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.

Day 102 – Dunsmuir to tentsite, mile 1524

July 31.

Woke up at 6am, anticipating a pickup together with Gusty and Crumbs by Gusty’s dad around 6.45am.

Finishing the last fruits in a quick breakfast, I was in front of the hotel in time. Got updates from Crumbs about a delay so I walked to an espresso place in Dunsmuir.

Gusty, Crumbs and I started on trail by 8am. Surprisingly quite flat in the beginning. Following Crumbs lead, we took a wrong turn and hiked up steeply a while – but another fork of the trail led us back to the PCT.

Water was an issue – water sources up to 10 miles away. The smoke from the nearby forest fires of the last days remained – not much to see from the Castle Crags Wilderness…