Day 107 – From tentsite to Seiad Valley, mile 1653

Aug 5.

Got up 5.30am, on trail after mini breakfast in tent at 6.15am.

Water stop at Paradise Lake. Heard first barking from wild dogs, followed by howling… Guess I heard the first time wolves!

Stop at 10am with 10 miles, a break for the feet with some stretching. A curious squirrel sits on a close tree and starts whistling… Also never heard a squirrel before.

Walked into a group of 4 deer – one of them was small with cute spots on its fur. Finally saw a baby deer! A day of animal encounters it seems…

Lunch 1.15pm at mile 1641 at Grider creek – only 12 miles more for the afternoon.

The last miles into Seiad Valley turned into a long roadwalk. But here were were so many bushes with blackberries and some variant of raspberries…

Seiad Valley is a very small community. But the general store was open until 8pm, so I had no trouble getting resupply for the remaining 2-3 days to Ashland. The Seiad Cafe next to it had already closed in the afternoon, so I ate for dinner what I had bought in the shop. I pitched my tent in the RV park on the other side of the store. Shower, bucket laundry, charging phone and powerbank… falling asleep around 9pm.

Another 30 miles day.

Day 106 – From Etna to tentsite, mile 1623

Aug 4.

Ride to the trail head at 8.30am leaving at the Etna motel. We stopped at the gas station – I can get a real coffee! 😁

On trail 9.15h. It’s gonna be a long day with short breaks if I want to do more than 25. But I kind of have to. Want to make it to Seiad Valley tomorrow – because for the climb out of that valley, I need to be fresh so it has to be in the morning for me.

Soon after the trail head, I passed the 1600 miles marker.

The morning is much cooler than the last days. But the smoke is back. Visibility is little – can’t even see the next hill.

First stop after about 11 miles at 12.45pm at Shelley Lake outlet, mile 1608. The visibility gets better.

I realize I lost the bite valve of my platypus drinking bladder. I ran back worried half a mile, but no luck. Going back to my pack, I found it under it. 😂 It’s the small things that make you happy… Efficient and quick 1 hour lunch break, I even manage to get a quick nap.

I kept pushing to the next water. While the trail is relatively even, I miss taking more breaks – my normal routine is start around 6.30am, break around 10am after 10 miles, lunch break at 1pm after 15-17 miles and another break at 5pm before finding a tentsite around 7pm. In these breaks I take off my shoes and stretch and massage my feet.

Camped around 7.30pm at a tentsite at mile 1623. My feet hurt. It’s not the distance – just 26 miles today – it’s taking too little breaks.

Seiad Valley is in 30.4 miles from here. I want to get there tomorrow, so I will need an early start. The general store there seems to close at 8pm. Since I need an early start also the day after tomorrow, I need to get to the store in time to resupply to make my plan work…

Day 105 – From tentsite to Etna, Nero day

Aug 3.

Mount Shasta

The last night had been comfortably cool again for sleeping. Had trouble to get up at 5.15am when my alarm went off. Stayed in the tent another 15min. But the thought of getting into town (equals food, shower, laundry) after just 13 miles motivated me enough to be on trail by 6am. Breakfast only on the go today.

After some uphill, the trail led rather even through the Russian Wilderness with its rocks and burnt trees – a nice change of the view I had the last days.

I was coming to the road leading to Etna around 11.45am. With three other hikers waiting there already for a hitch, I expected a longer waiting time. But lucky us – an SUV coming up from Etna turned around and a nice lady from the Etna motel took all of us into town.

My breakfast in town – with a huge cinnamon roll 🤣😂

After breakfast, I did grocery shopping in the Dollar General and pitched my tent in the city park. They offer showers and restrooms for hikers. A good place to finish my town day – doing nothing.

Day 104 – From tentsite to tentsite, mile 1583

Aug 2.

Started 6am after a very quick breakfast. Hiked for the first few hours with Crumbs, we had a nice chat.

10 miles by 10am. Smoke seemed a bit better – only in the valleys, it stayed rather visible.

Lunch 1pm 1571, 17 miles done. Not bad at all. Feels like I might be able to do around 30 miles again today.

Gusty, Stuckfoot and I aimed for a last water at mile 1582, that would make it a 29 miles day. The spring was a bit off trail and pretty slow. I waited a while for my turn, Gusty and Stuckfoot caught up on me. They decided to have dinner at the spring and continue afterwards. Crumbs was already ahead.

The free roaming cows have bells here – like in the Alps!

Pretty tired around 7pm, I left the spring trying to find the next tentsite. There were 4-5 hikers ahead and the terrain was steep, so I was a bit worried about find a spot to pitch my tent soon. There was nothing on the ridge – I had to walk close to a mile to finally find a single spot.

Pitching my tent at 7.45pm.

30 miles. Today was a better day than yesterday. Looking forward to hit Etna tomorrow.

Day 103 – From tentsite to tentsite, mile 1553

Aug 1.

Got up 5.20am. Slept really well – the altitude was probably the reason for the cooler night.

But while the smoke had cleared up a bit last night, it was really bad again this morning.

The current forest fires in California seem to be a sad new record – also the German media report on the fires.

When hiking the trail, we always keep an eye on the website of the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) – they maintain a good overview on trail closures.

On trail at 6.15am. Today we might aim for a tentsite with water in 29 miles. Vertical profile looks ok. Trail will go up to over 7000 feet but more or less stay there.

First break at 9.40am, 10 miles in at Deadfall Lake.

Today I hiked with Gusty and Crumbs and ran into Footstuck and Orangutan multiple times.

Came to tentsite at 6.30pm at mile 1553. Also due to the smoke, it was nonotonous hiking day today. Quick dinner and into the tent.

I am looking forward to completing Northern California. The 29 miles today will help.

Once darkness came some deer walked around my tent – tried to hush it away.