PCT Day 77: Down to Belden & Back Up

Daily Miles: 27.4, Total Miles: 1300.5

I enjoyed a beautiful sunrise and headed up the trail.

Only a short climb to near the summit of Spanish Peak and then followed a ridge west. Next was the long, long descent to Belden and the Feather River at 2,251 ft elevation. On the way, I saw a pair of sandhill cranes strutting around in a meadow.

I stopped at Belden Town which has a small store, saloon, restaurant. RV sites and cabins to rent.

Apparently they have days long music festivals here that you can hear for miles. I just had the Swiss cheese and mushroom burger and rested a bit while charging my phone. The kind cook brought out a plate of watermelon slices – he said it might help me cool off. I contemplated getting a cabin but thought better of it.

Belden apparently marks the end of the Sierra Nevada. I started the warm climb up the other side which eventually rose above the burn area and entered the forest following Chips Creek.

Fortunately water was not an issue but another 3,500 ft vertical climb wore me out. I found a flat spot adjacent to the trail past Poison Spring – hope nobody trips over me.