Day 74, 15.00 miles

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So, last night after I finished my blog, Trout rolled into town! Poor guy hiked a 34 mile day just for a cheeseburger and got to town at 8:07pm, just 7 minutes after all businesses shut down! I felt so bad for him! He decided to cowboy camp behind the bathrooms since there was no more space at the church grounds. I hung out with him while he cooked but the sprinklers went off on us near where he was planning on sleeping! He decided to set his cowboy setup up on a table just a little further away. I said goodnight and went off to bed while he went down to the store to get some WiFi. It must’ve been past 10pm. About 20 minutes later, he cane up to my tent in the dark and asked me to come outside. I went over to see what was up. While he was at the store, ANOTHER set of sprinklers had activated and soaked his whole setup! Like SOAKED!! Backpack, groundsheet, sleeping pad and sleeping bag all completely sopping wet. This guys couldn’t win last night! But hey, guess what?! I happened to have an extra sleeping bag since I picked my new one up but missed the Post Office! Perfect! We set up his sleeping situation on yet another picnic table, far away from the sprinklers, and I gave him my 15° bag for the night. It’s so funny how that worked out! Good thing I stayed in town and had the extra bag!! 

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This morning I woke up feeling SO well rested! I got to test out my new sleeping bag last night and it was great! In the morning I went down to get some breakfast at the Red Moose Cafe, but they didn’t open until 8am. I saw Trout and Bandy (whom I met and hadn’t seen since way back at Deep Creek), and we decided to go to the Cafe across the street for some pastries until then!

At 8am we headed into the other Cafe, and by 8:07am the whole place was completely filled! I forgot it was Saturday! About 1/2 the people in there were hikers! There was minimal staff working, and things were pretty backed up, but they were all so nice that we didn’t mind! Before we ordered, a hiker named Silver Fox came in and the other two insisted he sit with us. Bandy and Trout know this hiker well and he was really cool!

Trout and Silver Fish

French toast AND big breakfast burrito :) there were no survivors...

After breakfast I went back to the public shower and was able to wash my dreads! I figured it would be a hot day and it felt so nice to be completely clean! Then it was time for the Post Office which opened at 10:30. I was 4th in line in a line of about 15 hikers and 3 locals. I was able to stuff my 15° sleeping bag into a large priority box and send it back home to Claire. My phone camera was working today and I took some shots of tiny Sierra City.

Looking east

And west (I’m standing in the center of town)

I saw plenty of hikers today that I hadn’t seen for awhile! Windy Fields was here, and I saw Swayed who was hiking with Candyman way back, I also saw Mougs!! It seems like the rest of his group is a little behind. I was finally ready to hit the trail around 11:30am. I decided o would try and hitch out instead of walking the 1.4 miles up the hot road to get to the long, 7 mile, hit climb up out of the valley. The second I put my thumb out, someone was already pulling over for me! It was the quickest hitch on record! 

The trail was steep and switchback-y and went up for a very long time. I gained a lot of elevation and took it nice and slow. I didn’t want to overdo it today, especially with the weight of all the food I just got from mom. (Thanks again mom!) on one of the switchbacks I saw a sign for a spring; a very pleasant Switchback Spring!

Very pleasant!!

Cool clouds

Trout had left a few hours before I did, and aroun 6:30pm I passed him setting up his tent. I only went less than a mile more as I needed to collect water for the night. I’m sure we’ll be hiking together at some point tomorrow. 

My new bag! Sub 1 pound! 

Footbox opened (can also zip fully opened)

Footbox cinched shut (for the chillier nights)

Nice sunset tonight (too lazy to get out of my tent)

Well, I’m super pumped to blast off North again! I have about 5-6 days of food so I’ve decided to go for a big 130 mile stretch. Most others are resupplying in 68 and then again 62 miles after that. I didn’t want to send any of the food I received ahead, and I DO like stopping less, so it works out! The trail does goes right through Belden, and if I need to, I can pick up some supplemental food there, in addition to the guaranteed milkshake and burger that I will be getting :) But, next big stop is Chester!

Thanks for reading!