I did not sleep well after a run-in with a raccoon as I lay in my quilt. He was slinking up on me (looking for camp goodies) when I heard him. I scared him so bad with my reaction that he raced off into the bushes coughing and barking. I did not see him again.
It is 14 miles to Seiad Valley. The women are leaving early again (4:45). I told them last night that I just can’t do that. I am not set up for that and I don’t enjoy it. They understood and offered to buy me something at the restaurant if I don’t arrive before closing at 2pm. They are very nice.
I have no idea about the trail conditions. However, if they are like the last 3 miles of yesterday’s trail…well, I don’t know. But I won’t like it.
Grider Creek
The day starts out fine. It is 64 (warm). I need to get the hiking done quickly. Temps in Seiad Valley will be over 100 by 1pm. Today’s route follows Grider Creek for 8 miles to the Valley where it joins the Klamath River. After that the trail becomes a 6-mile road walk into Seiad Valley. I criss-cross over Grider Creek on these bridges.
The Creek is the same one we got water from last night and the one I soaked my tired feet and scratched legs in before bed. The creek is flowing strong. It is not quite as stunning as Cabin Creek due to the heavy foliage blocking the view. But from the bridges, it is gorgeous.
The trail is wearing its jewelry this morning:
I also see something I have not seen since my youth in Michigan: snake grass! It’s segmented scratchy surface is unforgettable. It dawns on me that that these woods are very similar to the hilly woods of West Central Michigan.
By 8am, the sun has shed her gray house coat, and has donned a bright yellow jumper with sandals. She is peeking into the river gorge. “Get up. Get up.”
But then the fun stops as the same craziness from yesterday starts again: blowdowns and a very overgrown trail. I get lost again briefly as I think a small tent space by the trail is actually the trail. I am back on the real trail in 20 minutes.
Seiad Valley
I am behind schedule by an hour when I hit the road walk section. Temps are now in the mid 90s. The heat from the road starts to make hot spots on the bottom of my feet, so I move to the narrow shoulder. A tame little deer greets me as I pass an RV park.
At 12:45, I reach the general store where all my friends are sitting at picnic table eating food they got from the restaurant attached to the store. It is take out only, so we do not get any AC. I try to eat a club sandwich, but it does not taste good. I drink 48oz of liquid, but I do not feel refreshed. It is my old nemesis – heat prostration – knocking on the door. My friends are concerned but there is nothing to do. I need to sit down.
Hiker trash
We decide to stay at the RV park instead of hike on. Staying at the park gives us free showers! We pile into the hiker waiting room, and take turns with the showers. I immediately feel better. I rinse out my clothes in the shower and hang them out to dry on a porch railing. We congregate in the cluttered room reserved for hikers.
I put on my wind clothes while my hiking clothes dry. Luckily I also wrap my towel around me because I notice the my bare butt is hanging out the back. It seems that I ripped my wind pants going over a blowdown. (Mercifully, I will not supply a photo of that.) Duct tape transforms them into the ugliest pants in America.
We are told we can set up our tents at 5pm. Tomorrow our plan is to get up at 4am and start hiking the largest climb on the whole trail with a total of 6000 feet of elevation gain. It will be over 100 degrees in the valley. We must not experience even a tiny bit of that. I am setting aside my normal regimen of hiking at 6am to get out of there with the women and avoid another heat exhausted day.
- June 20
- Starting mile: 1641
- Ending mile: 1655
- Daily PCT miles: 14
- Total PCT miles: 283
- Animals: raccoon (currently in therapy), 8 snails 🐌 , 3 deer (2 of them eyeballing me as darkness falls)
I’m glad you have friends to get up too early with!