Day 77, 25.1 miles

I woke up again at 5:30, and hit the trail shortly after 6am. I’m still trying to find that balance of hiking until around 8pm and still feel good enough to LEAVE by 5:30am the next day. I think they key is to try and do my blog during the lunch break siesta and eat my dinner before I hit camp, so that when I stop for the night it’s just stretch and then straight to bed. When I envision doing 30+ mile days more frequently, this is how I think of them! 

The morning was filled with this straight forested trail. I like it!

I am the deer-whisperer...

Lots o paintbrush!

The morning held a small 5 or 6 mile climb! It wasn’t bad! I feel a lot better today than I did yesterday! It also helped that it was almost ALL downhill to get into Belden today. Belden Town is a small outpost on the PCT. It consists of one building that is a store/bar/inn. My pack is light and I felt well rested, and I flew down to Belden, doing 22.5 miles by 2pm!!

Near the top of the climb

The top!

A pleasant mountain indeed!

The way down!

It’s true! (Belden is at 2,000 ft. Immediately on either side the trail starts climbing back to 7,000 ft)

With the help of Katchafire in my ear, one of my favorite reggae bands from New Zealand (yes, I have multiple favorite reggae bands from New Zealand), I survived the long slog down and went straight into the bar/restaurant for my reward!

Made it! :)

I spent a good hour inside, catching up with some other hikers, charging my devices, and drinking LOTS of water! I probably drank 3 ice cold liters while I was there.. Belden was 95° today! It’s getting hot out here!

At one point when I went back outside to organize some food I had bought from the store, I was approached by a man. He was probably my age, had dark hair, a thick bushy beard, and was only wearing underwear and a light tapestry around his shoulders like a cloak. I soon realized he was tripping on something. He was very friendly though and I always try and be as friendly as I can and not judge, so I started talking with him. As soon as I told him I was a PCT hiker, he sat down on the concrete sidewalk in front of my bench and stared massaging my gross hiker feet! No one in their right mind would touch these feet! I was about to pull my foot away but he was actually SUPER good at giving the foot massage. 

Yes, I, David Teehee, received a 5 minute foot massage on both feet, from a festival-goer still tripping on acid on a Tuesday in Belden.. And it was GREAT! You see, Belden is just a small place with only 7 full time residents/workers, but from May-October almost every weekend is packed with 1000+ people for certain music festivals, and other events like events, huge company parties, etc. This guys name was Hugs, and I learned all about his life and his dredging job on the coast which he really doesn’t want to return to after a loooooooooong weekend and two festivals, hahaha.

Hugs the foot massage master..

While I was there I also received some free trail mix and sour gummy bears from some other hikers, the latter of which I shared and devoured before I left Belden. I did finally get going around 6pm. It was still hot out but I have to start again at SOME POINT right? 

Score!

These guys didn’t leave the porch...

After I had crossed the bridge to get out of Belden and was along the opposite bank headed Bach towards the trail, I realized I had left my trekking poles on the porch! I was about a 1/4 mile away! I stashed my pack up high in a safe place, and RAN back to get my poles and back again to my pack. That’s 1/2 a mile! Haha. It was a very pretty short hike out. I knew I didn’t want to go far but also knew I needed to go a little bit as there is a 14 mile climb ahead, and if I were to stay in town I’d get a later start tomorrow and it’s supposed to be 98°! 

On the way out I saw an old stamp mill. This is where they would crush (or stamp) large pieces of ore apart and harvest its minerals/metals.

Going over the bridge leaving Belden

The old Eby Stamp Mill

Less than 3 miles up the climb, I followed a sign 0.3 miles down to a neat little campsite along a beautiful river! There’s a perfect swim spot and wading pool nearby and if I wasn’t so tired I would’ve gone for a swim! There’s also a cool fire pit with stone recliner chairs built around it. And best of all, a light breeze so no mosquitos! I would never ever come back to do the descend or climb around Belden, but I WOULD come back to spend some more time here!

That swimming hole looks PERFECT! 

Two chairs and two fire pits!

Well guys, it’s been another crazy day! Another day where I’ve learned more about the limits of my body and what I can do! I was still able to hike over 25 miles (just barely) even though I took ~3+ hrs at Belden!! And as I write this it’s not even 8:30pm! I feel good and am ready for the climb tomorrow, or as ready as I’ll ever be at least, haha.

Thanks for reading!!

PS: Also, today was my Grandpa’s birthday. He’s my biggest fan, checks the blog everyday! He turned 91 today! Way to go Grandpa, I’m still routing for you and you’re still routing for me! Happy Birthday young man!