An Adventure, Yes, But this?

My campsite on the rock worked well. The wind died down and I had more confidence that my stakes would hold. I slept well, too. (Thank you, ibuprofen). As I break down my campsite, I record this beautiful view.

I get a late start again. It seems that my watch alarm needs to be right next to my ear to hear it in the morning. So be it. It’s an all-downhill hike today, ending after 11 miles at a place called Beldon. Beldon, at an altitude of only 2000 feet is normally incredibly hot. On the other side of Beldon is a 5500 ft climb. I want to do that climb in the morning tomorrow when it’s cool.

The Early Trail.

There is water across much of the trail for several miles. Nothing too challenging, but you still have watch your step.

The trail follows Chip’s Creek until it merges with the North Fork of the Feather River. The creek is surprisingly robust considering the otherwise arid nature of its surroundings. One of the crossings of the creek features this nifty bridge.

Near the creek, the bushes are unpassably thick. There are flowers here too. I used to know the name of these white flowers.

I saw these prickly berries yesterday for the first time. Today I see them in good light. They sure look like they don’t want to be eaten.

Mr. Oblivious

After an hour of hiking, I pass a middle-aged woman hiking by herself. I ask her if she stayed in Beldon last night. I am curious about the festival that is supposed to be starting. No, she camped not very far away. Her husband is packing up camp, but will be along soon. She goes on and ten minutes later I see her husband. “Good morning, your wife is about five minutes ahead of you!” I say. “That is not my wife,” he says. Surprised, I say, “Well did you see a man in camp along the trail?” “No,” he says, “not a soul”

I hike on for another half hour, looking up all side paths for her husband. And then it dawns on me: she is hiking alone. Every woman reading this blog knows the deal. A woman alone is vulnerable. I could be anybody. It helps to pretend you are with someone.

But back to the misidentified man. His name is Joe. He saw Bob leaving Beldon yesterday. Bob? If you are a long time reader, you may remember that I hiked with a gentleman named Bob through the Sierras in 2023. We have kept in touch and he mentioned that he might be on the trail near me when I start this year. It would be fun to see him again or to hike with him for a while. I may catch up to him.

Things Go Sideways

I am munching happily on a protein bar when my teeth suddenly shift. I know immediately what has happened. My bridge has come loose. A bridge is a line of three fake teeth that are cemented in where the old ones failed. They cost a lot of money to make. I hope that maybe just one end of the teeth have come loose, but then the bridge drops out of my mouth into my hand.

Great!

I put the bridge in my pack and walk on. The three teeth are an eye tooth and the two teeth behind it. Now I will look like a bum, and I will not be able to chew on one side of my mouth. What to do?

I mull this over when I start feeling a hot spot between my toes. I know from experience that this must be dealt with immediately because that hot spot will soon become a blister and then you are in for days of pain. I take off my shoes and socks and apply Lueko Tape (the hiker’s friend) to the inside of my pinky toe and the outside of my fourth toe. And I hike on. My mind is swirling: Bob, teeth, toes, Bob, teeth, toes.

It seems hot. I check the thermometer that hangs on my pack. I had thought it might be broken because every time I check it so far it has read 70 degrees. It now reads 95F.

OMG, I just start laughing out loud. I mean, you have to laugh, right?

I relax and just focus on the walking. Take careful steps and mind your breathing. It’s only going to get hotter so get down to Belden as quickly as possible. The trail opens up and the sun shines down hard on me. I open up my hat for maximum shading.

Beldon town

I make it to Belden and roll past the event organizers issuing festival wristbands at the front gate. They don’t know what to make of me. I have a dangerous smile. I walk right on past them.

On the bright side, my remedy for the toes worked and they feel much better. I do less smiling because, well, I don’t want to scare EVERYBODY. I amble into the restaurant which is not quite open at 1pm. There are hikers there.

They are super nice kids all heading northbound. They are hiking stupid miles every day (30ish). They are hardened and cavalier about it. I sit with them and we share our stories. The friendliest one is called Bikini Bottom (think Sponge Bob). She is from Australia. Her impressions of American culture? Why is everyone so angry. I wonder the same thing.

That Awkward Moment When…

I purchase a token for a shower. It is in a cramped bathroom that has one sink, one toilet and one shower. The shower has a folded sheet for a curtain. The men’s shower is broken. A sign directs me to the ladies shower.

I explain to the woman sitting outside the door that I will be inside. She proclaims that the bathroom is now unisex. Not comforting. As I stand naked drying off behind the curtain a woman enters to use to toilet. She bumps into me through the curtain. Sorry, she says. No problem, I reply. I hear her catch her breath when she hears I am a Man. But she sits down and does her business and leaves. I dress quickly and, when the coast is clear, leave quietly.

I am not sure what to do. My plan was to hike 18 miles to Quincy tomorrow, But that puts my in Quincy on a Saturday, and I need to get a dentist to glue my teeth back. The next trail town with a dentist is 8 to 10 days away. Something has to change.

Quiz time

Earlier in the day I saw a sign with a missing word. The sign was at the entrance of a foot bridge. For 5 points and the win, what is the missing word that starts with D

Is it a) Dosey Doh, b) Dig In, c) Draw Weapons, or d) something else? Put your answer in the comments.

Wow what a long post!

Starting point. Next to Chip’s Creek 11.5 miles from Belden

End point: At the beginning of a four day rave in Belden.

Miles today: 11.5