June 28 Mileage 25 Mile 1377.5 to mile 1402.5 We wake in the woods next to Old Station at seven a.m. Seven a.m.! My god, I needed that sleep. We get up slow, wander to the road. Our plan is to eat breakfast at JJ's cafe, so we're not in too much of a rush. … Continue reading Day 65: hat creek rim of beauty

June 27 Mileage 23.5 Mile 1354 to mile 1377.5 I'm groggy in the morning, slow to warm up. Tired, should've gone to bed earlier. It's so hard, though, when the sun is up so late. And when you're cowboy camping next to someone jacked up on mountain dew. Hiking uphill, joints and muscles stiff, I've … Continue reading Day 64: cruising into Old Station

June 26 Mileage 35 Mile 1319 to mile 1354 It sprinkles on and off all night and I sleep awesome, cozy under the tarp. In the morning the rain has stopped, although it's still damp and overcast, and I feel amazing- if yesterday was a tired climb of slowness then today I'm super-pumped, powering up … Continue reading Day 63: resisting the temptation of free pizza and 35 miles to victory

June 25 Mileage 30 1289.5 to mile 1319 + .5 miles to water I wake up in the dark bedroom to the sound of someone vomiting. After a moment I realize it's Wildo- did he have too much to drink? Most people stayed at the bar in Belden later than I did. There's the sound … Continue reading Day 62: weary climbs and a storm’s a-brewin

June 24 Mileage 20 Mile 1265.5 to mile 1289.5 In the evening Nancy spreads foam pads across the deck for us and after we've done all our chores we drift there, fall asleep under the stars. I sleep so hard and wake at 6 to the long bands of light stretching across the deck. There's … Continue reading Day 61: just day hiking between trail angels aka we are so spoiled

June 23 Mileage 18.5 Mile 1251.5 to mile 1265.5 The mosquitoes keep me up again, off and on (dang, I've got to fix my tent) and then I'm awake at 5 a.m. Goddammit. Still, it's good to be here. We climb 4,500 feet in 9 miles leaving the feather river, and we are racing to … Continue reading Day 60: dreaming a dream in Bucks Lake

June 22 Mileage 31.5 Mile 1220.5 to mile 1251.5 (plus .5 to water) The mosquitoes arrive just before bed- big fat swarms of them, bumping up against our faces, whining like little single engine planes. I pull my mosquito headnet over my face and try to sleep- the mesh on my shelter is busted and … Continue reading Day 59: heat, dust, chafe, ridgewalking and the swimming hole of dreams

June 21 Mileage 24.5 (23 on the PCT + 1.5 on hwy 49) Mile 1197.5 to mile 1220.5 Today is national hike naked day. I don't feel particularly enthused by this. Last year on hike naked day I was in town, in Bishop (Bishop! So far back!) and I missed it. So this year I … Continue reading Day 58: hike naked until you’re sunburnt day

June 20 Mileage: zero Waking too early in the grass behind the church to the birds, Duffy who lives in the RV and waters the grass at the church drives us in his camper van to the greasy spoon in the next town over; breakfast is on the house. Two eggs and home fries with … Continue reading Day 57: doing nothing in Sierra City for a whole goddam day

June 19 Mileage 12.5 mile 1185 to mile 1197.5 I love Sierra City! I just gotta say. My third favorite trail town. Stehekin, then Etna, then Sierra City. I wake up too early in the campground- goddammit. I wish I could sleep past 6 a.m. As it is, if I stay up late I'm just fucked. … Continue reading Day 56: Sierra City!