Friday, July 11-Bucks Lake

After getting rained on all night, I did my best to get up and get moving by 6am. My tent was drying out in the first rays of the morning sun and then another cloud blew over and soaked everything again. Bummer...

I took a detour from the trail today that added a few miles to my hike but also brought me in contact with real FOOD! The idea of eating a burger was all consuming and overwhelmed my senses. It involved an 8.5 mile road walk to Bucks Lake. The walk was pleasant and there was very little traffic. 

I arrived at the restaurant an hour before they opened so I made good use of my time and wrote this blog post, charged my phone, used the restroom, and emptied the trash from my pack. There is no cell service here and no wifi. :( 

I've noticed that I had far better phone reception and access to wifi in Southern California especially in the desert section. It seems the further north I go, the harder it is to communicate. In the last town, Verizon worked but not AT&T. The store had wifi for hikers but it was painfully slow. I was able to text Eva and get one blog post to Eva for proofing. 

I'm having a burger, onion rings, and then will visit the store for soda and ice cream! Then I'll hike another 12-15 miles so I can arrive in Belden Saturday morning. I'll be back on the trail Sunday morning heading for Burney Falls State Park, where I'll meet Eva for the first time in a few weeks! She has my new shoes!!!

I'm so excited to see Eva and get my new shoes! 

Thursday, July 10-33 Mile Day

The last few days have reminded me of the desert because there were very few water sources. Here is a picture of a spring about a half mile off the trail. It was very cold and refreshing. It was one of the nicer places I got water. 

Today I hiked until almost 10pm and ended up covering 33+ miles...and they were not easy miles. At 4pm, after a long hot descent, I reached the middle fork of the Feather River and began a 4,600 ft climb out of the canyon. I stopped at a nice creek crossing 2 hours later and washed my feet and socks and filled up my water bottles.

I thought I would hike for maybe an hour and then stop for the day. The trail climbed along a steep ridge for miles and there was no place to camp. I just kept going and going hoping that I would find someplace flat enough to camp. Eventually I stopped to eat a snack and put on my headlamp. I have hiked early in the morning with my headlamp, and watched the sunrise, but this is the first time I have hiked into the darkness and had to choose a campsite in the dark. At first I planned on cowboy camping (no tent) because it was so late, but after a few minutes of looking at the clouds, I decided to setup my tent. It didn't take long to confirm that was a good decision because it started raining before midnight. I got up, put on the rain fly, ate a bag of M&Ms and went back to sleep.

Wednesday, July 9-Sharing The Forest

The forest north of Sierra City has numerous dirt and gravel roads and they seem to be popular with people who own trucks and GUNS! Apparently someone is not happy with Sierra County, because there are huge bullet holes in the sign. The sign below warns drivers in the forest to swerve when being shot at to avoid being hit. :)

During dinner tonight I heard gun shots for the first time while on the PCT. They were loud, close, and made me wonder which direction they were shooting. I think it's too early for deer season so I'm not sure what they were shooting at. 

As you can see I bumped my head today while getting water. I had to scramble down an embankment and I hit my head on a branch. Don't worry, It only hurts when I think...

While stopped for lunch today a young woman named Bananaboat hiked quickly by me announcing that Coppertone is camped at a dirt road about 5 miles up the trail. Coppertone is a trail angel meeting hikers along the trail and is famous for providing root beer floats. I arrived about two hours later and enjoyed  my second root beer float on the trail. He also had fruit and chairs to sit in! It was a great morale boost on a hot, dry, and dusty day!

I hiked 25 miles today in about 12 hours  and am on track to meet Eva soon. By the time I see her, I'll have completed over half of the Pacific Crest Trail and be approximately 300 miles from the Oregon border. 

Tuesday, July 8-The View From Mile 1,205

After resupplying in Sierra City, I hiked another 8.5 miles, and watched the sunset as I ate dinner: pasta primavera, Oreo cookies, and a Snickers bar. It was quiet, windless, and I was all alone to enjoy the sunset. I hiked a total of 20 miles today even with a 3 hour town stop. I didn't get a chance to wash clothes or shower, but that will happen at the next resupply, when I stay with trail angels near Belden, CA: Laurie and Brenda Braaten. 

I am managing some blisters, but I think what will really solve the problem is some new shoes. My shoes have holes in them and when I walk on pavement, I can tell there is zero cushion or support. I think my green super feet insoles need replacing too. They are the same pair I started with 1,200 miles ago and they weren't new then. My gaiters are also in shreds. It's time for a footwear extreme makeover!

I forgot to mention in a previous post that I met Sugar (my hiking partner in the High Sierra) on the trail the day before I hiked into Sierra City. What is strange about our meeting is that she was hiking SOUTH! She was meeting her boyfriend in the Tahoe area in a couple of days, and rather than relax and hitch a ride there, she decided to hike BACK 60 miles! That's  crazy!!!  For those of you wanting to see a picture of Sugar, you are not alone. She does take pictures on the trail, but she hides in the picture with only her hat or part if her head showing. She is the "Where's Waldo" of the PCT. 

It's 9:15 pm and I'm already in bed and my eyes seem as tired as my feet. Tomorrow I plan to knock out 22-25 miles so I better sign off now. Blessings! 

Timber!

Today I spent most of the day hiking through a section of forest that was being logged for timber. It was dirty, dusty, and generally unappealing. I hiked 93 miles in the past four days, averaging over 23 miles a day, and I have the blisters to prove it. I will arrive in Sierra City tomorrow by 1pm and resupply for the next section. I hope to rest for an hour or two, but I need to keep moving.

I camped at a developed campground for free at the manager's invitation. He saw me hiking near the campground and said I could stay at the host campsite. The host didn't show and the site was empty. A picnic table, water spigot, and pit toilet was like Heaven. The down side is that everyone in the campground thought I was the host. One woman wanted me to help her find her lost dog. Other people wanted to pay me for their site.

I'm in Sierra City now and just finished eating the biggest breakfast burrito I have ever seen. It's time to resupply, rest, and then get back on the trail. I have a deadline to meet Eva at Burney Falls State Park. That's 227 miles away. She has a new pair of shoes that I REALLY need. 

Peter Grubb Hut

After a 24 mile day and 6,000 feet of altitude gain, I'm camped at the Peter Grubb Hut. It is about 7 miles north of I80 near Truckee and it is the only hut style camping on the PCT. I am staying in the hut with 6 other people. Four are on the first day of their hike and the other three are PCT thru-hikers who I have seen regularly for the past few days. The new hikers seem too excited to sleep and the thru-hikers are too tired to talk. 

Here are some pics from the last few days. 

Before crossing the I-80, I treated myself to a meal at Donner Ski Ranch on Donner Summit Road. A tri-tip sandwich and fries were calling my name. I also charged my phone, emptied my trash bag, and used a real restroom with indoor plumbing! Amazing!

I've stepped up my miles over the last few days and am closing in on the half way point on the trail. I'm going to keep hiking faster because Linda C says I need to come home ASAP.  : )   I've paid a price for all those extra miles...my first blister. 

I'm truly missing my friends at the church and think of them often. Today was Sunday, and I was thinking all day about the services and what everyone was doing. I hope everything is going well and am praying for everyone: pastors, assistants, business office staff, worship arts team, maintenance, preschool, IT, media, audio, graphics, lighting, Kids Space, Nineveh, Without Permission, Cross, Learn The Word, Youth, Fitness, Men, Women...am I forgetting anyone? 

Thanks again for reading and following along on my journey. Blessings! 

Guest Blogger-Ben Brown

I hiked with Pastor Ben for 76 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail. Here are his comments: 

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail for 1.5 days now, I can honestly say this is intense stuff. All those day hikes I did growing up look like child's play compared to this hike. Here are some observations so far on the trail...

1) Hikers are all over the place one minute, no where to be found the next. Where do they all go?!

2) The shortest distance between Point A and Point B is not the objective of the PCT. The trail twists and turns like crazy. At one time today, we switched back south for quite a while. It looked like we were headed back to Mexico!

3) Snow can be in the weirdest places. We've seen a lot of it in small pockets along the trail, even at lower altitudes in the middle of summer. There were a couple small patches that seem to just be hanging on. Why hasn't it melted yet?!

4) Fifteen miles is a LONG way to hike in the high Sierra. I wish I was in better shape!

The experience is challenging yet rewarding. It teaches me a lot about what I can endure, in some of the most extreme conditions. It causes me to reflect on things that are most important, like faith and family. It's producing things in me that I know I'd never experience if I didn't step out and hike 76 miles in 5 days.

Seriously, I think of James 1:2-4...
"Consider it a great joy whenever you face various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must finish its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."

Things I've Learned After 1,000 Miles

I never get tired of pop tarts or hot chocolate.

I can hike in shorts when it is freezing, but if I don't have gloves, my fingers go numb.

Put on gloves before your fingers are numb. It's hard to put them on when your can't feel your fingers and they are stiff. 

Make absolutely sure there are no other hikers around if you are too lazy to walk off the trail to pee. (Trust me, it's embarrassing, especially if it is someone of the opposite sex.)

You can't eat enough when you are hiking 20 miles a day every day. Calories are your friend. 

Sunscreen with moisturizer is amazing!

Dirt is not the enemy and it washes off easily. It is also a decent sun and/or bug protection in ample quantities.

Mosquitoes are the enemy. They can drive you crazy! Carry 100% DEET or cover yourself in mud. 

After carrying a backpack for two months, sometimes I forget it is there.

Your body can do amazing things. You can always hike one more mile.

The wilderness is to be respected, but with the right gear and experience, it is not a scary place.

I can hike alone and be happy.

Music makes me hike faster.

Take your shoes off at lunch and breaks to let your feet, socks, and shoes air out and dry...your feet will be much happier.

Lip Balm is also good for chafing...don't borrow a hiker's chap stick without asking, "where have you used this?"

Going to the bathroom in the middle of the night when it is raining is a bummer. Don't drink too much before bed.

Foods with the highest fat content are your friends on the trail. 

Hiking 1,000 miles will give you legs of steel, but your upper body looks like a wet noodle.

You can hike through snow in trail running shoes, but be prepared for some cold toes.

After hiking 25 miles in one day, going to bed at 8PM is normal. So is sleeping 10 hours.

More to come...

Sonora Pass

Below is where I camped the night before Sonora Pass.

It was high on a ridge with a near vertical drop, just three feet behind my tent. I used plenty of stakes and rocks to make sure my tent wouldn't blow away in a high wind. It turned out to be a cold, but relatively calm night, with no more rain! 

This is part of the trail I hiked north to Sonora Pass. It was a cold, windy, and overcast day. We stayed high on the ridge for most of the morning and then dropped down to the pass in the last mile. Although I camped alone, there were other thru-hikers also hiking to the pass and about 9 hikers arrived there in the span of about 2 hours. When I arrived at the trail head, where the trail crosses Hwy 108, there was trail magic in progress! The food included baked potatoes with butter and cheese, homemade mac & cheese, homemade baked goods, fruit salad, yogurt, and lots of candy. I had a huge portion of everything! As you can see in the picture, there was a massage table and hikers got a 20 minute massage for sore legs and backs from a certified masseuse. It was pretty amazing! 

After getting a massage and eating for over an hour, I dragged myself away from the trail magic and hitchhiked 10 miles down to Kennedy Meadows. I showered, washed my clothes, repacked my gear, and ate a big dinner at the cafe. (I was on my way to eat dinner, thinking to myself... if only I had a newspaper to read during dinner and BAM there it was sitting on the table next to mine.) The small resort advertises wifi, but it wasn't operational and there is ZERO cell service in the area, so I called Eva from the pay phone. I had a huge breakfast at the cafe and then hitchhiked back to Sonora Pass to meet friends from Modesto. Three people will be joining me on the hike from Sonora Pass not Echo Lakes/Lake Tahoe. It will be fun having friends to hike with.

A Trail Birthday

Today I turned 52 on the trail. I'm celebrating with pop tarts, cookies, pastries, and candy bars. And that is just breakfast! Just as important as what I am eating is what is eating me...mosquitoes to be exact. I've been bitten so many times I think I have donated a pint of blood. The good news is the welts aren't too big, don't itch much, and don't last long. Maybe my body is just getting used to it.

Besides the topic of food, which is high priority on thru-hiker discussion lists, we also talk about miles hiked, and today, on my birthday, I completed 1,000 miles! 

I didn't stop too long because of the mosquitoes, but I did manage to get this picture.

Another exciting thing happened on my birthday: RAIN! The night before, I went to bed and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I left the rain fly off my tent so I could see the stars. At 3AM I woke to rain on my face. I quickly got up in my running shorts and t-shirt and put on the rain fly. It continued to rain until almost 3PM. Below is a picture of Dorothy Lake shrouded in clouds and mist. 

I have camped there before but it was special to see it under these conditions.

I hiked to within 6 miles of Sonora Pass and camped on a ridge with dramatic views in all directions.

Overall, it was a great day! I shot some video, but I can't upload it now so you video lovers will just have to be patient.

Thanks for continuing to follow along! 

You Choose The Title

I attempted to cross a river this morning. Below are some possible blog titles that tell the story. When you read the titles, no further explanation will be needed. You pick your favorite.

• Just Another River Crossing
• I Don't Want To Take Off My Shoes And Wade Across
• Hopping From Rock To Rock Is An Option
• Look, That Guy Just Did It And It Looked Easy!
• It Only Looks Easy...
• Trekking Poles Offer A False Sense Of Security When Crossing Rivers
• Slippery When Wet...
• A Morning Bath!
• Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming
• Is That Blood In The Water?
• It's Normal To Bleed More In The Mountains...Right?
• Mosquitoes are Like Sharks...They Can Smell Blood!
• Is It Just Me Or Did It Get Really Cold?
• How Long Was My iPhone Under Water?
• Which Is Easier To Dry Out, An iPhone Or A Roll Of Toilet Paper?
• At  Least I Had An Audience!
• We're Not Laughing At You, We're Laughing With You
• Anyone Have A Dry YouBandaid?
• Are You Sure Your Name Isn't Butter Feet?
• Squish, Squish, Squish, Squish...
• I Need A Pop tart To Brighten My Day

PostScript:

I dried out my phone for two days before trying to turn it on. (That took a lot of self control.) On the morning of my birthday, I hit the power button and PTL I was back in business! The toilet paper is another matter...The boo boo on my knee is healing nicely and the hikers who witnessed the event have been sworn to secrecy. All is good on the PCT!

Trail Magic at Sonora Pass

Today I met friends at Sonora Pass. It was so exciting to have people make the drive to visit me in my element! It's been two months since I have seen any of my friends from home and it was AMAZING to see so many people. Meshell brought me a resupply box packed by Eva who is on her way to see our oldest daughter in Colorado. Have a great trip Eva! People showed up with food, drinks and lots of smiles. They had the opportunity to provide some trail magic to other thru-hikers at Sonora Pass. It was so much FUN!

Three people joined me to hike the 76 miles to Lake Tahoe. Here is our "before" picture! 

I hope they are still smiling when we arrive. I promise not to hike too many miles each day. (Is 20/day too many miles?)

How about a group photo before we leave. 

Thank you to everyone who met me or sent a package. You are such a blessing!

June 30-A Day In Pictures

Lyell Canyon in Yosemite

Waterfall near Glen Alden High Sierra Camp

Sunset at Glen Alden High Sierra Camp

June 29-Worth A Thousand Words

Thousand Island Lake with Banner Peak in the background

Where's The Bathroom?

I've fallen and I can't get up!

There is a hiking joke that goes something like this:

A bear and a rabbit are pooping in the woods.

The bear asks the rabbit, 

"Do you have a problem with poop sticking to your fur?"

"Nope" says the rabbit.

So the bear wipes his butt with the rabbit.

It's a delicate subject, but I'm sure inquiring minds want to know...yes, I go to the bathroom in the woods. Peeing has few requirements: privacy, a thirsty bush, stand with your back to the wind (a surprisingly important step) and take care of business. Pooping has additional requirements: a more remote location, dirt soft enough to dig a hole, a stick to dig with, a zip lock baggie of toilet paper and the ability to squat like a baseball catcher and wipe at the same time. Now if I could just keep the mosquitoes from biting my bottom while I'm in position...

Clothes for Long Distance Hiking

I've never had much interest in fashion so hiking seems like a good fit. Wearing the same clothes everyday for days, weeks, months...

You really don't need much more than this. I have a clothing philosophy: Hike in layers...when you get hot, take off a layer, when you get cold hike faster. If something gets wet, lay it in the sun to dry. Don't carry any cotton except one cotton bandana. Use it to dry everything and hang it on the outside of your pack to dry. Wash your socks everyday...they keep your feet happy. Things get dirty and smelly...just keep hiking! Wash all your clothes in town and wear your rain pants and jacket while they are washing. 

Happy Birthday To Me!

A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse! William Shakespeare

Eva asked me what I wanted for my birthday...I'm guessing this is not it! While in Bishop, CA, I chatted with the owner of this amazing machine and he allowed me to sit on it and pose for a picture. Did I mention I still have my motorcycle license? This would get me to Canada much faster, but I think I better finish what I started and keep walking!

My Kitchen and Pantry

It's pretty basic: a small stove and pot, a large mug and a spoon. The stove pot is made of titanium so it is very light, and has a built in heat ex-changer so it is very efficient. It boils two cups of water in about 2 minutes. The fuel canister lasts for about a week if used sparingly for dinners and a few breakfasts. Also pictured is my bear canister which is required in the High Sierra. It protects my food from bears and also makes an excellent camp stool and even a bucket for washing clothes. I use the large mug for both eating and drinking. A typical breakfast is two packets of instant oatmeal with added raisins and almond slivers. After eating the oatmeal, I add a packet or two of hot chocolate and more hot water which helps me re-hydrate, gives me more calories, and cleans out my mug. A quick rinse and I am ready to go!

Sometimes I cook and eat inside my tent when the weather is bad or mosquitoes are swarming. It's not recommended because the tent could catch on fire, the stove produces carbon monoxide, and there is always the possibility of spilling (butter fingers). The other drawback of cooking and/or eating in the tent: the tent smells like food and that's not something you want in the Sierras where bears are on the prowl.

Keep calm and cook on!

Footwear

Here is what I wear on my feet while hiking... Asics Trail Runners with lightweight gaiters to keep the rocks and stickers out of my shoes. I also have a pair of very lightweight sandals to wear in camp and for river crossings.  It is very basic but works well for me. I have two pair of socks: one to wear and one that is hanging on my pack drying out for the next day! I expect to wear out 5 pairs of shoes, three pairs of gaiters, and a dozen pairs of socks. Keep calm and hike on!

Sonora Pass, Here I Come

I'm on my way to Sonora Pass, which is the closest I will be to Modesto while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. I would LOVE to see friends while I am there. Sonora Pass is on Hwy 108 and I will be there Saturday, June 28th from 10am to 2pm. I will be at the picnic area/trail head which is approximately 1/4 mile before the actual pass. Here is a google map link to the location of Sonora Pass on Hwy 108. Both the picnic area and pass are clearly marked with signs. Sonora Pass is approximately 110 miles from Modesto, CA on Hwy 108. It is 65 miles past the town of Sonora, and 10 miles past Kennedy Meadows Resort where there is a small store and restaurant. The picnic area has vault toilets and picnic tables. There is no running water so remember to bring your own. The pass is at 9,600 feet and can be windy, so remember to bring a jacket. Bring a picnic lunch and join us as we celebrate me hiking over 1,000 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail! Below is a small map showing the picnic area just west of Sonora Pass. I look forward to seeing you!

High Calorie, High Fat-By Eva

It was so nice to spend time with Loren in Mammoth Lakes this week. It almost felt like a regular summer vacation spent in our favorite vacation spot. There were a couple of reminders that this was not the usual summer vacation though... 1. Loren's handsome beard, and 2. Loren's a bit skinnier than the man I left at the border. He is so skinny in fact, he can take off his jeans without unbuttoning or unzipping them! So, of great importance during our few days together was getting Loren to eat as much as possible with the hopes of adding a few of those lost pounds back. Each meal included the highest calorie and fat counts possible: re-fried beans instead of black beans, white flour tortillas instead of corn tortillas. Each meal also included dessert and of course some chocolate from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory to wash dessert down. It reminded me of poor little Violet from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. "You're turning violet, Violet!" The poor guy rolled out of our favorite restaurants just like Violet did. 

Now as I head back home and continue my role as Base Camp Manager, I am scouting out higher calorie, higher fat options that I can put into his resupply boxes. Funny that I can't find a single product wrapping that boasts this fact. Everything says "Lite" or "Low calorie". 

Mammoth Lakes!

I arrived in Mammoth Lakes on Tuesday, June 17th, and Eva arrived the next day with the newest addition to the family, our dog Holly! We had four days together to eat, relax, eat, sleep, eat, day hike, eat, and resupply for the next section of the PCT, the hike to Sonora Pass. It was wonderful to see Eva and spend time together. We ate at our favorite restaurants, hiked some of our favorite trails, and spent lots of time catching up on what's happening at home, work, and church. Mammoth Lakes is a beautiful mountain town that we have been visiting on an annual basis since we spent a week there on our honeymoon.

On Sunday morning, I begin hiking again after a huge breakfast at The Stove with Eva and another PCT hiker I met on the trail. He started hiking the PCT the same day I did, April 24th, but I don't remember meeting him until much later. He arrived in Mammoth on Saturday and won't be leaving until Monday, but it will be nice to share a meal together before I leave. I have enjoyed seeing Eva, but I am also excited to get back on the trail. I have hiked 906 miles, but there are 1,750 miles left before I reach Canada and the sooner I get hiking, the sooner I will get there.

Reds Meadows-Tuesday, June 17

It was a crazy cold morning and my hands and feet were frozen for 2-3 hours until it finally warmed up. I was hiking before 6 am with only 14 miles to reach Red's Meadows where there is a cafe, small store and shuttle bus stop. I arrived there just before 1 pm and walked like a zombie to the Cafe to order a burger! After satisfying my hiker hunger, I took three different shuttle buses to the town of Mammoth Lakes and spent a night in town. Laundry, a shower, and a huge meal at Roberto's Mexican Food Restaurant were the main priorities on my to do list. Eva arrives on Wednesday and we'll have four days together! We'll celebrate my birthday, plan my next few resupply boxes and spend some time relaxing for four days!

Silver Pass-Monday, June 16

This was a long hard day with over 5,000 ft. of altitude gain. It came in three waves, first the climb over Bear Ridge, second the climb over Silver Pass, and finally, right at the end of the day, a climb out of Tully Hole and over a saddle to Virginia Lake. Above is a picture of the pass, and below is a picture of Mono Creek after Bear Ridge.

Here is a picture of me on the bridge at Mono Creek.

And finally a picture of Lake Virginia where I camped. It was a very cold and windy night!

Selden Pass-Sunday, June 15

Here I am on Selden Pass with my favorate lakes, Marie Lakes, in the background. I hiked 23 miles today and plan on a long day tomorrow. That will put me in good position to reach Reds Meadows and the shuttle to Mammoth Lakes on Tuesday evening. Eva will meet me there on Wednesday and we'll be together until Sunday morning. I'm so excited to see her and eat as much food as I can. I am losing some weight and I am running out of room to tighten the waist belt on my backpack.

Today I walked over the bridge at Piute Creek, leaving behind Kings Canyon National Park and entering the John Muir Wilderness.

Muir Pass-Saturday, June 14

Today we hiked over Muir Pass at 11,974 ft. There was lots of snow on the south side and lakes still had ice on them. It was a hard climb and my feet are tired and my face is sun burned. Tomorrow I need to be more liberal with sunscreen and lip balm and I should be fine.

I carry a very light pair of sandals that I use for river crossings. The past few days there have been multiple river crossings each day requiring me to stop, take off my shoes and socks, put on my sandals, wade across the river, stop, dry my feet, and put my shoes and socks back on. It is a tedious process that takes 10-15 minutes and slows me down considerably. The snow also makes my shoes, socks, and feet wet and I am constantly swapping my socks to keep the driest pair on my feet.


It was another long day and I am glad it is over. I am camped in McClure Meadow and this is the view fron my campsite. I had a fast dinner, built a small campfire, and then crawled into my sleeping bag.

Tomorrow we tackle Selden Pass and because it is below 11,000 ft, we are hopeful there will be little snow. We'll have two major river crossings that will require us to wade across.