White pass to Snoqualmi

I left White pass in the afternoon. During the morning I was charging electronics and just talking with people.Adam and Ali show up around. There was around 20 hikers. Easy day without much elevation. In the camp-site  invite  me to my first s'more , holly molly !! this is the evolution of a  marshmallows. God save America. It's the marshmallow with a piece of chocolate and biscuit in the sides doing a sandwich. A caloric bomb....perfect.

Next day we approach to Mt Raynier, I think is the higher point in Washington. We just pass by the side. It is the type of are that I like it. Very vertical, exposed and walking through a ridge. One guy show me a picture of a mountain lion that he just show....so lucky, they are around.

In Chinook Pass we got some trail magic from Animal's friend. The had a weight machine. I jump in , something like 58 Kg, I was shock , people like to me like you are in trouble. I though can not be possible I did again , around 68 ok ok ok I lost a lot of weight but but not 15 Kg, anyway I have 2 more weeks left and after I will gain all the weight I am just getting ultralight........

That night I bunch of people camp around a lake just after the pass. I see lumbert eating cold noodles, what happen?? I lost my stove......ohhpss. I offered mine....We set to cow - boy camping I started to see mouses. shit, typical place. One guy show me his mouse trap, don't worry, I clean the area......I think it is a good peace of gear. Mice like to jump over you during the night just to piss you off, specially walk and jump over your hat, just to wake you up. I keep my food in zip lock backs , for different days, this bags goes into the main cuben fibre food bag, this bag into a trash liner bag , and this bag into the main backpack. If a mouse want to go into the food it would take him all the night.

Already in bed we show 2 eyes walking around.....oh man it is going to be the mountain lion, what is what is.....a deer ...ohh dear.....I just going to sleep...I will just do some noise if someone try to eat me. 

eyes in the dark.

The next morning was foggy, by the afternoon started a little thin rain. It is already hunter season with riffle so carefully  when you got to the toilet.....I check the possibility to reach a big hut for tonight as probably rain tonight. Normally I avoid this places as there are full of mice and full of snore people. Yes you have cover but I prefer sleep with the starts roof. When I reach the valley I saw all the humidity , fog and rain , straight to the Hut. Many people was there : GT, auris, neon, zinamon et c . They quickly set up a tomahawk throwing competition. The Hut had a good pile of wood so we were able to sit down outside around a big fire and also set the wood stove inside.

2 shadows show up between the mist , hunters , they stop for a few minutes , they have his bass close by. It was full moon , I have the joke with neon that tonight we go hunt Elk, just sneaking in the Valley with the light of the moon. Thankfully 3 more hikers arrived. They were coming from the dirt road, they will stay in the hut for a week, and.....they brought some alcohol. When I saw they have the classic jars with a liquid inside I though , yes Welcome to America! I tasted wow this is super good , what is this? Moonshine my friends. I saw this in so many films, it has a nice honey - cinamon - lemon taste. We stay until late around the fire. 

terror movie hut

I stay very warm during the night , when I opened the door the mist still was there, the Hut was really convenient   tonight. I crossed some burned areas and a nice lake just before heading to Snoqualime pass.

I reached the 2400 miles mark. I can not believe it, the miles start to fly by, 100 after 100. The first 1000 miles of the trail I average 13 miles a day., in Yosemite I thought seriously in quit, it was impossible. I will have to put over 20 miles average , without 0 days .......the last 1000 I am averaging over 20 miles a day. I don't have the need to recover , no much 0 days, my body just get use to it, I hike more hours, no much breaks......getting there. It is crazy what your body can do. My last bed was in Ashland, 700 miles ago.......and I don't fell tired.

My plan was to stop a few miles before Snoqualmi pass to avoid the noise  as it is a big inter-estate but the idea of hot food was too hard. I spot close to town a good place to pass the night between tree with little noise, perfect. Quite a lot of ethylic hikers around ..  Snoqualmi pas is basically a service area for the interstate with a small sky lift , few hotels , not much.....

Cascade Locks to White pass

People always say: in Washington rains. It was like that. I did not got soak in the trail yet. It would be the first day in Washington when I will finish soak soak. I crossed the Bridge of Gods in rain, leaving in the afternoon. I thought in stay another day in Cascade locks to see if the Weather improve. You think : be realistic, it could rain for weeks , this is Washington , just suck it out !

You cross the Bridge and everything change. All is green , full of bushes trees..etc all over , wet. ok this is that Wet forest that everybody talk about. Heat for me is ok but rain..... one day ok , 2 days ok but more, everything will get wet, what about a down sleeping bag.......better be really carefully with that.Even if it is not raining you get wet with this fog always around or with the touch of any wet leafs.

I am learning, PCT is all about adaptability, the learning curve still is there, new experiences. From Dessert to High Sierras to Wet Forest. It scare me the possibility of get wet and after hypothermia. I may order some extra clothes.

That day Hot Legs overtake me, he was delayed as he tear his sleeping bag in the washing machine, the same bag than me, so I was thinking to wash but no, I don't take the risk, this bag need to go to Canada. I checked the maps , ok only 1 big tent site it would be more people. Please , please, the first one should do a fire to dry out.  I did the last mile in dark and yes I saw a fire in the distance , thanks good, thanks!!!! It was a group of weekend hikers. I did not full dry but it is very mental to have a fire in a wet day. Harder was next morning....ufff wet cold socks.....

Next days were not very spectaculars , up and downs leaving the civilization. I had hikers around in this area. I met Lambert, a real character. One night i reach a campsite in dark and I cow - boy camp, next day, still in bed , I saw a familiar tent and a familiar shape, It could be Ali and Alam, I look for a few minutes but I realize there were not their backpacks. My surprise was went they show up, wowowowowowo what a surprise! what happens with your bags, new ones they change them for us in REI. cool.....

Another good surprise was to met again with string cheese, I hiked with her in northern California,  In Castella she continue north into the fires and I did the walk road. She was south bounding this part to go to the PCT days ( good idea ) I though about , get a ride from Hard pass , but finally I arrived late there so I skip it.

Trout lake suppose to be a difficult hitch  and it was starting to rain. I would get very piss off if I got soak getting a ride by the road. Determination, look to the driver , put the finger, stop stop. The first car , I wait like 3 seconds, it was a local hunter. Pit stop in trout lake, 2 hours, resuply and bye bye.

I am getting trouble to find places to camp in this area , all is full of bushes no free spaces I am relaying more in maps and app for campsites. 

Walking around Mt Adams a found the gipsy town group. I know most of them from the dessert and they have a good mood.I hiked the last miles of the trail with Whiskey,always if fun with him and we have some discussions.  I camped the first night with some of them by a nice little creek, fire and some games around.

Next morning was very early when I leave camp, between the early morning fog and the bushes show up a figure. WTF !! a bow arrow hunter ! in full camouflage gear......he took his net from the head to talk....my goodness, the fucking Rambo ( a fat guy).... Did you see any elk? I though you have 4 in puffy jackets 1 mile back.....lol

 I was getting into the Goat Rocks Wilderness , the knife edge...I did the first pass in the dust  the area is really nice, ok this is real Washington.  I love to hike at this time of the day, the light is perfect, is quite and there are animals around , I  camped in dark, it was a fire , it is part of the procedure to find some logs if you join a fire...

People ask many times why you do all this , why the PCT , What give you back? When you do parts like the Knife edge on the Goat Rocks you get all the answers........blow your mind . why I do the PCT ? there are not words , come here , hike 20 miles , wake up early and see the sun rise between the snowy peaks, cross snow fields, look around, the wild, the beauty, Rainier in the distance.  Fuck Yosemite in August with all the roads around. This is Washington.!! Sometimes the wilderness are a little bit in a second level in relation  with the National Parks but sometimes those areas are much better than some of those National Parks, and the best, there is no one. September : PCTers and goats 

On the way down to White pass I tried to cut through the sky lifts, it was quicker but a bad decision as I destroy the legs going down the steep slopes. White pass has a small store and I think two small motels. The lady in the shop was super friendly, she gave us the food that she did not sell at the end of the day, they had my resupply box and she said we could camp at the back of the shop.

google pic......

That night was very noise, there were elks making that noise all around us, there were very close. There were one moment that I panic as I hear noise of something approaching fast to us. I check under the tent and I saw 4 long legs in the darks running to us. O Shit , this could be a problem elk is a big animal, it could get aggressive, I shout   EH They are here!!! i opened quickly the door and they were hunters hahahaha walking in couples....2 and 2 so 4 legs . I relaxed.........The noise continue , I fell the so close that I was thinking to go down the lake and throw them a rock in the face, go and sign in another place!!! you know what time is it!!!!!

Oregon part 2

I left the young camping place in the afternoon. I did the typical hike out day a few miles to avoid the vortex. Hike in the sunset in this burned area create some crazy image.

I camped with a few more hikers and whisky show up later. I tried to find a protected place for the wind and I finished sleeping uneven surface, with the feet much below my head, really bad night, wrong sleeping spot........

The morning bring us up to 3 finger jack with his peculiar shape and colours and after in Mt Jefferson wilderness I met one of the most helpful Rangers, also pct thru hiker, he explain us the situation in the area. It is weekend and the area is full of people, so gave us some advised where to camp tonight. He also explained us a little bit what it is the job of a ranger....pretty cool job.

Mt Jefferson

Mt Jefferson is really beautiful; it is like an island in Oregon, really green with some snow in the passes, in general quite crowded because of the weekend.   

I walked next day with whisky, he is a warrior hiker. It is a organization that sponsorship Army people that have been deploy for long periods, a little bit to distress them. I think very good idea and program.

One night we reach the little Crater Lake. The clearest lake ever. We met a family that invite us to their RV for dinner. We accepted. It was a restored streamline RV, beautiful, we did a fire had some beer and burger. We passed really good time. Again America and his hospitality is unbelievable.

Mt Hood

The climb to Mt Hood was quite hard, specially in the last part when there is sand all over and you can see the resort so close. Timber lodge is where the sunshine was filmed. It is a type of Swiss sky resort with the terrace facing the mountain. Many hikers there, I resupply, had pizza, a beer, recharge electronics and I kept going.  The night got me without a place to camp, finally some spaces available  in a ridge with some more people.

Hood had some difficult river crossing but nothing crazy. You leave the Mt Hood area to move into different ridges with not much water. I dry camped in the ridge alone well protected of the wind by a big fallen log, no mice, good night. The good news of the day is that I met magic stick and sister after 2000 miles. Wow.

only with a Magic stick 

The last day of Oregon is really spectacular, walking the eagle creek gorge and passing by the tunnels falls.  I was fancying have a swim in the river but seems like temperature are going down.

Eagle creek Gorge

I did it!! After 18 days I crossed Oregon. I saw the bridge of gods! I knew it I was in Cascade Locks, mile 2155, 2155 this is crazy. I remember now thinking that I will never survive the first week. I thought after about quit in cascade locks but as soon I so the bridges, sorry but I go up to Canada! Hopefully before snow arrives, I am now in a good position to finish.

In Cascade locks I sent all my food for Washington, all the morning packing food, from the market to the post office. I got my external battery, bye bye solar panel ( I hate you )and also I  swapped the sawyer filter for aquamira. I think I squeezed enough this summer.

I have been chasing an envelope with the Washington maps for the last 200 miles. I sent by normal post 4 months ago from San Diego but I forgot where I send it, so  I have been asking in all the possible places, finally I found it in the Cascade Locks port office !!! I have maps.

Washington I am ready ! 

Oregon part 1

What can I say.........Oregon has been 18 days of rollercoaster. I went back to the trail after the tidius road walk and I fell the trail different, different plants, different feeling. It was nice to come back into a soft path and see the deers just walking around. The first day rained, walking in the wood with some showers, from ridge to ridge.

There were some small fires around because of the storms, one just by the trail, after started to rain and after to hail. I was in the 12^th of August training to get cover under a tree because is hailing? how is going to  be at the end of September, Winter is coming....definitely

Reaching the first resupply , Mazama campground, I meet many hikers and I had a kind of nero, it is nice to chill out after a few days in the woods, we got some beers and we sat by the fire. In the morning with the hung-over I did the climb up to the Crater Lake. This is a National Park, it is a Volcano inside another Volcano. I always thought that it was a meteoritic who form the lake but not, it is a Volcano. A volcano collapsed and another volcano raised inside......The place is really worthy.

the watchman

I did the beautiful   trail around the lake and went up to the watchman with the full resupply and 5 litres of water. Oregon is volcanic and quite dry in some areas , this is a 26 miles stretch without water. From the top the view is unbelievable; you can see your next picks, especially Mt Thielsen, that looks like the sierras.

mt thielsen

I am doing 25 miles days and I have been attack by a dog not lease it. I took a shortcut by the sky lakes I think is call, I reached Shelter cover resort doing a few hours miles at night. I am doing some night hiking just for fun; to break the routine also back into cowboy camping as there is not mosquitos.

Shelter cover is a a little bit more posh that other camping. It is for fishermen, so probably more money. After resupply the PCT goes throw woods and pretty lakes, after we got into the 3 sister wilderness, one of my favourite areas. Three very distinctive volcanos in line. One night I sleep between some trees, I dense fog came down from the mountain. I think the tree branches protected me from this humidity. Cold nights over here.

3 sisters

To exit the 3 sister you have to cross some lava fields that are quite hard for legs, many sharp rocks in the trail. I approached to the Youth Campground during sunset, crossing some lava fields, some burned areas and I continue in the dark. I realise that head light not working properly, not batteries so I had to camp before the youth camping.

3 finger,  jefferson

Next morning was just going down and cross the mile 2000!!! 2000! That is 3200 km. To celebrate it have some breakfast in the youth Hostel. There I never had such a horrible breakfast. Now I understand the problem of America and the food and the fat people. How can they give that shit to the kids......? Lunch was the same shit. No alcohol in this place. They have an area just for PCT hikers, like chill out room. Everything from free: Laundry, food, shower, resupply box....... Here I met Big daddy, Hot legs and family, whisky and a few more..........

Ashland

Ashland was a realise after the road walk, especially when we discover by surprise that we don’t have to walk all the way up to town as the PCT cross the Highway south of Ashland. The main hostel was full so we have to go to a camping two miles of town. It is a spa – hippie camping. We refresh in the afternoon in the pool and head into town for the night. It seems like there was a kind of PCT conference in town because of the fires. We saw Rock ocean after a long time without know about him. I also saw at night Mr J T and Smiley , the two Israel guys, after months without see them and a few more people. Danger spoon also is back on the trail. All good news.

Something that surprise from Ashland is how many young people is asking for money in the street, not sure if is for drinks, for need or for what or if it is like this in the rest of the country. I learnt i knew expression “spear oner”.

Second day we move to the hostel, better location, I have to do all the tedious resupply for Oregon, 4 , 5 boxes, some in regular post and 1 by UPS, I am jealous of the people that have that angel that send boxes to them and don’t have to worry about. Sometimes your zero it is just work and work. I tidy up my bear; yes I think I will keep it. Fix some gear problems, new platypus bottle and new tips for the trekking poles as I cannot set the tarptent properly plus new cascadia, don't like much the color, but cheap.

The night before depart, we went out 3D, danger, CJ, Gigant, Ashland has almost two microbreweries, perfect place to start, went to a mini club. We have a really good night we finished in one gypsy concert and at this point there is not more gypsy than us......Back on the hostel I found a mantis religious in my neck....Ready to be back on the trail.

My plan is to do Oregon in around 18 days, an average of 25 miles a day. Nothing crazy here. It supposes to be much flatter. People do here over the 30. With all the push that I did in northern California I start to be back on target to be able to finish around the end of September, but not yet.  Now I am completely refuelled, rested and with the next 456 miles shorted of resupplies. 

The Road Walk - Dinsmuir to the Oregon Border

Ok, this would be a real odyssey with more than one detour. 100 miles of road from Dinsmuir up to Ashland, 4 days with a forecast of 25 miles a day. Cracker Jack ( CJ ) and me doing team work, for this type of road walk better stick together , it could be very mental challenging and too much crazy people, this is ‘Merica.

We figured out the route with  app Navigator, I will regret and hate so many times this application during the next 4 days.....  The first 10 miles easy to Mt Shasta , we stopped in the cinema to watch Lucy, average, in the evening we put another 10. We had road magic, people stop us asking if we need anything, they invite us to their house to check the closures of the trail. It was getting dark and there is not really place to camp, everywhere looks fenced and the dirty roads and fields have to trespassing signs. We don’t want get shoot, this is ‘Merica. We had to develop a new skill , the stealth camping.

no insoles man

It was getting dark and the electric storm forecasted was getting in top of us. I was starting to get worry, a lot of noise, is getting F close. We found a bridge where to hike if get worst and a small flat area hidden from the road, ok camp area for tonight. We just finish dinner surrounded by ants and the rain started. I am here as usually in a thunder storm, thinking what I am doing hidden under a metal pole facing the skies.....good night.

The second day was the Road Magic Day, we got into the old Highway 99, full of horrible long straights. You get bored , we listen to all our music, we do walk dance, air guitar... We are greeting all the cars that pass by. The first car pass and offered us some fruit. We told we that we are going to the next town ( 6 miles ) to have coffee and breakfast. He informed us that Gazelle town doesn’t have bar services....... One hour later we were having a break in the side of the road when a woman stop and say “ I heard that 2 PCTers hikers need some coffee ? “ are you kidding ? It was the wife of the guy who stops earlier. Coffee, toast, marmalade and honey. Road service.

Road breakfast magic !!

One hour later another car stop by, do you want a soda ? yes please. CJ is from germany and me from Spain. This hospitality doesn’t happen in Europe. Americans are crazy and we love them.....They are so hospitality. After a few stops I told CJ that we can do  the rest of the walk road without resupply , just road magic.....The only bad point was the licor store that gave us some chocolate to leave the store as soon as possible as we are not good for their business.

The legs were hurting more than usually, this road, CJ without insoles in his Cascadia......we changed the route to Ykera to get some insoles. The Navigator app send us to a road that after we discover it was closed. Way back.

We reach Yreka around 19.00 and we went to a Walmart for something for dinner. It was the first time in a Walmart after hear for months about it. When we were talking about get a hotel or head back to the woods a car stop in front of us :

-       “ hey guys , we just see you this morning walking along the road, we thought if we see you again would be nice to invite you for dinner. We are in the feria, You can there and have a shower “

-       Plan

They really liked our new balloons that float over our heads, just to get more attention and some more fun, road get bore. We have to hide in the back of his pickup truck, apparently is illegal in California.

When we go into their RV a spider monkey start to jump around, WTF. I did not expect to have a monkey in the PCT. They have a exposition of exotic animal in this Feria, they collect them from rich people that cannot handle and they take care of them. They show us the snakes, scorpions ......We have dinner and beer . We really enjoy the hospitality of those guys!!!

Lili the spider monkey. PCT

The third day was the hardest, we stopped for a small breakfast at the outskirts of Yreka, old fashion place , butter bread pudding with coffee, balloons help to start conversation with a family, and the end the father approach to us and say, by the way your breakfast is paid......good luck. The balloons are already paid off.

Ballons 

The highway head into the mountains, we can see the Shasta river around, We got into a bigger river and we thought in stop for a swim in the next spot but the river was so polluted that we have to skip, I will don’t drink from that river even with the filter, no way. We have to stop in the rest area of the interstate. We continue throw a dirty road, we meet really red necks in this area, especially this man with his white Van......California. The app Navigator direct us throw a shortcut 2 miles shorter that google maps. When we reached this bridge, there were not bridges, the bridge has gone time ago, just his skeleton was left. 

no bridge left.....

Next bridges would be Railway Bridge, no problem, after we still have to walk a mile by the railway, CJ nearly get a hard attack when a Bull snake surprise him . We asked in the house for water. They have not water in the houses. This is real red neck territory and we are going to be shot, we were laughing.

Getting dark and not a place where to camp. We were really fuck up today. We sneaky in the side of the road near a ranch or something like that. CJ did not want to do dinner as we had not much water, Do dinner I promised I will bring water from the ranch. Road is hard. We thought in just 4 days, it is going to be 5.

Day 4 we are 37 from Ashland. After 5 minutes walking I a saw CJ already seating. What’s happen? CJ – we have 15 miles by the mountain road or just 7 straight by the interstate 5. I remain him that is illegal. CJ – In this entrance doesn’t say Prohibited Pedestrian. Fuck it we go, if they stop us we play the foreigners game. It was quite safe, it was a big shoulder. The road we have to take after was private shit!, now what? A car just stop and say the Oregon border is just a mile down and in Oregon is legal to walk the interstate, ok, he gave us a ride. He was surprised when I asked him to stop where the sign is. I did not walk all California to don’t take this picture........

great team work

We did it, we just walk California. Deserts , mountains and now ready for Oregon !
thanks CJ for the pictures

Burney Fall to Castella

I reached the Burney state Park in the morning. I went to the shop to pick up my resupply box that I sent over here. As guides says , staff here is super unfriendly, super, super. No hello, no nothing. Super unfriendly and just thought F off !.On the way back to the trail I check out the fall, very pretty but my target of the day was Rock creek, a nice spot for lunch with different pools connected between them . Chill over there during the heat of the day and do the climb in the afternoon.

This Rock creek was fantastic , I did not went down to the big pools but just by the bridge I was able to cool down. Really hot. Have a nice lunch and relax the legs in the pools. I am finding that a the legs really appreciated a cold bath , I fell more relaxed and I sleep better. In the afternoon I camped by what here call a pound , a small water pool near a death end of a dirt road.

In this area there is water but It is quite difficult to find and is located in very weird places. One day I really mess up with the water. I try to go always with no more than a 1 Litre of water. I miss a creek and after I have to come back half mile after I did not take enough water as the afternoon was a big climb in the heat and without  tree cover. When you realize that you can start to be short of water is when you start to be more thirsty. Luckily I found a sign on the ground with the sign of H20 point down of the Valley, there you go, lose another hour just looking for water, I don't want to take risks in this area.

I saw up to 3 wild fires around me, big ones, but far enough from me to fell safe. North California and his auto - combustion problem. I camped by a dirt road in a ridge. I was having dinner at night and I could see now all the orange flames closer, wow. A little worry, I am a valley away from the fire.......Check the wind direction , I think I am ok for tonight.........

Wake up in the morning  and an easy descent into MC Cloud river, nice place but not the best place for a swim in the crossing point. I checked on the map a possible swimming spots 2 miles further, Take the risk but really pay off, maybe the best swimming spot of the PCT ( 300 m away) just whem the PCT turn right up to the mountains. I found this  little trail that was going down....Time for lunch put some air in the Theremarest and jump in to the water, love the PCT.  On my way back I found Blister, CJ and Blister sleeping Siesta, F hot it is, isn't it ?

I camped that evening with String Cheese,  we ere talking about why doing the PCT, etc....I quite enjoy. I couldnt find a really flat spot so I just sleep in the trail. The headlamp is playing games, it just turn off in the middle of the dinner, thanks I was not alone.......

The way down to Castella was very graded. At the beginning I thought it was a weird morning fog but after I realize, this is not fog , it is ash from the fires , all around. When I reached the road I met more hikers and gave the news, ok, many areas are shut down, fires are without control and more lighting is coming in the next days. People is getting rides, road walk and some people are trying to stay in the trail. I went to  Dismuir to resupply, check the news and take a decision for the next section, what to do?

I meet with Cracker Jack in the local Brewery, after last report we decide to walk road ( 100 miles ) no, just skip, we are still walking from Mexico to Canada....We got a super cheap hotel room in one of those nice  50 American hotels but without air -con. Worst night in the PCT, I thought a few times about hike out in the middle of the night.  We were set , Road walk starts tomorrow.

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.