The Unpolished Princess

Start: 1284.4

Stop: 1308.4

Today’s miles: 24

Total PCT miles: 1159.2

It started to lightening last night, before I fell asleep. I got nervous, but it never thundered so I prayed it was far away. And then, around 10:30pm, I had to make a mad dash out of my tent to go poop. It was pitch black, thank God for my headlamp!

After that, I didn’t sleep too well. My stomach was roiling and I couldn’t seem to get it to calm down. So, my sleep was off and on, worried I’d have to get up in a hurry again. Thankfully, I didn’t until 6am.. which still sucked, but at least it was daylight. I don’t think the iced coffee yesterday was my best idea.

Margot and I left camp right at 7am. I was pretty cruisy all morning.. I felt fast and was making the miles. There wasn’t a whole lot to look at, even if we did cross into Lassen Volcanic National Park after 4 short and easy miles. This whole area was a burn zone, so it was just exposed and hot. I stopped to eat lunch in front of a ranger station, mainly because I was getting hangry and didn’t care to look at the maps to see if anything better was around. Apparently I stopped only a quarter mile from a nice lake.

Margot joined me, and didn’t mind that I stopped before the lake, either. And after we got started again, the lake was covered in mosquitoes, so i no longer regretted it. I got water as fast as I could and kept moving. I slowed down tremendously in the afternoon. While some of the views were pretty, it was all through burned trees. It rained for maybe 20-30 minutes, although the storm clouds looked like they were ready to release a flood.

The wet, charred wood got to me late in the afternoon. My head started hurting and tears kept pricking my eyes. I couldn’t explain the why, but I was definitely struggling with my memories and they kept snatching my breath away from me. At one point I had to take my headband off, because it felt like it was suffocating me.. trauma and claustrophobia, how fun.

The wind picked up within our last 2 miles of trail before camp. I saw two dead trees fall, heard 4, and saw plenty of little limbs go flying. It was pretty nerve wracking. We went down a side trail to see the Thermal Geyser. It was neat, and a short side trip, so I was happy we went to see it.

When we got to the junction for where we were going to camp, I honestly didn’t like it. There were so many dead trees everywhere, the water wasn’t easy to get to, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep good there, after seeing trees fall today. We kept moving down the trail, got water from a stream crossing it, and then about half a mile later, I spotted a fire ring downhill from the trail.

I waited for Margot to catch up to me and asked if she thought it would work. She agreed and we made the side quest to the fire ring. The area is the end of a gravel road, so it’s rocky, but flat. We were able to stake our tents out by using the bigger rocks, lots of cuss words were said by both of us. We made it work, and then sat down to eat dinner. We’re both pretty exhausted. I’m afraid tomorrow will be a tough one, with lots of elevation gain and loss.. hopefully it’s the mild kind that you don’t really feel that much.
One can dream, right? I’m off to do just that. Goodnight y’all.

Start: 1274.1

Stop: 1284.4

Today’s miles: 10.3

Total PCT miles: 1135.2

I’m shocked today wasn’t a nearo, honestly.. we kicked ass!

We woke up around 8ish, well, I did-Margot was already awake, but lying in bed still. We got dressed and brushed our teeth before making our way down to the bakery. Apparently they have a pastry that comes from the area Margot is from in France-it was delicious!!

It was so smoky outside. From the door of the motel room it looked like we were in a cloud of grey/white. Some hikers were planning to hike south from here today, but the smoke is so terrible, I don’t plan to do that. Other hikers tried and turned back because of it. A trail Angel said that just because it wasn’t officially closed yet, it doesn’t mean it won’t be-there are more fires south of Etna, too-and another storm is expected tonight. NO. THANK. YOU. I’ll just have to come back and do Etna to my Grizzly Peak bail out spot either later this year or next year. I’m not messing around with fire and smoke for over 148 miles. It’s just not going to happen.

She headed to the outfitter and I went to the post office. I got my socks, finally, and I sent my shoes to Andrea, since I’m skipping ahead I won’t need them as soon as I thought I would, so now I’m all confused about what to do with them. At least if she has them I know I’ll be able to get them quickly.. being that the trail just keeps getting closer and closer to her house now.

We packed our stuff and checked out of our motel room. With fresh drinks in tow, we sat at the bus stop for over 30 minutes. It was late. I was getting worried.. a lot needed to happen to get the two of us back on trail today, and this first leg being late would mess everything up!

While we were sitting there, on the sidewalk, in the smoke filled sunshine and heat, a man walked up and said he and a friend were driving back to Mount Shasta with their rental car and we were welcome to join them if we wanted to skip the bus. HECK YEAH WE DO! Otherwise we would have to take 2 buses and wouldn’t get to Mount Shasta until after 2pm-and that was when the bus was still on schedule! With these guys taking us, we’d be there by 1! How awesome!

We hopped in and we talked as the hour drive went by pretty fast. Within a mile from our destination, Margot got car sick and threw up in a paper bag she was brilliant enough to bring with her. She felt so awful, but managed to get it all in the bag and then threw up again on the side of the road when they pulled over to let her get some air. Poor thing. The rest of the mile drive, she sat up front with the windows down.

We weren’t in Mount Shasta 5 minutes when a trail Angel, Noelle, arrived to drive us to the Burney area. She pulled up and as we were getting to her car, we hear our names being called: CEO AND BLUEBS! I ran over quickly to give hugs and say hi, Margot did too, and then we said our byes, not wanting to leave Noelle waiting on us after she came all this way to drive us another hour south of here. Hopefully we’ll get to catch up with them again soon!

Noelle took us through Starbucks, Margot got a large ice water to help settle her stomach. I got an iced coffee. It’s hot as hell still. She had us cackling the whole way to a tiny dirt road, where we left her and hopped in another trail Angel’s car, Dennis, to be taken the rest of the way to Hat Creek Overlook-the parking lot that Andrea and I made it to back on day 4.

We talked with Dennis the whole way there, too. Margot never got sick again, both of these angels were wonderful about the air and windows, she sat up front, and they took their turns easy and smooth-not much bouncing around. I know she was grateful. When Dennis dropped us off, and almost 4pm, it was hot outside, our packs are heavy, filled with 4 days of food, and we were slap worn out. She had been nauseous from the car sickness, and a mile or so in on the hike, I was nauseous from the heat.

Even with all of that chaos, moving around, jumping cars and the heat of it all: we managed to hike over 10 miles in 4 hours! We stopped to eat dinner around 6:30 and made it to camp by 8:30. It was already mostly dark though, so that part is frustrating. We’re losing daylight every single day. Part of it, I guess.

Tomorrow we’ll see how far we get. We’re 4 miles from Lassen National Park and we have to get all the way through the park regardless, because to camp within the park you have to have a bear canister-and we don’t. So, minimum, we have a 23 mile day, but I’m thinking we may be able to push farther. The elevation doesn’t look bad at all. So, here’s to getting back on trail, no fires nearby, and seeing our 4th national park!
Goodnight!

I slept in until 10am! I loved every second of it, too. I still had sleep voice when I called Derek, the motel owner, and asked for another night. He said right now the motel was booked because of the fires.. but if I’d wait a bit, he’d call to verify if the CalFire guys needed all of the rooms they

reserved, and then he’r let me know for sure.
I got up and started packing, assuming my luck had run out and Margot and I would be camping in the free campsites in town later tonight. Around 10:30, Derek called back and said he could rent me my room again! I was so happy I flopped back on my bed and laid there for another 15 minutes.

Eventually, I decided I was hungry and walked to the cafe in town. It was smoky outside. I got a breakfast burrito and talked with other hikers. I went to the post office, the new socks mom sent didn’t arrive yet, crap. And then I went back to my room to relax. I decided I didn’t want to hike south from Etna in all of the smoke, several hikers I talked to said they turned back because it was so thick and difficult to tell where it was coming from. Yeah-no thank you.

I reached out to Mark, the trail angel that helped me out of the snow in Dunsmuir. The bus would take us to Dunsmuir tomorrow, but then we’d need to get a ride to Old Station. Mark said he was at Dotty’s! No way!? I walked over and we talked. He was doing some shuttling with other angels to get hikers out of the fire. He was coordinating with BigMama today too! Who was on her way with Margot and my box! Yay!

Mark introduced me to Noelle, who had helped me figure out how to get to Seiad Valley back in June. She would pick up Margot and I tomorrow in Mount Shasta, at the bus drop off area, and take us halfway to old station, where another angel, Dennis, would take us the rest of the way. This network of people so willing to help hikers is truly unbelievable. I’m so very thankful to them all.

I walked back to my room, worked on the blog until 3:30, then went back to the post office to see if my socks arrived. They didn’t. BUT, the outfitter in town did exchange my hole ridden socks through the warranty exchange they offer, so I got a brand new pair of socks anyway. And the ladies working there were so kind! Actually, everyone in this town has been beyond nice, including stopping their cars to ask about my hike, and to wish me good luck on my journey as I walk down the road. Pretty neat.

On the way back to the room, Margot and BigMama arrived! Along with 4 other hikers. We all hugged and took pictures before they departed and Margot and I walked into the sweet bliss of the cold cold air conditioner. She showered and unpacked, then we went to Dotty’s for dinner. My 4th time there was just as good as the first two! (I didn’t eat anything when I came over to talk to Mark, I just got a soda). This time I got the

western bacon burger, and I have ZERO regrets!
We made it back to our room and laid out on the beds, talking over the last couple days apart and the plans going forward. Marquis got to Fish Lake today, but not early enough for BigMama to snag him and bring him to us. His legs are both hurting pretty significantly, so he’s planning to get to Ashland and then revisit the physical therapist. I’m really praying he gets better soon!

Ok, that’s all I got. We get to sleep in again, the bus to Mount Shasta leaves at 11:45, and I have to run by the post office again to see about my socks. Otherwise, sleep sleep sleep! Haha! Goodnight!