This morning, when I woke up in my little studio apartment, it was incredibly difficult to leave. I had been awake late at work last night, so I didn’t sleep incredible. And then, when I finally woke up this morning, the bed was very comfortable. Last night, Tami had told me that if I wanted to stay again, it was more than welcome. Which was such a dangerous statement to do.
I would have loved to spend another night there. My safe body could use the rest. And I could definitely use time working in the edition and things like that. But if I take another day off today, then I can’t really pay another zero in the short term. Maybe even after the PCT. So, on the other hand, I packed and ready to start. I had some last night toast cakes that I had breakfast and I had too many drinks. I think I had two additional pediytes, a coconut water and vitamin water. But he was not willing to waste all that. So I loaded everything in my backpack. I will drink delicious city drinks throughout the day.
Once I was ready, Tami took me back to the beginning of the path. And I was walking north just around 7:30 am which once again is not so bad considering the fact that I spent last night in the city. Every time I sleep in the city and return to the path before 8 am, he feels like a victory. Then he returned to the endless burn. Yesterday I never had the opportunity to talk to my mother when I was in the city, so I called him this morning. In fact, I had service during the first two hours of the day, which was incredible.
Shasta in the distance!
My mother and I were trapped for a long time, which felt really great. And in the course of the morning I had a very gradual climb to go up. Then it was going to be many hills during the day. The path in the next few days is some of the best throughout the north of California. These will be some of the easiest miles in a long time.
Crossing a small charming bridge.
While walking, I ate a lot of food and ended on the phone. Then, while I still had service, I really saw a bit of YouTube while walking. It is always a pleasure to distract me like this. And after a few hours, I entered the Lassen National Park. What had honestly forgot. The National Park is one of those sections of the path that has camp restrictions. Actually, you need to wear a bear boat if you want to camp in Lassen. Of course, I don’t have a bear boat, which means I have to do 34 miles today whatever happens.
Heading to Lassen National Park.
I knew it on the back of my head, but I hadn’t really paid much attention. Fortunately, the days of 34 miles have become the norm. So, the idea of doing that was not so discouraging. And I will probably still do it well before dusk. Lassen National Park has some really great features such as sulfur pools and geysers. The path passes to a couple of them and some are just short side paths. The path also goes through a camp designated with garbage and private boats. So that is always great.
Walking along an open crest, heading towards the National Park.
In the afternoon, a hiker ended up passing me when I was taking out some snacks from my backpack. And then, while he moved away, I shouted. I hadn’t really seen anyone all day and I knew I had to go quite far for the day to overcome the limit of the National Park. So I thought I would ask him his name and where he was going. He stopped for a second so that I could catch up and then end up walking together. And I was so happy to have shouted at him, because we ended up walking together throughout the rest of the day.
Entering the Lassen National Park. The sign also burned in 2022.
His name was Green Machine and today he was doing some bigger miles to try to reach his friends. They had ended up leaving the city last night when I really didn’t expect it. Then it fell a little behind the group. Now today it goes as far as it has to exceed the limit and connect with your friends. What sounded great for me! I was planning to pass a little beyond the limit to reach the next water source. But I hope we could walk together during the day. He had a really good rhythm, so when we walked together, we had a great time.
Dixie Burn continues through Lassen National Park. But soon I will be burns.
We have both just walking and speaking during the following hours. It was actually really lovely. There was only a perfect rhythm and time passed very fast. Then, after a while, he stopped to grab some water and continued. But I planned to stop a little to get something out of my backpack, so I thought it would reach me. Not long after that, I went through a group of a few guys and thought they could be his friends. And eventually, he ended up recovering and also did all those other types.
A great sulfur pond right next to the path.
We were on a train about five hikers walking along the path. Green Machine joked about all the boys who continued behind me and was like in the film Forrest Gump when she is running along the way. But they liked the rhythm I established and we all simply walk together. Our little group walked together throughout the rest of the day and probably made about 8-12 miles together. And Green Machine and I walk even more together. The boys had decided that they were going to that source of water also beyond the limit. And it was very great to be able to walk some important miles with other people.
Directing one of the only uploads of the day. The land was so pleasant and easy today!
This was also only one of those days in which the company needed. I was planning to go quite far for the day, even though I left the city this morning. And the conversation caused things to happen much faster and easier. Yesterday when I was in Chester outside Jay sent me a message. He recommended that he tried to stay at Burney Mountain Guest Ranch in a couple of days. The ranch is about 80 miles north of Chester.
I passed by this beautiful lake and even decided to stop in a trunk for a little to enjoy the view.
He said the place was incredible and then could not miss him. But I told him that I would have to do two days of 40 miles to get there. Therefore, it didn’t seem super likely, especially because the first day, today, I would be late. But with my new friends, today I came out.
Towards the end of the day, I walked through this open valley, trucking together with the boys in tow!
When we arrived at the camp just before dusk, approximately 39 miles had passed for the day. It was difficult to believe that I woke up this morning in Chester. This also meant that tomorrow was only 41 miles from the Burney Mountain guest ranch. And this is one of those rare sections of the path where the land is incredibly flat and easy. If there is ever a day to make great miles, it is certainly tomorrow. And taking into account the late of a beginning that I had today and how far I arrived, I think it is quite likely that I can get to the Burney Mountain ranch quite early tomorrow. Maybe before 8 pm. Any opportunity to sleep in a bed and eat some food is something that I take very seriously. So, tomorrow, I will communicate with Jay and see what the agreement with staying in the ranch is.
I really liked to end the day walking through this meadow covered with grass.
There were a couple of other tents when we arrived at Hat Creek to spend the night. I grabbed the water and then settled the store. Then I ate and lay in my store for the rest of the night. I said goodbye telling the boys I met today. In addition to Green Machine, I only remember one of their names, which was Raw Dog. A quite fun and quite memorable path name. But for some reason, I can’t remember the names of the other two boys. However, everyone was super nice and I had a lot of fun walking together. There is a good possibility that I will go tomorrow morning before everyone gets up, so it was good to have the opportunity to say goodbye.
This uprooted tree was so huge that you could really measure its size when someone was standing next to him.
Today was a success! Even after leaving the city and not returning to the path until 7:30 am, I still walked 39 miles before it darkened. It doesn’t become much better than that. Now I have prepared to sleep potentially in a bed tomorrow night! And it apparently stays in a place that Jay says it is not a fault. And if Jay tells me that I should stay there, then I should probably be there. I am excited to have a good early start tomorrow morning and go to Burney Mountain’s guest ranch.
It is not a bad day considering that I woke up in the city this morning.
And tomorrow I am only 9 miles in the morning from Old Station. A super small town with a service station and a couple of other things. I will be able to have a breakfast and candy to feed me for the Burney Mountain guest ranch of 41 miles for Burney Mountain.
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