31.06 miles - Total to date - 290.8 miles
Ascent - 2497’ , Descent - 3040’ - Border Springs (1343.8) to JJ’s Cafe (1374.9)
Up at 4:55 am. Granola with milk for breakfast, munching and packing, trying to be silent so as not to disturb the kids sleeping in their tents nearby. I was up and out by 5:25 am.
Within 200 yards I was in Lassen National Park. The only indication was the classy trail signs at every junction and maybe the forest floor was cleared of limbs and wood debris, presenting a deterrent to fires.
Climbing out of Warner Valley Campground I saw two hikers that appeared to be cutting a switchback up hill. It took a minute to realize there was a bear on the trail and they were trying to avoid it. I am not as fearful of bears as I perhaps should be, so I walked up the trail banging my poles together trying to scare it off the trail. I got within 15-20 feet of it before it reluctantly moved about 20 feet off the trail, a big enough margin to let all three of us pass. The other two were quite nervous with the encounter. I was not.
I felt good. My nap of yesterday was beneficial. At 11 miles I was at Lower Twin Lake. I had been checking for cell signal all morning and my battery was lower than normal. Why all the cell service checking? I mailed a resupply box to the post office in Old Station, 27 miles from today’s start point. The post office is only open 11 am to 3 pm. There was no way I was going to get there before 3:00 pm. If I could get service, I could call Renee, the post master, and ask her to carry my package next door to the store that doesn’t close until 6:00 pm. I can get to the store by 6:00 pm.
At the lake I stripped and plunged into the lake from the pebbly beach. The water temperature was heavenly. While my phone charged on my solar panel, I soaked and swam. Last night Riley had suggested I use her InReach satellite personal locator to contact Renee if I didn’t get signal. I have the same device, so while the wind dried me off I used mine to text the phone number Renee posted on Guthook. Someone had posted a correction to her number, so I texted it too. The problems is, it is probably a landline, so the text won’t get to her.
Riley passed by on the trail as I was texting, checked to see if I needed her device, then traveled on. Another five minutes and I was following her. The trail now entered a huge burned area. Dead standing white bleached trees, dry grasses and a nearly level trail for 10 miles. It was hot and under direct sun the whole way. Thankfully, the wind was blowing. We passed out of Lassen NP about 2:00 pm. 19.5 miles done. Now another 8 miles to the post office and store. I still had not had signal all day. The post office closed in one hour. If I couldn’t get a hold of Renee it meant I couldn’t get my food resupply until 11:00 am the following morning. Riley, Joe Dirt and Top Notch we’re setting a good pace up in front with me trailing by about 1/4 to 1/2 mile behind. Clover was behind me and his phone carrier was Verizon. Maybe he had signal. I sat by the trail for 10 minutes. He came into view. I asked if he had signal. A quick check showed no signal. I resigned myself to having to wait until tomorrow, although I did not slow my pace. I wanted to stay with the group.
The trail started to descend slowly once it left the park. At on point it broke over a slight ridge giving clear line of site to the north. I checked for signal. Bingo!! 3 bars. I quickly called Renee. She picked up and cheerfully agreed to run my package next door. Yahoo!
We finally got to water about 3.5 miles from the store and post office. The last water had been Lower Twin Lake , 11 miles back. As I pulled in to soak my feet and get some water to drink Riley headed down the trail. Joe Dirt was napping on her sleeping pad. I soaked my feet, then quickly packed up and took off, just as Top Notch arrived. With 3+ miles to go, I wanted to get to the store and my box with a little time to spare.
I left the trail and wandered through the campground behind the store picking my way until I came out on the main highway and the store. Seated outside the store eating ice creams were Riley and Joe Dirt. I bought an ice cream cone, two sodas and picked up my box, then joined the girls out front. Top Notch and Clover soon arrived, bought some goodies and joined us. As a group, we decided that dinner at the diner 3.8 miles further down the trail was desirable. They closed at 8:00 pm. It was now 6:10 pm. We loaded up and headed back to the PCT running just beyond the bounds of the campground. I used Guthook to guide us to the trail and we were soon hiking quickly north to get a meal. Since this was miles 28-32 for the day, I asked if everyone would want to solve a mystery story while we walked. All agreed, so I presented the same story/scenarios I used to use at Camp Sheppard 45 years ago and with my own kids 25 years ago. We worked through three stories and we were at JJ’s by 7:35 pm. We took a table and enjoyed a dinner together. I had breakfast: fried eggs, hash browns, bacon and toast. Everyone else had hamburgers. We charged our devices while we ate and enjoyed the free WiFi. We got out the door at 8:30 pm and sat on the porch still using the WiFi to catch up. Then we headed to the area behind the gas station/store to pitch our tents and hit the sack. Once my tent was up I walked around to the front of the store and bought a box of donuts, a gatoraide and filled my water bottles-4 liters.
Once in the tent I realized in the dark I had set up my tent with my head downhill. I figured I could endure. Then my air mat went flat. Still I could endure. It was not a restful night. I felt sorry for the kids nearby as I am rustled about. After a 32 miles day, I was hoping for a better nights sleep. But, it is what it is.
Joe Dirt, Clover, Riley and Top Notch
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