PCT Day 10

Start: 1657

Stop: 1661.5

Today’s miles: 4.5

Total PCT miles: 74.9

I got up at 7:30 and got dressed. I attempted to pack a little but before I knew it, it was already 8am. I grabbed all the things I needed to ship and walked the mile to the post office. They opened at 8:30 and I was the only one inside.

I shipped my ULA pack and my hat (just cannot seem to manage wearing it) back to myself. I shipped my bear can to Andrea, and my next food drop to the place I should make it to in the next week. All together, all 3 packages were $57. Because of the packing and writing and correcting addresses and taping-I got out of there at 8:50. I walked as fast as I could, but knew I wouldn’t make the 9:30 bus. I still had to pack my pack completely, check out, and then walk the half mile in the opposite direction..

That was alright, the next bus left at 11:45. That gave me time to work on the blog, relax on the bed, get everything packed just right. I left right at 11am and walked the half mile. The bus stop was in the parking lot of that gas station I walked to yesterday.. and oh no! The bus was already there!
I ran up to the bus, and the driver opened the door.. he told me I hadn’t missed it, he just got here early. I still had at least 30 minutes. So I got a sandwich, some chips, and a grape soda. I made myself a “PCT Hiker to Seiad Valley” Hitchhiking sign and ate my food at a picnic table.

I boarded the bus at 11:40 the driver was upset that they don’t have a bus riding out to Seiad Valley directly. I told him I knew I’d have to hitch and it was ok, he gave me a transfer card to get on another bus when this one ended to get me to the correct side of town to hitch from, so I wouldn’t have to walk that far.. so very kind! It’s an hour to Yreka, California, and then Seiad Valley is an hour hitch from there.

I got off the bus, got on the other one, and before I knew it I was being dropped off in front of a Speedway Gas Station and a Liquor Land store. Alrighty then. Not knowing how long this hitching business would take, I went to the gas station and used their bathroom before crossing the street, standing in front of Liquor Land and sticking my thumb out. I was a bit worried this would all be in vane, because not many cars were coming to my side of the four way stop. But I was all smiles anyway. Even when the thunder started to rumble and the skies grew dark. Lovely.

I had a backup plan, if I couldn’t get a hitch in the next 3 hours, I would get a room at the super 8 motel behind the Liquor Land and come up with a new plan in the morning to get to Seiad Valley. To my complete shock, though, I had a ride in less than 10 minutes. This kind man named Jeff drove me the whole hour to Seiad Valley, which was 35 minutes past his house! He’s a retired high voltage lineman, and was a wealth of knowledge!

He told me all about the towns out here, how 5 counties in this area almost broke away and fought to make themselves their own state, Jefferson. And the only reason it was “stalled” was because the bombing of Pearl Harbor happened right when they were planning to go to the government over it, and they dropped that fight to be patriotic and stand together for the war effort. Hmmmmm.

As we drove between huge mountains and along the Klamath River, he pointed out his own home, right there on the river, and the burn areas from last year’s huge wildfire, to the flood markings from 1997 . He pulled off to the side of the road (after making sure I was comfortable with him doing so) to show me a cool cable bridge I would have never known existed if he was just so genuinely kind and so very happy to tell me all about his home area. He even helps the firefighters when big fires break out, a true volunteer. I offered to pay him when we got to the tiny town of Seiad Valley, and he refused, “I did it because I want to, not to get paid for it.” I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to this.

When I went inside to grab a drink from the general store, another hiker was there. I can’t believe I forgot to get her and her friend’s names. But the four of them have just gotten here from going over the area I’m about to be walking into. We went outside to the picnic tables and they gave me the run down: lots of big blow downs, LOTS. Like took them 45 minutes to go just over a quarter mile because of the climbing up and over and around and under. For miles. And then miles more. Then, my favorite part: snow. Yep. According to them, lots of it. Son of a bitch.

I asked when it started and they didn’t give me an exact answer. They said they covered the whole stretch I’m doing in 3 days, but they’ve been hiking for a while now and definitely have their trail legs (they started in the desert). Makes me wonder.. and panic. I have read literally EVERY. SINGLE. COMMENT. About this section on the app. People mention water is flowing. People mention great campsites, and yes, in a little area people mention “snow free campsite!” And “the north facing road is completely melted out, the trail isn’t, take the road!” But no where has anyone said the words “dangerous,” “I should have bailed,” “melting cornices,” or anything like that, so I’m praying this snow is more manageable. And that doesn’t start for awhile.

As we were talking, big storm clouds were rolling in, I think they followed me from Yreka. I was contemplating staying a the campground and getting started tomorrow.. but I’d be in my tent, then, too. So, instead I started hiking up the trail. It was less than 2 miles to a campsite, then another at 4 miles and another at 4.5. I had options. The trail immediately started climbing once it was off the road. Switchbacks through some dense, dry forest, until coming up on top of a bluff with beautiful views of Klamath River and the mountains surrounding it. Just breathtaking! This is what I was expecting when I said I wanted to hike the PCT!

It was overgrown in areas and around 3 miles in I pulled off 4 different ticks. Then, I saw my first snake of the trail! Thankfully he was moving away from me into a bush, so I never saw his face.. just his long never ending body. I literally ran past, just in case his head was pointed in my direction. I was too freaked out to get a picture standing still, I just snapped one while I ran.. and looking at it now, his creepy little head is in there! I shutter just looking at it. I’d probably pass out of one of those things stood up and hissed at me!

I got to the 3rd campsite and it’s, meh. There’s a big dead tree on the ground through the middle of the trail, and my spot is up close to some brush. Oh well. It’s been a long day. I didn’t feel like pushing another mile or two. I set up camp and while I was sitting on the ground looking through the FarOut app, trying to figure out where to get to tomorrow and if there will be snow (I still don’t know when or where it starts, ugh).. I hear a crashing, crunching sound behind me a little ways, coming from the top of the hill opposite the one my tent is next to.

I pop up to see what it is. A big ole black bear is barreling full speed down the hill towards me!! Oh my god! He was HUGE! And once he noticed my movement, he veered to his right, and continued sprinting straight down hill, like a very steep downhill.. all I could hear was his crashing into bushes and plants and loose limbs. It sounded like he got pretty far away, I heard all of that for a minute or two..But I’ve been on high alert since.

I still ate my dinner, but I did it standing and pacing around; hahaha. Something tells me I might be a little jumpy trying to sleep tonight. Hopefully every creature keeps its distance. Oh! And so far, no rain. It kept thundering like something big was coming.. and honestly I’d welcome it if it would melt that snow over there wherever I’m going during the next few days.. ah, well. One last also: if I feel even a little bit worked up like I was out there a few days ago, I’m going to just hike back down and wait until I come up with another plan on how to proceed. Period. I don’t want to feel like that again. I think I’ll read a little bit while I wait for my phone to charge all the way. (As always, check my FB page for more pics, you know I post them all on there! Uploading them here takes forever). Goodnight, y’all.