Pacific Crest TrailComet walks from Mexico to Canada

Hiked just over 29 miles and camped with Ben next to an abandoned road. The mosquitos are the worst they have been in a long time. Can’t wait for Friday at Etna to get the tarp and bug net. My hands are getting feasted upon as they are the only exposed surface. The sound is terrible. It’s an earplug night.

Saw Axilla and met Hummingbird today. Only other thing of note was the nice guys down fishing at the river that gave us cold sodas. Hit the spot!

Doing about 24 tomorrow to get to the road to Castella. Monday we’ll hike in, resupply, and hike out.

That’s it for now. Time to protect the hands.

Kind of sleepy mid day today but kept pushing and Ben and I managed about 29 miles by 7:30pm. Plenty of light to wash up and throw down the bivy to cowboy. Oh yeah and eat burritos. Speaking of which it was pointed out to me that I eat a lot. I knew that, but to have another hiker point it out (several times) must mean something.

Last night was decent sleep but a chilly morning. Tonight it’s already cold and breezy not far from Mooshead Spring. In theory this would keep the skeeters away, but these guys are strong. Axilla rolled in a while after we set up and is camping here too.

Pretty sure I mentioned I saw the first skunk of the hike yesterday but don’t know if I said anything about the enormous rabbits with long ears (jackrabbits?).

Should get to Castella early Monday no problem which sets up good for an early arrival to Etna on Friday. I’ll stay there for the night, sort PO gear being sent, and spend quality time in restaurants. Oh and clean me and my clothes.

Great views of Mt. Shasta today. Dry and dusty trail. Big sections of recently maintained trail and some chunks of trail that were horribly overgrown over our heads. Saw Carhops van so he’s hiking this stretch tonight. Shooting for around 25ish tommorow. Here’s hoping for a “warm enough” night since I just ditched my warmest layer at the last post office.

Trail magic is loosely defined as something that aids a hiker and is usually unexpected. It can come in the form of a roadside cooler of water and soda, an invitation to stay in someones home, or on the case of tonight…food. More on that in a bit.

Ben and I hiked to the road to hitch into Burney. It took well over an hour before we got picked up. We had heard this was a hard hitch, and it was. A 2005 PCT hiker, Mountaingoat, took us in to the Safeway to get food. After that I went to the post office to mail some gear home. My warm insulating jacket shouldn’t be needed for a while and my cookpot and fuel bottle have only been used about 10 times since the border so got sent away as well.

While at the post office a guy that lives near the trail offered to take us back. First we grabbed some Subway sandwiches to go and filled our water bottles.

About 7 miles of hiking later we were at the large campground before the State Park. A large trail crew working for the California Conservation Corp has a base camp set up there. In short we hammered on their leftovers from dinner and it was awesome. We were then invited to have dessert with them when it was ready and breakfast in the morning. Sweet. Except. Shorty after that a ranger drove up and told us it was $15 a person of Ben and I wanted to camp there. She was just doing her job, but out of principle there was no way we were paying to sleep in the woods after hiking over 1400 miles to get there. And so we packed up and hiked on a few extra miles where we are not required to pay and there is no amazing breakfast.

All in all a good day. Mid 20s for miles two hitches a resupply and some magic. Now for a little snooze before getting ready for the push to Castella about 80 something miles from here.

We got booted before I could take pictures of the amazing camp setup the crew had. Oh, and the mosquitos are hungry tonight!

Posted from Burney, California, United States.

After a wonderful evening at the Heitmans, and killer breakfast, Ben and I hiked out. We headed toward the infamous Hat Creek Rim. It’s well known for being a hot, dry, waterless stretch. We were fortunate that it didn’t get much above 90 and there was a nice breeze the whole way. We also knew that the water caches were solid.

Late in the day I saw the first skunk of the hike. I scared it off but it just ran up the trail in front of us. A few hundred yards later we saw it again, but luckily no incident occured. We also saw the “subway cave” which is a neat volcanic type cave just off trail near Old Station.

Tomorrow we attempt the difficult hitch into Burney to get resupply. Hopefully from there we can make it to the Burney Falls State Park area for good camping and decent miles on the day.

Tonight I cowboy camped a little off trail near the ridge of Hat Creek Rim. Awesome sunset over the distant mountains.

Posted from California, United States.

24 miles today to Old Station. Ben, Guthook, and Tangent are also here. We are staying at an awesome trail angels house. They fed us tons of food after we got milkshakes from the store. I had four loaded plates of food and still feel full. Breakfast sounds amazing as well.

I think I am the only one hiking out in the morning. Some are taking zeros and others are leaving later since the next section is supposed to be very hot, exposed, and dry. I’ll shoot for around 24 miles tomorrow which would get me to a water cache. The next town resupply is forty something miles in Burney.

I’m enjoying what will no doubt be the last magic for a while but it has been an amazing section. Far more magic in the past 200 miles for me than on the entire Appalachian Trail. No offense AT!

The next gear town is Etna in a few hundred miles. I’ll swap out a few things and lighten up the pack. I’ll probably get rid of my stove and cookpot since I have only cooked about 10 times since Mexico.

The magic continues. Hiked a short 18+ miles today after a late start. The late start was due to a post office stop to send home my rain jacket and the breakfast at the hotel.

Just about at the end of the day was Drakesbad Ranch. Amazing food. It is just off trail and they treat hikers really well. A great PCT hiker discount and double portions of excellent food was great. So was the free shower and soaking my feet in the natural hot spring pool.

Tomorrow is 24 miles to the last trail angels for a long time. It’s been a fantastic stretch of great people and wonderful food. It’s back to the trail diet soon and that’s kind of sad, but the memories of this stretch will fuel me for a while.

I’m cowboy camped just past Drakesbad with Ben, Tangent, and Guthook. The mosquitos aren’t too bad and the temperture is great. Looking forward to a good nights sleep and an early start to the day.

Not much of California left, then on to Oregon. That’s that.

Hiked 21 miles into Chester today. It was slow going as the energy level wasn’t too high. Not bad trail though it’s very dusty and gets the feet and legs dirty in a hurry.

Met a trail worker today with two horses carrying up gear to clear fallen trees and debris from the trail. This section had a rough winter and crews have already done a ton of work to clear the trail.

Trail angel Pipers Mom gave me, Boondock, Ben, and Guthook a ride into town. We got milkshakes and found a hotel room then got dinner and resupplied.

Tomorrow we all hit the trail again after breakfast and head for Drakesbad. It’s some kind of resort that is supposed to have food and treat hikers well. That’s only 18 miles away. 24 miles from that is the last set of trail angels for quite a ways. I’m doing my best to eat lots of town food through this section so I don’t waste away to nothing!

Anywho it’s after 10pm now and everyone is asleep. I should do the same so that I am up early for breakfast. Oh yeah, I broke 1300 miles and passed the halfway point ofthe trail. More news later.

Pictures…trail magic by Pipers Mom, my filthy legs and toes 4 miles after washing them (the feet are clean due to the gaiters), a slightly healthier resupply.

Posted from Chester, California, United States.

Another 26.2 mile day. Huge breakfast at the cafe in Belden then a 13 mile climb in some intense heat. Some of it was shaded and there was plenty of water, so that was good.

Didn’t sleep top good last night at the Braatens (trail angels house). It was really warm and I didn’t pick an ideal sleeping location.

After a ride back to the trail I hiked with Guthook most of the day. We ended the day with a relatively easy 21 into Chester tomorrow. After dark Boondock rolled in and set up camp too.

The mosquitos were fine until after dark. Now there are a few buzzing around, but nothing bad. There are however some curious mice around. I hung my food so should be in good shape. It is pretty warm out thus far and I am cowboy camping near the trail. Looking forward to lots of delicious food tomorrow in Chester!

24 miles to Belden. Hiked fast from Honkers Pass, the location of last nights amazing magic. We were sent off with an amazing breakfast and still on the trail by 7:30am.

Hot day today with a several thousand foot drop into town. Once we (Guthook, Shannon, and Boondock) arrived we called the local trail angel to pick us up and take us to the restaurant. There we were able to do laundry and eat tons of food. I had two meals and a milkshake and two more meals to go. I’ll eat those tonight after showering at the trail angels house.

Tomorrow we plan to hit the restaurant for breakfast before hitting the trail. It’s 47 hot difficult miles to the town of Chester. That’s the next stop and a proper town stop with a full supermarket. As you can tell, it’s all about food.

To answer a previous comment question, I have had very little rain thus far but have had some hail. Heavy rain is expected later in the hike further north.

Wow. Just wow.

Good day of hiking, kind of humid and some big climbs but really nice all the same.

Then it happened. There was a sign with a phone number a little ways from a trail crossing put out by trail angel Nancy. She and her family host hikers in grand fashion. She picked up Guthook, Symbiosis, and I. Then there was a shower. Then pre dinner. Then a huge dinner. Then fruit dessert. Now a night on the deck with huge foam pads to sleep on. Then fat breakfast tomorrow before heading back onto the trail. Seriously this trail has had the most amazing magic. More than the AT which has a ton more hikers. I cannot thank all the trail angels out there enough.

Tomorrow I should get to Belden for resupply then may stay at the Braatens (more trail angels) depending on the time of day. A couple days later I will be in the town of Chester which is the unofficial halfway point town of the trail.

Lastly, today is the two month anniversary of my being on the trail. Good things.