PCT day 107 – 111: sailing for the stormy climate in northern California

Day 107 – Monte Shasta Nero

We woke up early, determined to get to the city of Mount Shasta at lunchtime. A great climb was filled between us and the city, but we had a good time, even after two days of large miles. On the way, I found a pad on the side of the path. If I couldn’t find the owner, I would keep it. I have spent the last 300 miles sitting on Earth, so he felt a very necessary path. The path provides!

We had seen to Mount Shasta most of the morning. When we approached the city, I received a cell service and called my mother. While we take the phone with her, we reach 1500 miles! Once we got to the road, we realized that it was not a great place of hitch. After trying for a while, we accepted a trip from someone who was asking for a rate. We prefer to hook when we can, but we do not oppose paying when necessary.

1500 miles!

In the city, we headed directly to lunch in an Indian restaurant, so good! Some friends met us for lunch, and we all left full and happy. Then we walk to the gear store. I picked up some protein bars, and Chowder bought new shoes, very necessary after the Sierra and our last Northeast section.

While we waited to register in our Airbnb, we grabbed Kombucha in a kombucha bar. When you are walking with a group, Airbnbs can actually be more profitable than motels. Once we register, we shower, wash our clothes and relax in some armchairs of heavenly reclinators while we observed the excellent adventure of Bill and Ted. Later, we return to Main Street to meet Sea Biscuit for dinner. I was delighted to find a gluten -free fried chicken sandwich in the menu.

Back in the Airbnb, we immerse ourselves in the hydromassage bathtub before addressing the bed. A successful nero.

Day 108 – Electric storm and a continuous broken path

We wrapped some final tasks of the city in the morning, then we walked towards Black Bear Dine for breakfast with our friends. A couple on the next table was amazed by our walk. Sometimes I worry that we are going too slow compared to other hikers, but then I know people who are impressed because we have walked 1,500 miles, almost the entire state. Perspective is everything! The couple left, and our server told us that they paid our breakfast. So generous.

Reporting our food after the summary

After breakfast, we sent an unused, refueling equipment and took lunch. The storm clouds were starting to build, but we still wanted to return to the route. A fellow hiker took us along with another PCT hiker, Mac. We loved to curl up with his dog during the trip. Unfortunately, due to a lack of communication, he left us six miles ahead of where we had left the path the day before. We have been quite diligent in maintaining a continuous path, so this was disappointing. We discuss back, but finally we decided to move on. They were only six miles, and in the general panorama, not a big problem.

Cup with many puppy kisses!

We walked most of the afternoon with Mac. When he began to build a storm, we decided to stop early and camp below Teeline. We settled just in time. Thunder, Lightning and Rain rolled. We try to tune it by seeing an episode of the Pitt before falling asleep.

Day 109 – Storm!

We woke up with clear skies, with only wet earth and plants to show for the storm last night. A few miles, I had cell service and checked the weather. A red flag warning was still in force, with predicted electric storms from 1 to 11 pm yikes.

Brillo after the storm

While we walked, the clouds gathered on Mount Shasta, getting darker per hour. From our Sierra Ray Storm, I have been uncomfortable during bad weather. We stopped for lunch in a spring and saw the sky close. Not long after we started walking again, we listened to Thunder. We collected our rhythm, trying to achieve trees safety.

The climate collecting on Mt Shasta

Just before arriving in Treeline, a broken ray above, followed by a strong applause of thunder. The garbage scared us, and we broke. Once we were under the trees, the storm began to move away. Then came the rain, so we took out our rain team and keep walking.

When we arrived at the camp, the rain had stopped. We did dinner and crawled into the store. We were both drained from stormy day. Around 8 pm, another round of thunder and rays rolled and lasted about 90 minutes. The soup somehow slept the whole matter.

Day 110 – Entering the Alps Trinity

We are relieved to wake up with the dry heavens and the news that the red flag warning was over. The path was quite easy and we had a good time. We had more excellent views of Mount Shasta and the surrounding peaks.

We stopped for lunch next to a stream and dried our team, which was still wet last night. I had packed glutenless bagels and ate one with almond butter, so good!

After lunch, we had about nine miles and a decent climb to the camp. We leaked water and talk with some other hikers. A short time later, we walk through a tranco of a path that was stained bright pink, probably a fire retardant. Right beyond that, we go through a very fresh burns area. The trees were still hot to touch. I don’t know when the fire happened, but he felt recent and disturbing.

We arrived at the camp, we settled, dinner and saw another episode of the Pitt. It was a quiet night: most of our paths of trails are one day behind us, and we have not seen many family faces.

Day 111 – Beautiful Lake

We arrived at the road at 6:30 am, ready for a great day with many ups and downs. After the initial output of the camp, we were rewarded with a view of Shasta and the Alps Trinity. This part of the path is absolutely impressive.

We walk through a long burning zone, sailing for many blows. After a few miles, we stopped to enjoy a beautiful look. Twice during the day, we find groups of preteens and adolescents on backpacking trips, without adults! They seemed safe and competent, and it was incredible to see the children navigate in the field.

We take a quick rest for lunch, then we continue along a rocky crest before climbing again. In the distance, we saw smoke from a forest fire. Among the burns, smoke and recent storms, being here can sometimes feel disturbing.

In our last push to the camp, Chowder took a spill in some shrubs to some miles from our site. Fortunately, it was fine, just shaken. We arrived at Lake Paynes and obtained a main camp right on the shore. The lake was beautiful. We did dinner and went to bed, excited to be close to the city tomorrow.