Song of the post – “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show
This section started off first thing with a 3000 plus climb out of Sierra City, plus a 2 mile hike from our cabin to the trail head. No one wanted to pick up a couple hitch hikers at 6:00 am. Where’s their sense of adventure? The early climb was to avoid the heat, and it was a glorious climb, truly.
We had given ourselves 5 nights / 6 days to get to Belden, to get picked up by Char Char, but after day 1 we think we might make it a day early. Hike is going well.
Day 2 is spectacular from the moment we crawl out of the tent.
We also ran into a couple section hikers who are handing out trail magic.
section hikers giving out trail magic
Day 2 was a beast of a day. We did a 16 mile hike, AND than climbed 3200 feet to camp at a wonderful camp spot called Lookout Rock.
Feathers River on this 95 degree day
This section also begins prolonged sections of past forest fires. This will continue off and on for the next 100 miles.
Before arriving at our camp spot, I saw my first bear on the trail, as well as our first rattlesnake since before the high Sierras. We called them Carlotta and Clarice.
and chicken flavored rice
Day 3, we made a quick diversion to Buck lake for some snacks and a little rest, it was only 2.5 miles off trail and we were ahead on time. Buck lake isn’t so much a town, but a recreation area wrapped around a lake. We loaded up on sodas and breakfast sandwiches.
To speed this post along, after 3 more days of hiking, 50 miles roughly, we made in to Belden, and were met by Char Char and the dogs. Belden is also not a town, but more a resort on the river. We will soon be off to Santa Rosa and Calistoga. But before the wedding, a quick trip to Fort Bragg and Mendocino for a little ocean time.
day. Socks and shoes
only filter so much
