8/5/20; mile: 1,560; elevation: 5,404 ft.
One of the disadvantages of sleeping out in the open is there’s a higher chance of having morning dew on you and your gear, especially problematic if you’re cowboy camping. So I had that to deal with, and then I found that some rodents had chewed me hat a bit. Thankfully nothing else got attacked. Did I mention this campsite has a vault toilet!?
Today’s saunter is again not a lot of elevation changes as the trail curves around the headwaters of the Trinity River. I have about 20-miles to go to meet my resupply at Scott Summit, the PCT trail crossing of Highway 3. My first water is only 3-miles away, so I can start off without carrying any extra. With a light pack, this is going to be a pretty easy day. Which will allow me to take breaks and let my knees heal. The new shoes are a wonder, with plenty of cushion. Maybe they’ll help with the knees, too.
Walk, water, rest, walk, water, rest. That’s how the day goes until the afternoon. Clouds start building above me, and they’re dark. The last couple of miles before the highway crossing is along the southern flank of Scott Mountain and is kind of exposed, and this stuff above me is starting to rumble. It’s not a very comfortable feeling. When I start seeing flashes and the boom that comes right after, I know I’m not in a good spot, so I turn on the gas. I get a few drops of rain on me, but this is a small cell and it appears mostly dry anyway.
Eric is a friend I met several years ago on one of my motorcycle trips. He used to live in the Santa Cruz area, but fell in love with the Trinity Alps and ended up moving to Weaverville, a town about 50 miles south of the trail crossing. He’s had a few nicknames including Milkdud, Ketchup and Kimbo Slice. Sarah had sent him a box of supplies for me, and we arranged to meet at 4pm. He’s had experience receiving “trail magic” during bicycle rides, so he went all out for me.
Pan fried steak, mashed potatoes, Greek pasta salad, Coke, beer, cobbler and ice cream. I had it all. Well not all of it, he brought so much that even I was full. And not only food, he brought a canopy (just in case) and chairs. Yup, he’s got this figured out. I top off my water bottles, he takes my trash and that’s that. As he was driving away, SOCO and Tapeworm showed up and I see brake lights. Yup, two more satisfied hikers and Eric has a lighter carload for the drive home. Thank you, Eric!
With beers in hand and full bellies, the three of us chat it up and talk about my resupply strategy. Tapeworm has certainly had some good luck hiking around me, and he’s very thankful. When you think it couldn’t get better, we hear a vehicle pull off the highway and a father talking to his two kids about the PCT. With the thought of even more trail magic, we’re blessed with more beer and now some weed. We are in the Emerald Triangle, after all.
By now, it’s after 6pm and I’ve given up any thoughts of hiking any further today. SOCO and Tapeworm head off, and I roam the area and discover an old picnic table out of sight of the trail and road. As I’m winding down, I here sirens and walk to the roadside to see some USFS fire trucks turn off the highway and head toward Scott Mountain. I can only guess that the earlier storm I walked through had a lightning strike. Mosquitoes are a little bit of an issue at this site, but no horrible. My only worry for tonight is critters again. They always seem to be worse in popular areas where people are careless with food or just littering. Just like this.
Savior out.
Another great update from the trail, Ron. I think this also begs the question- “who’s going to invent a rat proof hat for hikers?” Let’s name it “Rons Rat Hat”! 😂 Made of nibble proof material! Lol.