Day 130
7/24/20; mile: 1,305; elevation: 6,473ft.
I don’t rise early…between the socializing, icing my knee, showering and trying to reorganize my shit I burn a lot of daylight as well as midnight oil. It’s quite interesting how we thru hikers strive to rest and relax when off trail, yet instead end up doing a bunch of “town shit” so we’re more prepared once we get back on trail. It’s a vicious cycle. There’s no breakfast mentioned anywhere in town (which I prefer when trying to leave town), so I cook and eat in my room. Yes, it’s oatmeal. I have plenty and it works.
I finally finish my packing (as well as a bunch of shit for the hiker box, including beer) and head downstairs after 0800. The vultures swoop in, cleaning out the essentials (beer!) and I get a couple of thank you’s. The Savior provides. Well, if it wasn’t for Big Vic and Superhunk, I wouldn’t. So thank them instead. Time for me to head out.
Right out of town is California Highway 70 in the Feather River Canyon. I’ve ridden motorcycles up an down this canyon countless times, and have even stopped here in Belden. So it’s a weird reunion for me at this juncture in my life. It’s a weird feeling to walk in and out of here after so many other much easier journies. And I’m dreading the climb and the heat. It’s nice now, but we all know that will end soon enough. Just outside of “town” the trail crosses the highway and there just happens to be a construction zone with a pedestrian button like a crosswalk just for us hikers. As I hike solo down the highway, with traffic stopped just for me, a construction worker yells out to me, “Have a nice hike!” and tosses me some electrolyte packs. I am quite flattered and honored.
From here on out, it’s all about nose-to-the-grindstone walking. Uphill. For the first several miles, there are long sections of exposed sections, which get quite warm. The latter half of the climb is more in the trees so it’s a lot more tolerable. There’s no use complaining, bitching or moaning. It is what it is. It’s times like this where you just figure it’s best to deal with it than fight it. It’s only for a couple of hours, and then it ends. Fight it, and it lasts a lot longer (literally and figuratively). The upper stretches of the canyon climb actually have a lot of water opportunities, so it actually gets to be a nice hike despite the warmth and climb.
At the topping-out point, there’s a sign indicating the geologic end of the Sierra Nevada’s and the beginning of the Cascade’s. I guess this this should be a big deal, but it doesn’t look like it. Same shit, different day. Ok, maybe I just have a bad attitude and don’t appreciate it. But it doesn’t look any different. It’s not like crosssing the Contintental Divide and seeing that water goes one way or the other. This is just a signpost in the woods. Or, maybe I’m tired and unappreciative…
Soooo, I continue hiking to my intended campsite at Cold Spring at the crossing with Humbug Road. By now the trail is mostly flat and I’m itching to be done with the escape from Belden. And there’s Sidewinder and PacMan. How in the hell did I catch them? It’s a bittersweet reunion. His ankle was still acting up, so they layed up short and met some trail angels that will give him a ride to a resort near Chester to lay up for a couple of days. Sidewinder will continue on without him, hoping to meet up again down trail. This is quite a gut punch for me. Pac Man is the second hiker whom I consider a friend to get off of trail due to injury (Safety being the first after we parted ways in Kennedy Meadows). Pac Man is always faster than me, always lighter, always moving. Shit. That can happen to me. It has to, I’m not in his league. This trail just consumes. Hikers, money, gear, resupplies, shoes, souls, friends…. Fuck me.
Well, higher power willing, I’ll make it to the halfway marker tomorrow. It’s just one more day. A few more steps.
Savior out.
Awesome entry Ron, “There’s no use complaining, bitching or moaning. It is what it is. It’s times like this where you just figure it’s best to deal with it than fight it. It’s only for a couple of hours, and then it ends. Fight it, and it lasts a lot longer (literally and figuratively).” so true! This applies to many other things in life not just long distance hiking.
Really enjoying your journal and this entry is especially good ! When is the book version coming? ‘ The Ron Way- a hikers travel journal’