Aug 22nd - Hyatt Lake

A late start but I did eat some oatmeal and coffee.  No energy but feeling better then yesterday.  Yesterday I skipped the side trail to Pilot Rock.  Today I skipped the one to Hobart Bluff.  Not like me at all.  I almost turned around to go out to Hobart Bluff but I had no energy.  I decided I needed to admit I cannot make the miles I thought to meet up with Sybille where we planned.  

Saw a rattlesnake on the trail and some nice views.  I stayed at Hyatt Lake campground which was a very nice spot and they only charge PCT hikers $2.00.  Shared a picnic table and campsite with a 70 years young women and we had some fun conversations at dinner.  Hot shower, cleaned my clothes, and had a supper of rice and potato soup which stayed down.  Hoping I'm over the worst of this giardia.  Charged my phone in the bathroom.  I also noticed after my shower that I had lost my baby toenail.  I didn't even feel it.  My feet are feeling good since my new shoes in Mammoth. 

Pilot Rock

Rattlesnake
 

Aug 21st - Giardia

Well, didn't make it far today.  Left around 10am from Callahan's but I had no energy.  Had to stop every mile or two to rest.  Didn't want to eat or drink, but was dehydrated.  Drinking just gurgled in the pipes without having to pee.  At one point I was laying on the side of the trail and a hiker asked if I was still alive.  Camped early at a nice spring at 3pm because I was worried about hiking while dehydrated.  Could not bring myself to eat anything for dinner and slept from 4pm till almost 9am.  That is with the exception of getting up with diarrhea.  I camped near another hiker who said he was sick for 7 days and had just spent four days in Ashland recovering.  So, I guess I'm not alone.  Still, it's my first sick day on an adventure that has nothing but fantastic days so I'm not complaining.

Aug 20th - Callahan's

Spent the day at Callahan's Lodge.  Showered, sewed a tear in my backpack, laundry, and picked up Sybille's care package of resupply goodies.  They had a hiker deal to tent, laundry, shower, and all-you-can-eat dinner and breakfast which I couldn't turn down.  Met the Chowdown, Dr Haus, Lorax gang heading back to the trail along with the last remaining member of Team Sardine.  Good to see you Molasses.

I slept under the gazebo after dinner and listening to live music in the bar.  And the first beer is free for PCT hikers.  I didn't eat much of the all you can eat because I am feeling sick.  During the night I had to get up many times to use the bathroom.  I might have gotten something in that bad water with the Mac-n-potato surprise.  Talking with others it sounds like at least 8-10 thru hikers have come down with giardia.  All started showing symptoms around the Seiad Valley and Ashland area.  Decided, since I have all the food I need that I had no reason to go into Ashland.  Plan to hit the trail again after breakfast and looking forward to another visit with Sybille next week.  The good news is they may have re-opened the trail in the 30 mile fire detour ahead.

Aug 19th - Oregon!

It was still early, before 10am, but I toasted the Oregon border crossing with the last of the vodka despite the hour.  What a great feeling of accomplishment to have hiked the entire length of California!  It's been fantastic and I look forward to exploring the next state of Oregon. 

Lots of views from the open rolling summits but still hazy and smokey, which didn't leave very clear views of all the mountains around me.  Lots of OHV campers, some day hikers, and horse riders, especially near a peak with radar or telescopes on it.  Everyone said Callahan's Restaurant was just around the corner but they have cars.  LOL.  It was getting dark and Callahan's was still hours away and I thought I might have to hike all the way but finally found a camping spot about 5-6 miles out.  It's a steep area with cow paths and no flat spots but I found a camp big enough for a few tents at the last minute by climbing a steep cow path off trail. 

Aug 18th - First SoBo and last day in CA

My last day in California.  The rest of the fire detour walk was nice.  A narrow dirt road, corkscrewing along the river.  The river cacading down the rocky stream as we weaved up the canyon.  Smokey views of the mountains.  Lots of swimming spots but the two waterfalls, Horsetail and Pony Trail, were small.  At the fire checkpoint at the top of the pass I got ice cold gaterade and filled my water bottle with fantastic cold spring water from the Cook and Green Pass spring.  Met Bloodbank and Knees and my first SoBo hiker today; Red Ceder.  He claims to be in the lead and had lots of snow the first few hundred miles in Washington. 

Aug 17th - Seiad Valley with Rivers, Bridges, Berries and another Fire

Woke to a smokey valley and the sounds of helicopters -- the fire ahead is getting bigger!  The hike down to Seiad Valley included four footbridge crossings of the Grider Creek.  The last with a nice cool refreshing swimming hole.  Lots of wild thimble berries that taste like a creamy raspberry.  After cooling off in the river I braved the long hot road walk into town, turning down a car ride offer to bypass the road walk three times.  Passed the temporary helipad for refueling the helicopters for fighting the fire ahead.  At the fire department I scored a cold drink but they had no information on the PCT trail situation and referred me to the ranger station.  At the ranger station I was told the PCT was closed ahead but a road walk that followed a river and had a nice waterfall provided a nice alternative to connect above the fire.  Approximately 12 miles, mostly on a dirt winding road up the mountains to Cook and Green Pass.  Having eaten tons and tons of blackberries I wasn't too disappointed that the Seiad Valley Cafe (and with it the pancake challenge) closed at 2pm.   Bought some stove fuel and a soda and ice cream. 

After my lunch I headed up the first paved then dirt 12 mile corkscrew road that leads up the canyon to the top of Cook and Green Pass.  It was hot, with lots of blackberry's.  Tons and tons of them.  The biggest blackberries I ever have seen.  Perhaps it's from eating so many blackberries, or the ice cream, or the mac-n-cheese surprise; but I'm feeling weak and sick to my stomach today.  Decided to camp halfway up the road walk detour.  But I did luck out with a fantastic camping spot by the river with a great swimming hole in the glacial rock pools by a water fall and they even had a small box privy. 

Thimble Berries

Swimming in Grider Creek

Blackberries

No Pancakes for Papa Smurf

Campsite with great swimming hole
 

Aug 16th - Marble Mountain Wilderness

Wow, the views just keep coming.  Very nice ridge hiking with moderate ups and downs.  Great views of Marble Mountain, Black Rock Mountain, and a fantastic view of Maneater Lake!  Surrounded by jagged mountains, this turquoise blue alpine lake still had snow near it in 90 degree heat.  A picture perfect lake!!!

Lots and lots of wildflowers despite being late August.  And Paradise Lake was also nice.  Camped at the forked tree spring near Sierra, a yoga instructor and her friend who are section hiking.  Love their lingerie underwear tree.  It's unbelievable how every day on this trail can have such a great, yet different, set of views.  And I mean "every" day.

Maneater Lake

Marble Mountain and Black Rock Mountain

Three Fork Tree Campsite

Taking Food Inventory