better then I thought after my morning of last minute tasks. The sky was dark, but I thought I was going to miss the rain. Nope! By the time I got to Echo Lakes about 2.5 miles in it started pouring. I sought shelter under the eaves of the store with about 10 other hikers. I waited for about an hour and let the worse of it pass then continued on, for the rest of the afternoon/evening i had rain and light drizzle. 

Fun photo op before hitting the trail

My evening on the trail, between rain.

Day 60 To Zero or Not to Zero

Day 60 

June 19th

0 miles 

Tahoe

First I was not going to zero in Tahoe, then I was...then plans changed and I wasn't. Then my friend Scott and I got in touch yesterday..."how long are you in Tahoe for?" I explained my situation, "How about I ride my bike out? I've been wanting to get the bike out for a long ride and it would be great to see you." So then it was decided I would zero and go back out on the trail Sunday morning.

I spent most of the morning, organizing, cleaning, and repacking my pack. Thanks to Ed and Cheryl I'm going to have some great meals over the next week...I can't wait, I'll be eating like a queen on the trail. My food that I have prepared has been great and I'm happy with it and like all of it but the change of having a new variety and something completely different is going to be wonderful. Since my next resupply is 4-4.5 days away, I could pack a lot of the treats I got from Heather, Mike and family, and Stephanie in company. What I didn't pack in my pack, I set up in the hotel as a snack buffet of treats and have been eating my way through it.

Hotel Snack Buffet

I revisited Keys Cafe and had some great coffee and the same bacon egg avocado sandwich I had yesterday. After that Namaste and his dad were next door to my hotel eating lunch so I went over there to visit until Scott got to town.

Scott got in shortly after 2. We hung out for a bit and just got each other caught up in each of our lives. Then we took the bike out to run some errands and do some sightseeing. I got a few supplies I needed. We stopped for pizza since that was on my list and I have been craving it for a while. 

We rode the bike down by the lake, the sun was getting low and making for some beautiful pictures with all the clouds so we stopped to enjoy the view. Then we took a fun little tour around the neighborhoods surrounding the lake looking at all the beautiful homes with spectacular views.

And that was it for the day...I was tired and ready to call it an evening. It's funny after reflecting on my day I felt like it went by so quickly and I really hadn't done much...I guess I'm so use to being on the trail and walking miles on end any given day that not getting any miles in feels like a nonproductive day. Nonproductive in the sense of no forward progress is probably why that feeling comes about. But it was a day of R&R well spent.

Day 59 Boxes Galore and Loving It!!!

Day 59

June 18th

11 miles

PCT mile 1093

It was 5:45am and I hear a voice coming from outside my tent..."is that you Happy Feet?" It's Namaste. Wow he's up and at it early. We had separated shortly after the rain cleared yesterday, when Namaste took a rest and I opted to continue hiking.

"Where'd you camp last night?" I ask. It ends up he was probably less then a quarter mile down the trail from me.

"Had I walked for 3 more minutes I would have found you," he replied. "Do you want me to wait for you?"

"Nah...go ahead, I still need to make some coffee, I catch you in a few."

Namaste's dad was meeting him at Highway 50 in about 11 miles, they were going to go into Tahoe together. Namaste offered for his dad to also give me a ride, first to Echo Lakes and then to Tahoe as well. So I quickly made my coffee and started packing. My tent was soaking with dew, but figured I'd dry it out in the hotel later. 6:26 and I was on the trail...Wow! That could have possibly been my earliest start...nothing like a little town/resupply motivation and a free ride to get you moving in the morning. I caught up to Namaste in an hour or so. Then he was flying down the downhill and I lost him. He said he'd wait at the trailhead for me.

11 miles down by 10:30...awesome! Namaste and his dad were there and his dad had a trunk full of delicious goodies...I indulged in more grapes and some animal crackers.

Namaste and his dad

Then we were off to Echo Lakes to get my packages. The woman at the post office disappeared for a while after I gave her my name. She came back with seven, seven packages!!! "Do you want all of them?" she asks. Ahhh...yes, yes of course I want all of them. Thank goodness I have transportation. I bury myself in the backseat with all my packages. Man...am I thrilled can't wait to get back and open them all. 

Namaste's dad drops me off at the hotel I want to stay in. I can't check in yet because it's too early. They keep my packages behind the counter and I meander over to this great little coffee shop, Keys Cafe. I have been to South Lake Tahoe before and the coffee shop was on my list of places to return. I enjoy a refreshing smoothie and a delicious bacon egg avocado sandwich.

Eventually I'm able to get checked into my hotel room. I get my boxes and start spreading treats galore all over the room. So how does one end up with 7 boxes? Well one was from myself just a few things from Mammoth I didn't was to carry hiking and things I'd just use in town, like some foot and body lotion, and extra supplies I'd need down the road. 

Two were from my mom with things I had her order: socks and compression sleeves, and she stuck in some extra goodies from some co-workers, thank you!!! 

Darn Tough socks guaranteed for life! I wonder if the life of the PCT is included in that guarantee?

Then 2 were from Ed and Cheryl, good friends of the family. They were the ones that initially offered to sponsor a resupply box. I handed over to them the responsibility to completely resupply me for 4.5 days meals and all. They did an awesome job of selecting meals and bars and treats. These next few days on the trail are going to be great eating all new types of food and meals.

Then I had a surprise box from Heather, Mike and family filled with more awesome snacks and little goodies and a Pulse visor (Mike and Heather's bike/run/tri-shop in San Diego), I think my favorite was the trashy magazine, US Weekly, Heather stuck in for me to get caught up in my Hollywood gossip. 

And the last box was from Stephanie (as well as Randy, Ruth, Sylvia, and Claire) and her San Diego Zoo co-workers. Besides all the yummy treats, it also had some really practical things I needed: a new clean tank, I can wear around in towns, shampoo and conditioner, sunscreen to name a few. I'll put all of that in my bounce box and mail ahead, so I can use them at town stops, but not have to carry the extra weight in my pack.

I want to thank each and everyone of you that had contributed it makes coming to town and resupplying so much fun and I get to gorge myself on treats and snacks and keep my belly full and happy. My pack it going to have the best treats in it for at least the next 5 days!!!

Day 58 A Bit More Rain and Some Trail Magic

 

Day 58

July 17th

24 miles

PCT mile 1082

It appears that Namaste has become my hiking thru-rain friend. I was about 6 or 7 miles into my day taking my morning break when Namaste came and joined me. There were blue skies but suddenly the clouds rolled in about 12:30. As I was finishing up my break the raindrops started. I grabbed my rain jacket, packed up my pack and was ready to hit the trail, no rain was stopping me. Namaste followed suit. It started out as light rain as we hiked through some wooded area, then we came to some more barren exposed landscape and the rain became more insistent with some thunder and lightning in the distance, I kept going, no reason to stop when it's raining you're only going to get more wet and cold. Then we got a little hail. Still kept going. 

Namaste's silhouette on the trail ahead

It was shortly after 3pm and the rain was trying to lighten up but still coming down. We came around a bend in the trail as we were descending down a hill and a saw a lone white vehicle parked up ahead. "Look a car" I said to Nasmaste. As we got closer we could see the hatch was popped and someone was sitting in the back. Namaste yelled out "Hello," and this man came out to greet us.

     "Are you thru-hikers" he asked. 

     "We sure are," I replied, "what are you doing out here?" I inquired. 

     "I'm here for you." 

      What?!? He's here for us? Like the 2 of us specifically? What the heck does he mean? It seemed weird and surreal encountering another being in the middle of who knows where, after hiking through the rain for a few hours.

      "Yeah...I have some soda and beer and some chips, you want some?"

      I laugh as I often do when offered something out of the ordinary out on the trail, "Yes! Yes, I want some. This is totally awesome."

       He goes on to introduce himself as I start raiding his cooler. Grapes!!! I was just talking about wanting fruit. I grab a obnoxious handful...about a pound and start popping them in my mouth. His name is Ian, he is a professional photographer from San Francisco, and he's out here doing a project on PCT hikers.

Ian the magical trail angel.

Namaste trying to stay dry 

He asks us if we'd like to get out of the rain and starts moving things around so we can all fit underneath the hatch of his vehicle. Ian asks if we would mind if he asks us some questions and take our pictures "not at all" we both reply, as we get comfy out from the rain. So we sit and talk and enjoy some chips, grapes, and Coca-cola (the real stuff in the glass bottle). About a half hour passes by and the rain stops, Ian takes out his camera to take our pictures. He has some pretty cool old school equipment which is fun and entertaining to watch the process. He also has a polaroid and takes polaroids of us, one for him and an extra for us to keep.

My new keepsake

By the time we're done and Ian has his pictures taken, the rain has stopped and it's starting to warm up. We thank Ian for all the goodies and the fun afternoon break from hiking and hit the trail again.

I love unexpected trail magic like that...it's so cool and fun and completely makes my day. I am in a fantastic mood for the rest of the day.