PCT Day 77

Sierra City to Bushcamp

26.7 miles (1.5 off trail miles)

Mile 1219.7

After sleeping in a bit, I flopped out of bed around 6 to hit the shower. I was surprised to find the frog in the exact spot I had left him the previous night…weird.

Once we’d finished packing we headed up the street to poach some WiFi from the general store. This tiny town had no cell signal, so we loitered for a bit on the patio as we took care of our online chores.

Spikes left around 7:30, as I attempted to upload my latest blogs. By 8 I had given up, the data was moving too slow and eating into my hiking time, so I grabbed my pack and headed down the road towards the trailhead.

During my road walk a deer dashed across the road before eyeballing me from the other side.

By 8:30 I was beginning what would be a 3000 ft climb over 8 miles. The grade wasn’t bad, so the miles came quick as I trekked up through the green forest.

About an hour in I found Spikes headphones lying forgotten on the trail. I grabbed them, looking forward to surprising her later.

Eventually the trail led up above tree line, spitting me out on a chaparral covered ridge with the forest valley to my left and intimidating rock formations to my right.

Then I crossed the 1200 mile marker!

The climb continued as the ridge walk switchbacked this way and that until I passed a nice older couple who were heading north. Like most people, Jan and Bob had skipped the Sierra, but still planned to make it to Canada, which is sweet as Bob was 72!

Shortly after I continued my climb I saw a south bounder approaching, as I stepped aside for him to pass he did a double take at me, and said “Austin?” hesitantly. It turns out he knew me from the blog. Picasso and I chatted for a bit before heading off in opposite directions.

As I approached the end of the climb I caught up to So Far and So Good, who I had met the previous day. After a short conversation we parted ways as I pushed on.

From there I turned a corner to find a dude peeing in my direction maybe ten feet away. It’s been a crowded morning on trail!

During the descent I caught up to Spikes, and together we made our way around Tamarack Lakes.

From there, the trail split off from its old route, detouring us back up another mountain. The new route is still unfinished in places, two miles longer and way steeper than the old one. In addition, the map app Spikes uses, Hikerbot, doesn’t account for the new route, so her mileage is two miles off from my map, Guthook…kinda annoying.

The remainder of the day was spent climbing for the most part. Apparently what goes up doesn’t always come down, at least that’s what it felt like.

When Spikes and I took a break together some tenish miles from our planned campsite, we decided to cut the day short and makeup the miles the next day.

About two hours later I arrived at A-Tree Spring, which we would call home for the night. When I walked back to the trail to leave a shoe so Spikes would know where to stop, I ran into a south bound hiker who said he’d just passed a girl looking for her hiking partner…shit! I must of just missed her.

I took off down the trail after her in my sandals, as I’d already changed into my camp clothes. After a few minutes of banging my toes on branches and rocks I decided Spikes would realize she’d passed sooner or later and return. Sure enough, shortly after I’d arrived back at camp she came walking up with a relieved expression on her face.

After setting up my bed I made us a small fire to enjoy as we ate dinner. About an hour later Guardian came walking up, and I invited him to join us. The three of us chatted for a bit before retiring to our beds for the night.

P.s. Thanks for the sweet mula Alden! It’s never expected, but always appreciated!

Cheers!