Birthday Month

We made it to Burney Falls! We were hoping to hike out that evening after some ice cream, but we ran into some friends called Team Eagle! They had a car and a desire to bowl......sooooo we couldn't resist. We went into town for real food and bowled. After, we talked everyone into camping together at the park. It was a fun night of ice cream cake and buffalo wings. 

The next morning was not so productive, but after a few ice cream cones we eventually got on trail. We were about 9 miles out when we stopped for camp. So... Productive day. 

The next day we actually logged some miles. We got 30 miles under our belt as we hiked through the smoke. We could look back and see the vague outline of Mt Lassen but Shasta was completely obscured to the north. The smoke was frustrating for most of the day. We knew we were missing some amazing views. Nevertheless we pushed on and ended our day at an unpaved road, tired and ready for sleep. 

The next morning we logged some more miles. We had lunch together and then Nathan left us. He wanted to visit a friend and so he headed out. We hope to see him down the trail. The rest of us stopped at a swimming hole, Squaw Valley. There was not much camping, but we made it work.

 

After a cramped night of sleep, we got up and did the 15ish miles into Castella. In order to get into town there was a two mile road walk. We both were lucky enough to get rides into town. A sheriff picked me up, and a fellow hiker picked up Smokey and Vanish. We had a small break in town and got sandwiches, drinks, and shade. Once it cooled off we hiked out of town. It was a small side trail and it took us through a buggy area. We made camp next to a river after about 5 miles. It was a cozy camp. We hike with 8-10 people at this point so finding a campsite for all of us can be a challenge, but we made it work. 

The next day we headed out to climb up Castle Crags. It was a large climb and full of many bugs, but the views were amazing.

The smoke set in and though we had a beautiful ridge walk, we could only see a couple miles.

We ended the day after an easy 23 miles at a nice lake. We jumped in to cool down and enjoyed a fire. It was nice to have a campsite for all of us.

The next morning was equally as smoky, but I had a mission for the day. Nathan had lost his trekking pole somewhere and since we were behind him it was our duty to find it. I busted out early with a mission. I knocked out 16 miles and found the pole. I did two more miles and had lunch. Two more thru hikers joined me, Gummi Bear and Happy Little Trees. After lunch I finished out the 30 mile day and ended at a spring. We were hoping for camping, but there was none. We made our own for the night, some almost directly on trail. 

After a night of little sleep we hit the trail. We had one more full day to Etna and one more half day. We were tired and ready to be in town. After crossing one road that would have taken us in town, we were tempted. At the second road Emily and I decided to head in for a much needed shower, rest from the smoke, and sleep. At the last minute Wright decided to join us on a hitch with a beautiful sunset.

 At this point we haven't showered in almost two weeks. We were dirty and hungry. 

The guys who gave us a hitch dropped us off at the Hiker Hut, a wonderful place. It is this garage looking hut that was made into a bunk house. It had a shower, fridge, TV, and computer. It was beautiful. They also gave us bikes we could use around town. We immediately used these bikes to fly into town for a burger. It was so much fun to move so quickly. We looked like a local biker gang rolling around. 

After a delicious burger at Dotty's we biked home to clean up. First, a beautiful sunset.

When we got back to the hut our new hiker friend, trail name Dad, told us that the scrub brush that you may think to use on the floor, actually is the only way to get the dirt off of you. 

After finally being clean, Smokey and Wright brainstormed ways to do the miles we had missed. They decided they would slack pack the miles and be done around the same time as the other people in our group. They took all of the stuff out of their packs except water and a lunch, and arranged a ride. 

As they went off to slack pack the Trinity Alps, I hung back and wrote letters, rode around on the bike, and used the real computer to work on grad school applications. Here are some photos of their slack packing adventure: 

The rest of the group came in and we went to the local brewery, Etna Brewing, where I had one of the best sandwiches on trail. By then Smokey and Wright made it in and we had to pick up a package from Sugar Momma, the trail angel in Mammoth. It was our birthday surprise! She was kind enough to send us two cakes, frosting, decorations to make hats, candles, bubbles, and a kind note. It was a great surprise. We enjoyed the cake so much! Thank you!!!

Later on we heard about a concert in town. We got on the bikes and headed down for milkshakes and music. 

The next morning we grabbed coffee at the local shop, and groceries to have a grill out. We grilled brats, zucchini, squash, peppers, and onions. We had a feast. 

Then the town was having a community celebration, so of course we had to visit. It was a local street fair. Food, dancing, homemade pies, people on stilts, and dunk tanks. It reminded me of the local celebrations in Iowa. 

After almost two weeks without a zero, a shower, or much rest Etna was the perfect town to rest and enjoy. It gave us a break from the ever present smoke, and let us join the community for just a little while. There is not much more we could ask for. 

But the trail always calls us back.....