8/7/20; mile: 1,600; elevation: 5,951 ft.
While it had beautiful views last night, this camp site also was a low point in the local ridge line, allowing fog or low clouds to blow through…right over my tent. I woke up to a drenched rain fly, and even the body of the tent was wet since the rainfly sagged. Certainly not the end of the world since it’s not raining, I’ll have a chance to dry it out, and I have a very light load so carrying a wet tent isn’t horrible. Vader and Todd left before; they’re going into Etna for their resupply.
In a very short time, the trail climbs upwards, the terrain gets steeper and vegetation gets more sparse. Along here I meet an interesting character who calls himself Willow. He claims to be a thru-hiker, but looks more homeless. We chat for a small bit, but then I carry on. The trail continues to climb up the southwest facing slope of the mountain we’re on, and luckily I’m in shade. As I near the top where the trail transitions over the shaded side, I stop to take a tent drying break. I hang the rainfly and tent body in the sun and breeze to dry as I find a fabulous reclining rock to drink the rest of my water and eat some snacks. I take stock of how much food I really have and set some dried fruit and a snickers for Willow. When I give him the bag of food, he is very thankful. While I’m glad to help somebody in need, I also wouldn’t be going TOO far out of my way to help him…my spidey-sense just tells me so.
After packing up and heading down trail again, I come across a PCT bandana. These are given out to permitted thru-hikers by Yogi, a well-known thru-hiker in her own right as well as a supplier with a store in Kennedy Meadows (south). I had seen one hanging off of Todd’s pack, so I figured it’s his. I pick it up and pick up the pace. Gotta catch him at the trailhead before he heads off to town.
One viewpoint to the southwest gives a cool view of a nearby lake, but also the smoke plume from a fire in the Hoopa area to the west…the source of the recent smoke we’ve been seeing. Not a threat to us directly, but if the wind changes direction, it could get miserable. The trail then meanders over to the east side of the ridge, with views of the Etna/Fort Jones valley and another grand mountain lake. It’s not close enough to the trail for a dip for me, but it does look enticing.
Times-a-wastin’, I gotta move. I’ve made it a challenge to be early for all of my resupply appointments, and I’m not going to disappoint Howard. Now that it’s all downhill to Etna Summit trailhead, it’s time to run. With an empty pack and light on water again, this isn’t such a big thing. It actually feels good. At the trailhead, I catch Todd as his family is loading him up. He’s thankful for the returned bandana and then he’s on his way. And I also reconnect with Jerica and Jakota, brother and sister I’ve bounced around with the last week or so. They’re just getting back on trail after their family took them into Etna.
I don’t recognize Howard. First off, I was looking for a VW Westy, a project that he bought this year, but I guess it’s not quite ready. So he drove his Subaru instead. But damn, this guy has a beard! And long hair! Covid has surely made us all go native, especially those of us without “real” jobs. I’ve been worried about Howard during this pandemic. He’s older than me and thus more concerned about catching the virus. He’s retired and lives in the foothills outside of Chico, kind of remote even. He’s been sticking to himself while I’ve been gone and the virus has exploded, but finally venturing out for a paddle trip down the Trinity River back in June. So him volunteering to come support me means a lot for both of us.
We leave the trailhead and drive down Sawyer’s Bar Road, but going west instead of east to town. We’ll forgo Etna and just head to Idlewild Campground. It’s not grand, but it has vault toilets, picnic tables and the North Fork of the Salmon River right next to the campsite. We catch up on our activities, I ask about his Westy, we swim (or really just dip, it’s kinda low), and generally relax. He has food, beer and my resupply box that Sarah sent him. It’s amazing how even having a few amenities and things provided to me can feel so special, even when I’m still in my same tent, sleeping bag and clothes for the night. I just feel spoiled. I would have loved to have you meet my trail friends, but I also really liked just spending alone time with you. Thank you, Howard.
Oh, and congrats on keeping your hair and beard looking a hell of lot less scraggly then mine.
Savior out.