Well, its seems official. I am the thruhiker pick up mobile. Yesterday as I was leaving Chester's grocery store, I saw Walking Home with his thumb out. The hitch from Chester back to the PCT is about 8 miles on Hwy 36, not such an easy hitch. Picked him up and it was so nice chatting with him again. I hadn't seen him since my big resupply at Walker Pass. He fondly remembered Bodie and the big salad I made for all the hikers that came through that day. What a nice guy. He is 2 days ahead of Chief and unless he takes a zero day soon, they will most likely not see each other for a week or so. He had to come into Chester to pick up his resupply box and was surprised to see that his brother had sent him a Care Package with tons of goodies - just a little trail Magic to share with all the hikers. The trick is that they can't carry any extra weight, so the goodies have to stay at the trailhead and hopefully, in this part of the country, the bears don't get it before the hikers do!
After dropping of Walking Home, I found a nice campsite in Child's Meadow, about 8 miles from the PCT. Bodie and I did a 6 mile hike on a most beautiful FS road into a deep, dense forest with more meadows along the way than I have ever seen. Shasta daisy's, lupine, shooting stars, buttercups, bluebirds and to my surprise, a river otter. Way cool. The following day, driving back to pick up Chief at trailhead, I spotted another thruhiker with his thumb out. Rodger Dodger! Haven't seen him since Tehachapi!!! took him into Chester to the grocery store for a 4 day resupply and we picked up burgers, fries and milkshakes. Came back to the trail just in time for Chief to come walking down. Nice picnic lunch along side the trailhead before all 3 of us headed back to my campground. Rodger stayed the evening with us and we had a nice dinner. Princeton grad currently living in Pittsburg trying to get through his Ph.D. Had done some "sections" of the PCT with his wife for the last couple of years, decided this was the year for him to do the whole stretch. We left at 5:30 from campground back to drop them off at trailhead.
I'm enjoying this tremendously. Get to really meet more of the hikers, provide constant Trail Magic, and get to see Chief...atleast every few days. Bodie was going to hike the trail today with Chief, but at a closer look at the maps, realized that they would be walking through Lassen Natl' Park for a good 5 miles. bummer. He is adorned with his official PCT bandana and backpack with PCT patch. Not today. It's also been pretty hot, so it may have been for the better.
Off to Drakesbad Guest Ranch, where the PCT comes through to see my walking man. I feel so lucky to be able to do this little piece of the PCT with him in this way. Half way there.......
Chief's wife.
