No more California!
Trip Start
May 15, 2005
1
9
13
Trip End
Oct 2005
Ashland,
Oregon,
United States
Wednesday, September 7, 2005
Tomorrow I'm getting a ride up to Seattle, my hometown, where I'll spend two days, then with Rabbit, head up to Manning Park in Canada. Our southbound journey of almost 1000 miles will begin there.
The trail has been great since my last update. We hiked from Old Station, CA over Hat Creek Rim, a notoriously hot section of northern California. The views were wonderful as we watched Mount Shasta get closer and closer
01 - Me on Hat Creek Rim
. One day we talked to a paraglider catching thermals right above us. I got a great picture of him. Our next resupply stop was Dunsmuir, a great little town right on Interstate-5. We had no place to stay that night, as I'm still penniless, so Rabbit and I went to the local bar to find someone to take us in. I ended up entering a dart tournament where I somehow got second place and came away with a few dollars. We also met a very nice lady that let us stay at her house that night. One thing I've figured out on the PCT is not to plan things too much. Everything always works out.
It was weird crossing under I-5 as we left Dunsmuir, knowing that it lead right into Seattle. The country just seems so big when you're way out in the middle of nowhere with no roads or people for miles and miles. Then you see a major interstate. It kind of messes with your head.
A couple days later, with my head un-messed, we camped on a ridge where Rabbit found three scorpions next to his tent. That was the first time I'd seen one in person. Not too scary. We talked to another thru-hiker earlier that day that ran into a big mountain lion. It walked up to within a couple feet of him showing absolutely no fear, even as he threw rocks next to it. The hiker, Freebird, was really thinking he might die there. With a stick in his hand he began tapping the cat on the head just hard enough to scare it off
02 -Rabbit on the Rim
. It didn't work. The cat looked like it actually wanted to rub up against his leg. Freebird somehow managed to back off and find an off-duty park ranger. They carried a big bear trap, the cage-type, down to the cat and lured it in with roast beef. Freebird ate a little first. He is a hungry thru-hiker. It was eventually discovered that the cat had no front claws or fangs. It was someone's house pet they had set free. Great story though.The next day we camped high on an exposed ridge at 7700 feet with a 360 degree view that included Mount Shasta, Mount Lassen, the Trinity Alps, and Castle Crags. Probably the most impressive site I've had on the trail so far. The best part was there were no bugs. Even when we don't have mosquitoes we always have big black ants. Not one that night.
We stopped next in Etna, CA. and stayed that night with a couple that hosts PCT hikers. We got a great rest there which set us up for the 120 mile hike to Ashland, Oregon. This was my favorite section aside from the Sierra. With numerous views of Shasta we hiked through Castle Crags, the Trinity Alps, the Russian Wilderness, the Marble Mountains, and Klamath National Forest. I hope my pictures do them justice. We did some of our longest miles that week with a couple 28 mile days and a 31. Crossing the California-Oregon border was a little surreal. I really wasn't quite sure how to feel. A huge section of my hike was over
03 -Action shot
. We took some pictures of the signs there showing mileage to Canada and Mexico. I thought back to May 15th when I stood at the southern terminus looking northward. I don't think I had any idea how long California was. I was both happy and sad to leave it, as I'd met some of the most amazing people there over the last few months. My thoughts soon shifted to the Pacific Northwest, the best part of the United States, in my opinion. It was good to be in Oregon. Only two little states to go.
Rabbit and I left BadMoon, Happy, Phantom, and Whoop-Ass behind, as we felt a sense of urgency to reach Ashland.
From what we hear, a major percentage of thru-hikers have left the trail for one reason or another. One report was 70 percent of the hikers that flipped up north early are gone now. Apparently the heavy snow in California has taken its toll. I think it may be the highest dropout rate of any year.
We'll be back on the trail September 11th with a finishing date sometime in early November.
Thanks again to everyone that has helped me through this leg of the journey, including my hiking partner, Rabbit.
Until next time,
Drew
I almost forgot - Before BadMoon gave me my trailname "Wifeless" I was given the name "Tabasco" since I put it on nearly everything I eat. Due to popular demand I am again "Tabasco", although I am still wifeless. I think people thought I had a wife at one point and lost her. Way too sad for the trail.
