Sideshow checking out our route down from Grizzly Peak. MMMM Snow!
Sideshow's pinky toe blister, last night, pre-lancing
So we're nine hiking days into the trip and we're crashing for the night in Old Station, CA! We've hiked approximately 130 miles so far. We had a rest day in Burney Falls State Park around three days ago after passing through one of the most challenging sections of trail I have ever encountered. The first two days were plagued by incredible downfall across the trail. Full grown firs had been snapped clean in half over the course of the winter and it seemed every single one of them landed on the trail. And while we were climbing over and crawling under hundreds of these trees, it was pouring rain. All in all the first two days of the trip were pretty rough. On the third day (June 5, I think) we got a slight reprieve. The rain stopped, we passed through the last of the downfall and and got a chance to dry out a little bit. Then we put in the longest day of the trip so far. We hiked around 18 miles, nearly 15 of them over snow, before finding a snowy spot to camp well after dark. The goods new from all that is we have had ample opportunity to test out all of or rain gear and warm layers and so far so good. We hear more snow lying in wait for us as we head south toward the Sierras, We have had sunny, warm weather for the past five days and we hope it will stick around as we make our way down the trail!
Sideshow Says:
We're staying right now at Firefly and Firewalker's house in Old Station. They are two trail angels, who we already benefited from up on a dry stretch of trail above town - they maintain a water cache for hikers, with shade and camp chairs to take a break at. Now, we ran into them in town, and we're spending the night with them. They have an amazing trail camp at their house. They host tons of hikers - there was already one guy here when we got here, and they are expecting 11 or 12 more tonite! Holy cow!
Well, my feet are tired, but I'm doing great, especially now that we're here. We've got a long way to go, but it's been great so far!
My nephew broke his leg while dirt biking in the desert and his Spot saved him--they just flew the helecopter right to him. It even works in slot canyons. Looks like you are holding up well. I hope to provide you with cookies at the stop after Belden.
ReplyDeleteJane Allen (Christine's mother)