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| Having a nice breakfast with Maureen and Casey |
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| Seeing PUMA again! |
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| Backup, Puma and Chief |
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| Red's Meadow |
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| Beer Tasting with Casey |
Early on in the year when I sent my first email out regarding my Re-‐Supply, Rich Phelps noticed I made a big mistake. Somehow I got my mileage wacked out from Sonora Pass to Echo Lake. Had only a few days of food for a big stretch of miles. Fortunately for me, the Phelps’ volunteered to resupply me at Sonora Pass and Echo Lake. They were on for a road-‐trip! Sure enough they were there waiting for me at Sonora Pass and provided Trail Magic for other thru-‐hikers. It was a nice visit with a hot shower and sandwiches and charges for all my electrical needs. All I did for them was provided a couple of sprigs of “Sky Pilot.” Cowboy had his 30th birthday on Sonora Pass and they were singing right along with all of us. Then the weather changed. Leaving Sonora Pass there were rumors of a storm. The first day out it started to drizzle and get a bit cold. Then came the Sierra Zephyr! (Terminology that the Nat’l’ Weather service uses for a strong High Sierra Wind, resulting from an unusual summer storm). When they built the PCT, they took it seriously and put the trail on the CREST of the ridge...so when the Sierra Zephyr blows at 70 – 100 mph on the ridge tops it completely hammers you on the trail. There is NO way to get off the ridge. You have to walk, crawl, struggle or lean into it. The first day I felt confident that I was ready for the upcoming Washington weather. It wasn’t until the second day that my confidence got beat down. I should have stayed in my tent all day, but...along with 2 other couples, we decided to go to Carson Pass and beyond. BAD IDEA.
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| Dinner with the Phelps after my RESCUE |
By the time I was on a ridge about 8 miles from Carson Pass, I received a text from Rich asking if I needed anything (as they were camping through this crazy weather event), I said, NO. Mountain Man, Bad ASS only lasted 1 mile. Texted Rich, “Please Mr. Phelps, come and get me!” I was hypothermic, my hands weren’t operating right and I really needed some serious moral support to get through. By the time I got to the Pass and the Phelps picked me up, my spirits picked up. And for all of you that are following my map, that is why I was in Gardnerville. Never so happy to see a Nevada town in my life! No zero day, just a warm shower, Italian dinner with the Phelps and a really nice bed! That was the Sierra Zephyr. It was the closest I have ever felt to being mentally broke. Thank you Rich and Kathleen.
Good Morning PCT! The next day was stunning. Lots of water, hiked down to Echo Lake. Camped above the lake and was able to see Lake Tahoe. I now have a customized PCT hat, as some little critter chewed up my brim! All the girls think I need to keep wearing it. They explained that people pay lots of money for clothing with holes in it. Then walked 120 miles through a super thick forest. Big trees becoming more and more dense as you walk on. Early on mosquitoes were bad. No more bears, but did hear some deer munching near my tent one evening.
Getting excited to see my PCT groupie wife in Sierra City, I did 24 miles in 8 hours with a long lunch break. Got in early afternoon to the Red Moose Inn and Café, a small 100-‐year-‐old tavern (Dad you would have LOVED the bar!) run by Bill and Margaret. We began our PRIVATE party with Cowgirl, Midnight Chocolate, Julian (the flying Swiss kid), Lodge Pole and Maverick, the father/son team from Santa Cruz. They were so cool and exactly the same ages as Shane and I. Such a nice time I had with them, made me miss Shane a lot. Grandma Pat’s Trail Magic was a hit! Everyone enjoyed the cookies and thought that she should open “Grandma Pat’s Cookie House!” We had a private party and Bodie was able to join us in the café. Bill BBQ’s all you can eat ribs and Margaret is as sweet as ever, continuing to feed us all. All the girls LOVED him and remembered him from Lake Moreno. We had a weigh off at the bar to see how much weight we all had lost. The girls didn’t seem to be loosing as much weight as the men. I’m at my high school weight and not looking too good. I keep eating everything and anything, but not seeming to catch up to my daily caloric needs. Hopefully the next 2 weeks with Maureen’s cooking, I will do better?
Doing about an average of 24 miles per day. For the next 500 or so miles, Maureen and Bodie are my little honey wagon. This Northern California section works a bit better as I can see her along some little roads and she can pick me up for the night. No big zero days, but excited to have a nice dinner every few days with her. Thanks to Jeanette, she is driving her truck with camper. My personal 5 star HOTEL! Thank you, thank you Jeanette. Lot less anxiety for Maureen than pulling the Airstream on these roads and small Forest Service campgrounds. The campgrounds are pristine here in Northern California. As I sign off for the week, I am at the Wild Plum campground, along the side of the Haypress creek, sitting in a CHAIR (doesn’t happen much) eating Dana’s Trail Magic cookie bars (sorry Dana, they are way too good to share!), my trusty dog laying on my side and looking up at the Sierra Buttes, which I have to climb tomorrow morning on my 93 miles to Belden, where I hope to see Maureen again.
Chief
