Day 96 – Quincy Nero
We slept until 7 am since we only had a brief walk to Bucks Lake Road, where we planned to hook Quincy. We packed the camp and we arrived at the road at 9 am the stretching and PDF caught the first set, but Chowder and I was not far behind. A couple named Pete and Kim picked us up, and generously offered us showers and laundry at home in Quincy. So kind! We told them we would happen after having a breakfast.
We ate at Morning Thunder and filled the face absolutely. They had espresso, so I dealt with coffee with milk. After breakfast, we made our replenishment. Quincy has a natural food cooperative, which PDF, my companion without crime, and excited me. The cooperative had a lot of gluten -free options, and I could get everything I needed for the next section.
After replenishing, we go to Pete and Kim. They were so generous: let us shower, wash clothes and hang out in their beautiful backyard for a few hours. Once we were clean and our clothes were dry, we walked to the toy store, where hikers get a free ice cream ball! We enjoy our gift while navigating your collection of board games.
Later, we recorded in a hotel we shared with PDF and stretch. We spent the rest of the night relaxing, watching movies and snacks: the classic Nero Day.
Day 97 – Walk to Belden Town
After enjoying the hotel continental breakfast, we left and headed to Main Street. The first car in passing took a walk! Our hitch was a forest postgraduate student who worked in the summer area: Super Sweet Guy. He took us back to the road, and Showder and I started walking.
It was a hot day, but the first climb was short, and most of the hiking of the day was relatively flat until the steep descent in Belden Town Resort. The path was still smoked, although a light wind helped clear him from him. We walk through a burning scar that felt mysterious and dystopian.
After obtaining water in a spring, we begin the descent, approximately four steep miles of curves. It was a challenging fall, but we were motivated by the promise of cold drinks and snacks in the general store and the bar in Belden.
When we arrived, a woman with a megaphone greeted us shouting: «You missed a great moment!» We were confused, so I asked what he meant. Apparently, there had just been a two -day music and art festival, and the crew was packing while we walked. We saw remains of the event: art, food stalls and some persistent assistants.
Enjoying a drink in Belden
We go to the bar, ask for drinks and go out with Gandalf and TBA for a moment. Then, we walk two other miles for camping. Unfortunately, it was full, and there was no space to launch our tent, so the cowboy camped to spend the night.
Day 98 – Exit Belden
I didn’t sleep well camping the cowboy, I was hot and with Buggy. We had a subsequent beginning of the usual, and we had a great climb ahead: 4,000 feet in 10 miles. The path was mostly exposed due to the damage prior to fire, but fortunately there were several water sources along the way.
During the climb, I saw two small cervatillos. We looked at each other for a moment before they threw themselves, so nice! Around a mile before the top, I had to take a break and refresh myself. The sun and heat were affecting me. Finally, I arrived at the top, where we had lunch with friends.
The rest of the day was quite without incident. We walk through a more burned forest, eliminating both physically and mentally, but we were proud of our 26.5 miles, especially with heat and elevation gain.
Day 99 – Halfway!
Today was a day of milestone: the midpoint of the PCT! After a decent sleep night, I felt much better. We packed and started a 15 -mile day. The walk continued through Burn Scar, but the smoke had cleared and we could start seeing the peak lasen in the distance.
About seven miles, we arrive at the midpoint marker! We take photos, signed the registration book and celebrate with a short break. I am very proud of Chowder and me to get so far, it is a great achievement. You can read my Check-in blog halfway here!
We still had eight miles to go, mainly descending through what used to be the forest. This stretch was full of white thorns, a striped and thorny brush that torn his ankles. We arrived at the road and took Chester, where we needed to wash our clothes, shower and refrain.
Our hitch was a couple visiting the Lassen volcanic national park. The woman kept giving us fries from the front seat, without complaints! Once in the city, we met with stretching and PDF for late lunch, we wash the clothes and showers in the laundry next door, then we take edible. We ended the day camping in the city park with our family of trails. Everything was fine … until the sprinklers lit at night. Then a group of local teenagers appeared and made a fuss. Too much for a rest night.
Day 100 – Entering the Lassen Volcanic Park
After a difficult night in the park, we packed quickly and had breakfast before leaving the city. Our hitch back to the path was a wildlife biologist, and a student of my degree! So great.
Back along the way, we walk through a more exposed land under the hot sun. The area of burns from Dixie’s fire was extensive, devastating and difficult to walk. We have lunch for a river and go out with the mayor and the best friend for a while.
After lunch, we officially enter the Lassen Volcanic Park! It is always exciting to walk through the national parks along the way. We made a brief deviation to see the terminal geyser, a smoking geothermal breathtaking, put the lateral trip.
We arrived at the camp at 5:30 pm, which felt like a luxury. Since lassen require bears of bears, we camp in a place designated with bears boxes. It was very nice to have ordinary water and a toilet. We had a relaxing dinner with the mayor and John, then we finished the night seeing an episode of the Pitt before falling asleep.
Day 101 – 20 miles before 2!
As usual, we woke up around 5:15 am and go through our morning routine: coffee, breakfast, passed in hiking clothes and breaking the camp. We were on the way in an hour.
The day began with a short climb, then it was flattened very well. We had a river crossing, the first from the mountains, but we felt as professionals. From there, we finally left the burning zone and went back to the living forest! It was a great relief.
We leaked water in a lake and continue pushing. We hit 10 miles before 10 am, and we pointed to a long break for lunch in Hat Creek around mile 20. My feet felt the flat ground, after hundreds of constant elevation change miles, this was a different type of tension.
We had a long and relaxing lunch next to the river and soak our feet, which felt incredible. Subsequently we consider walking through the old station to get ice cream, but we decided to omit it, saving money and get more time to relax.
We arrive at the camp at 5 pm, having covered around 25 miles. It was a great camp, complete with a toilet and a spite with drinking water. We had the place for ourselves! After dinner, we settled and saw another episode of the Pitt, a perfect ending for the day.
