Chester to Burney Falls

We went into another national park call Lassen. The main characteristic is that is volcanic. I saw a geyser and one of those sulphuric lakes. I met again with Cheeseburger and Cracker Jack. I thought he were ahead! We walk one more mile where we found a rest area with tables. Lunch time. I went into the river to have a quick shower-bath and after cook lunch, gourmet lunch. If feel really weird to be cooking and eating seated in a table, it is a luxury that we really enjoy. The 3 of us are European we were thinking how lucky we were, in summer time in the middle of California, I love California, having a good lunch in the wild ....I start to miss California when I have still like 300 miles to go...........

In the afternoon I put 15 turbo miles, the easiest of the trail. I pass a large burnt area, it was a little apocalyptic.  People have said when you get close to Old station the terrain get smother and the mileage pick up, it is true!

Next morning I met everybody for breakfast in Old Station. It is just a camping resort with a very small post office. I don’t understand the tradition in USA and the post office. They put a post office everywhere........

We got into a classic stage of the PCT “the hat creek rim “. It is a hot 30 miles stretch with no water, very expose, volcanic, and hot, very hot.  The tactic is start in the afternoon and hike deep into the dark. I was quite lucky; it was a storm on top of me so I just start after lunch with the cloud cover. I top up with water but I trust the water cache in the middle point (cache 22 I think is called ). I spoke with people. They had enough water for me.

I spoke with the fireman; they said that they follow the storm, looking for the lighting that produces any fire. It is a quick respond.

I arrived to the highest point of the rim with the sun set, where is located this radio station. Camp site for tonight.  Red skies, and I can see Mt Shasta at the far end.

In the morning the sun woke me up at 6.00. This is the day that better wake up early; I still have 15 hot miles to go. The feeling is the same than in the desert: hot, dry, not shade, doing full hidratation, worrying about the water, checking for snakes. The trail is actually quite difficult because of all those volcanic rocks.

By 12.00 I was probably in the worst place down in the volcanic plateau. I was dying in the heat. I found a small water cache full of bees. I stop for a quick lunch but I fall asleep seated with the backpack still on. It happens to me when it is very hot I just fall asleep with the backpack........

I escaped into the valleys, tree cover appears, green leafs and a little bit after a river show up. Done Hat creek rim !!! I charged my phone in this fish farm and after I stop with the trail Magic place. I was alone but I think is called Mr Wild show up (the trail angel ) do you want a beer? Well It is not the best for dehydration but I think I needed, I had a hard day in the office...... He explain me how all this place started a few years ago and how it is growing, it has grill, food, drink and a shower!!

He also explained me to determinate if a track was from a big dog or a Mountain Lion as he explained there is in this area. Watching!!  One more hour of hike and camped in a nice flat area, it is weird to find this flat areas along the PCT , we always camp in a corner by the cliff or something like that.....Dinner in the dark watching the starts. Calm.

Belden to Chester

google pic

In Belden we changed the plans. I though in a quick stop and go resupply but look like everybody stay for a party night. I went to owe lovely trail angel house to get my food parcel, lovely house it is. I went back to the party town put air in the Thermarest and jump into the river, need the wash up. In the evening part of the organization invite us for food, we brought some beers, look like pcters have a good reputation over here. They travel the country from festival to festival, they comment that PCT hikers are quite interesting, open minded, crazy and characteristic with some international. Always have good stories to share. I mean I think it is true....We have a library of non common stories.........Many hikers a lot laughs. We need those days just to chill.

I slept in the other side of the river. The house music test woke me up. UUUhhh my head... I crow for breakfast. I decided to escape. It was hot hot. All climb, The first part of the climb was burnt so I did not have any sun protection. I was hung over, dehydrated, full pack. I was sweating alcohol like a dog . Oh my god, long day is going to be ........I have to stop a couple of time for a nap to recover.

by Morgan

I did not see a rattle snake from the dessert but my colleges told me that they started to watch them again as we are in dryer low elevation location. Myself I was heading to rattlesnake spring when wow wow rattle on the right, shit!! it just moved between the rocks without make any noise....So true .... Rattlesnake Spring, the right dam name.

13 miles day all up. It was getting dark, I conquered the mountain. I cannot move more. I set camp and having dinner I started to see mice around, ok classic camping spot..I hung my food from by poles. I feel the mice jumping over me all the night.

I am getting closer to the midpoint of the PCT. At the end of the day I arrived without water to my next water source off trail. I rode a note that said “ I went down the valley 1 mile not water found, dry creek “  Another Water crisis ......turn back 4 miles, No !  keep walking maybe 10 miles?  too much. I have to risk and find that water or just bushwalking up to the road, finally I found that “dry creek “  a dig a hole, water, ok dirty water, let’s see if I find something better , but if you keep going you find the bloody nice water!! It happens already a couple of times. People put notes, it is appreciated but sometimes is wrong, don’t trust in this notes............People with this notes is giving nightmares to everyone .......

Next day I reached the half way point of the PCT Welldone ! I did not expect survive a week, and now I am here. Being realistic it is going to be difficult to finish it. I have to really push, I am doing it but I have to keep it like this and hummer down Oregon and Washington. I have a lot to recover.

When I reached the road I saw Rock- Ocean and Apache, We went for some pizza into Chester, I did not need food resupply, just Gas for the stove and pizza time. Stop and go today.

Sierra City to Belden

South Feather fork River _ pic from CheeseBurger, Thanks

We got early into Sierra City with the news that there were not power in the town but a guy is doing a Barbecue in the middle of the town for breakfast. The atmosphere in town was weird. The main trail angel of the town was kicking off everybody from his garden as he was feed up with the behaviour of some. Not sure if it was a bad night, the end of the season or just too much hikers this year.

Sierra city seems to me like the classic republican town. There is a not trespassing sign nearly in every house with political message around. So hikers maybe doesn’t fit well, don’t get me wrong, many people treat us really well but need to start to prepare itself to accommodate more hikers, movie is coming and next year the problem will get bigger. They should face the situation.

Thanks for the Pic

I found some old friends from the desert, specially Will, It was nice to see him again. Around 11 am the power came back and maybe 20 hikers were waiting for resupplies. After 30 minutes the owners went out of the tent with a trolley full of 1 L ice- cream. They gave us all to PCT hikers as it was to long without refrigeration. It become the ice cream day, Sierra City, ice cream town!

With this weird ambient in town I decided to hike out. I met many hikers: Cheeseburger, Danger Spoon, Cracker Jack , Sting Cheeses and also Will was around. The mileage was good. The hard part was the climb after Sierra City, you get used to, and after resupply is always a big climb with a heavy pack.

One of those evenings we run to get into the South feather fork River. This is one of those magic spots of the PCT. I sat after a long day in the cascade as a Jacuzzy and jump from pool to pool, take all the dust out and have dinner by the river, the moral was really high, I put another 3 miles after doing a 23 , pretty good for me. I Camped with Will by the river. String- cheese slept in the bridge, good and dangerous spot.  Maybe.

Next day we reach the top of the mountain before Belden town. Perfect spot. I cowboy camp with Cheese burger and CJ. Those moment is when you thing how lucky I am doing this, asking for those 6 moths sabbatical. Cooking dinner at this altitude, having a perfect view of the surrounding valleys. watching our next targets for the following days. I can see Lassen national peak with the picks. Observe the incredible sun set, all orange around us. Sleep looking to the starts, no tent. I woke up in the middle of the night and see the milky way, I looked to CJ , he was also awake taking pictures of the milky way . I think is the first time I see it properly, wow. And wake up with the incredible Sun rise, Thanks PCT, you just think what people is missing in the cities........

The morning was hard as legs suffered descending 10 miles. In this little town call Belden ( it is just a resort ) I saw a lot of movement , I asked witch day is today, It is Thursday ? yes, it is the set up day for the house festival starting tomorrow . Great...........

Soda spring to Sierra city

I reached the road at 7.45, I knew it could be too early to get a ride. I had to wait 2 hours for a 3 miles ride....I would be quicker just to walk them.  I did my 2 days resupply and while I was chilling outside the shop a guy approached to me offering a ride back to the trail, yes please, I don’t want to wait another 2 hours. I did just 17 miles but it is ok with a resupply in the middle .

In the evening I heard some noise on my left. I saw 3 big rabbits running towards me. I got scare WTF, are they going to attack? 2 turned but the third just turn in the last moment before crash against me ....crazy rabbits. I had dinner with 4 section hikers by a river and after hiked 2 more miles up to the top of the mountain to camp again with a incredible sun set. The last two days had been very colourful and with many clouds.

This area is getting dryer and dryer. Look like we are getting into the dessert. Donner pass get the name when emigrants from the east try to cross into the west. They got trap by the snow in this pass and they finished eating each other.

I try to keep the average mileage over 20 but it is difficult with the resupplies. Adam and Ali found me having lunch. We catching up during the last days and we keep going, Jonny Cash and family with the lovely Daishy (the dog ) also pass me .

We found a trail angel note, “enjoy the gatorade......” We looked all around but nothing, so disappointed. We camp just before sierra city, I had a refreshing bath in the river, clear all the dust and sand before sleep, relax your legs in the cold water, just interrupted by snake summing around. All my life the snakes have been my terror, my nemesis. Still are but I believe I can handle the counters much better (after maybe 20). Adam invite to some Early times whisky before sleep.

Echo lake to Soda Spring

We arrive to Echo lake about 11 am. Echo lake is quite a tourist place. You can walk around the lake where you can see little wood small houses , Swiss style. If you keep walking you will reach Alloha Lake. This is one of my favourites lakes , perfect spot for lunch and for a swim , warm water, love California!

During the evening was the climb to Dick pass, nothing serious, and I believe it is the last pass over 9000 ft. I keep walking and I have to camp alone in a not campsite, no idea where Adam, Ali or Duct camped. It was late and I have to cook in the dark by the tent. This is what sometimes scare  me, specially if you in the middle of the valley surrounded of trees and vegetation, alone. I know there is a possibility of a bear show up in the middle of the night checking for the smell of macaroni. If you are in group is not a problem but sometimes alone..........

Dick pass

Next morning I discover Duct 300 meters from my camp. I have breakfast with him. The day was quite easy, 14 miles going down....I had a nap at lunch , Adam woke me up. I hiked with them in the evening for a while and when they camped I keep hiking a few miles to camp in top of the ridge. I love those places, dry camping in the ridges.....and the best sunsets. I met a guy that i saw during the day. He is doing the Tahoe lake rim trail, and he is the only guy that I saw with a hammock tent. I asked him about rain protection for the night. - No today. - I just come from the other side of the mountain and looks like a big one is coming in....

We have dinner and after the lighting storm starts. The tent I believe it is not the best place to stay during lighting with a metallic pole pointing the skies , but if it is raining outside.....storm got closer , very close. I shout that is close, the guy answer - It is fucking here! At some point I fall asleep.

The last day before Soda spring had quite a lot of climbing. We are close to Tahoe so we go from sky lift to ski lift. I met a couple  that were on the way to yoga festival . They saw me sleeping at lunch the day before, they call me the Napper... I reached the American Creek. It suppose to have water but it was completely dry. I was in trouble, 10 miles until the next one....It could be a long evening....with all the climbing . - Let's check it properly, I used all my dessert skills , I went up , do some holes, move some rocks, nothing I went down and bingo some pools. The water had a weird taste to an aromatic plant that was in contact with. Thanks God!

The trail continue over a ridge, I love those ridges. It is the essence of the trail, The Crest!.  I could see from here a huge storm over the right , very ugly one and clear skies on the left . over the crest.....I saw some info about Donner pass and how difficult was the emigration in the 1800.

I reached a sky lift and I decide to camp there. Nice view , no mosquitos and mile and half from the road. Tomorrow up early for resupply.

room with views

South Lake Tahoe

I met Duct, Adam and Ali when I got into the road. Everybody was looking for a ride into town. We were quite lucking with a family and drop us in a Sport Bar. Sports Bar exist in Europe but over here it is a different mentality, it is fun, good beers, average food, and good ambient. I was with Argentina and lost. We were in South Lake Tahoe, it is half California and half Nevada, so we decided to share a room for 2 nights in the main Casino Hotel in town.

We did laundry, got pizzas, hot tub and hung around the casino. The second day it was logistic for me. Send some package, I finally sent the extra gear back to Spain. I called work back in Birmingham saying that I will back; it is something that I should do every month. The idea of the bounce box did not work for me. I don’t want to be thinking about post office opening times etc. It is the problem of resupply as you go , that sometimes you use your days off to bounce food and general resupply, gas...So some day off are tiredness than a hiking day. I finished the day quite stressed with all this.  Still was time to go to the swimming pool area, I met with Duct, Adam and Ali , we got some beers and jump into the hot tub watching the sun going down, orange sky, we were talking we really deserve this day off. Early night with more pizza and ice cream.  

Day to be back on the trail. Rock ocean picked us . I realize I lost my passport, he drive us around all the shops I went the day before , nothing, the last one was the post office. I told them just leave it, they insist that it would just take 5 min, ok.  Bingo !!! it was there !! Thank you guys!! Lost & Found is back haha. I could not imagine all the trouble to get a new passport and a new Visa.........

The way to Tahoe Lake

After Sonora pass the mountains continuing, not as rugged as the High Sierras but it is mountains. A storm  got closer and closer to me doing a lot of noise, by lunch time after try to escape all the morning it started to rain. I hate this, you hike all the morning and when it is your lunch break it rains. I found a huge tree over some rocks where I did a quick shelter with a piece of Tyveck.

At night was a little bit of gourmet night, it is what happens after resupply, you have all those good foods. We started to cook over the fire. I did some nice Panini’s with cheese and chorizo and Red Bandit some burritos. After go to sleep with all the food as a pillow waiting for the bear to come.

It rains during the night I woke up with the entire tent wet. I thought to stop during the day to dry it but I never did, it is something that I never do, unpack the tent just to dry....to lazy.  The scenery has changed, it is dryer, with volcanic mountains, weird rock formations, less water. Most of the creeks are feed by snow, now, there is not much snow left and you feel that creeks are getting dryer. This area is used by the USA army as training ground for Afghanistan.

Those days I am carrying a lit bit more of food and eating more. I lost some weight during the sierras and I cannot afford lose more or almost at this pace. I am trying to get into the 4000 Kcal per day.

I have to say, the views today were spectacular. I arrived first to camp (21 miles) so I light the fire for the rest. I could keep going but I still have to dry bag and tent. Next day was the Carlson pass where people invite us to fresh fruit. It was a bicycle race over the road so there were a many people around, something that I am not used to at this moment. Leaving the Carlson pass I saw for the first time the Tahoe Lake, huge with all those clouds around. On the way up to Shower Lake the mosquitoes just ate me. I had to do a quick emergency stop to put full rain gear to be protected.

The Campground of Shower Lake was the busiest that I saw in the PCT, maybe 20 tents. I hope that in the future will not finish like this all the way to Canada.  There was an instructor, the typical that “knows “everything, I was looking how he hangs the food from a tree, he explain me the technique. After he said – this is how we hang the food in the PCT. I thought – nobody hang the food in the PCT, you retard. Tomorrow 14 early miles and World cup Final!