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!

June 18 Mileage 30 Mile 1155 to mile 1185 I wake up throughout the night- the gym is dark and creepy and the building makes eerie creaking noises as it settles and shifts. "Do you think this place is haunted?" I whisper to Twinkle, at one point. "No," he says. "Ok." I finally drift off … Continue reading Day 55: Warmth at last, and trail magic lasagna!

June 17 Mileage 30 Mile 1125 to mile 1155 We wake and it's so cold and my sleeping bag is soaked in condensation. Why is it so cold right now? What is even happening? We switchback up onto the cold bright ridge, the fields of yellow mules ears, the empty space and the mountains, rolling … Continue reading Day 54: hailstorms and sleeping in the gym

June 16 Mileage 24 Mile 1101 to mile 1125 We sleep in- I have a dream we're all in prison and I bake Twinkle a birthday cake in a titanium pot, make frosting from hot chocolate and crushed butterfingers like Coughee said he did in prison. When I wake it's Twinkle's birthday (he's 27! What … Continue reading Day 53: cold forest is cold

June 15 Mileage 7 Mile 1094 to mile 1101 I wake way too early, 5:30 a.m., and lay on the floor in my sleeping bag, feeling tired and wishing I was asleep. Ah, town days. After what seems like a long time the others wake up too, or maybe they were always awake. We all … Continue reading Day 52: too much sugar, not enough sleep