Daily Miles: 9.0, Total Miles: 1726.8 Coming down into Ashland was like descending into a heavy fog. The Southern Oregon fires west of here are still largely uncontained. I got to the freeway on-ramp near Callahans and quickly got a ride into Ashland and checked into a motel. I need to learn the bus schedule to cut down on walking. A lot of people are wearing masks due to the smoke. The outdoor Shakespeare Theatre performances have even been cancelled…
Daily Miles: 29.1, Total Miles: 1717.8 Last night I finished a book recommended by Mrs. Haze – The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. This is a moving novel about a recent retiree who left his house to walk to his mailbox. He ended up on a 600-mile walk across England. The real story is about the reasons for this journey and his experiences on the way. Suffice to say everyone should hike their own hike. The first…
Daily Miles: 26.7, Total Miles: 1688.7 All of us went over to the Seiad Cafe for breakfast. No one accepted the PCT Pancake Challenge – if you can finish five of their pancakes in a two-hour time limit, you don’t have to pay. Each pancake weighs about one pound. Someone actually finished all five pancakes yesterday, the first time in 5 years. I was told Puma, who I know from earlier on the trail, attempted the Challenge yesterday. The waitress/cook…
Daily Miles: 31.9, Total Miles: 1662.0 I awoke to the smell of smoke in the air. I hiked up and around Black Mountain and several marble outcrops, then descended to Paradise Lake below King’s Castle, a marble block on a ridge above the lake. I headed to Buckhorn Spring for water and then a long, forested descent to the Klamath River via Grider Ridge. I picked my first blackberries on the hike! From the Grider Creek CG, I had a…
Daily Miles: 23.6, Total Miles: 1630.1 I enjoyed the Rancher’s Special at Bob’s Ranch House – three eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes and a bowl of fruit. Back to the motel to pack up and had a banana, cherry pie and a chocolate milk to wash it down. I waddled out to Main Street to hitch back to Etna Summit. A tough one because of very little traffic but got a ride from a nice, older gentleman I had chatted with…
Daily Miles: 15.1, Total Miles: 1606.5 One good thing about an early start is a gorgeous sunrise. Red sky in the morning, hiker’s warning? After a short climb, I entered the Russian Wilderness. How did I get in this country? Nice views of sheer granite walls heading down South Russian Creek Canyon. I turned up and hiked over another ridge, passing scenic Payne’s Lake along the way. Good views of Mt Shasta and on into Oregon from the high point….
Daily Miles: 29.5, Total Miles: 1591.4 I heard cows bellowing and cowbells clanging down in the canyon last night. A short climb and headed around Scott Mountain, crossed Highway 3, and entered Trinity Alps Wilderness. I didn’t think cattle were part of the Wilderness Area experience but there they were! Most of the springs and several of the creeks were very suspect water sources due to hoof prints and cow patties everywhere. While I was eating near one spring, a…
Daily Miles: 30.9, Total Miles: 1561.9 I continued climbing to just over 7,000 ft elevation and passed high above several lakes including Toad Lake. Stayed between 6,000 to 7,000 ft elevation all day following the contours around several canyons. A few good views of Mt Shasta, one behind Bull Lake. Craggy Peak was another prominent mountain today. Seemed like I was going in circles today – all directions but north. Somewhat cooler today with cloud cover and by late afternoon…
Daily Miles: 24.5, Total Miles: 1531.0 I had Sylvester from Roadrunner Taxi pick me up and swing by the post office, grab some coffee and head out to the TH. They’ve only been in business for a few months and provide a good service in such a small town. A long, over 4,500 ft vertical climb today and maybe a few degrees cooler than yesterday. The trail entered Castle Crags Wilderness and swung around the southwest base of the pinnacles…
Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 1506.5 A Post office trip and usual hiker chores today but did take a swim in the pool. Otherwise, enjoyed the air-conditioned room. What else does Purple Haze do on the trail besides hike, eat and sleep? I do try to read a few pages every night but sometimes fall asleep on the first page. I have finished a few books I have loaded up on my iPhone. Nice rest today – back to the…
