Four days ago I became one of many to almost make it. Around 9:30am I came upon a handy little marker indicating that, at that very moment, I was about to complete my 1335 PCT mile. Shortly after I celebrated with a mini-flask of Maker's, and then headed 14 more miles and a hitch into new favorite CA small town Chester for celebratory Pizza (thank you Jan & Bob!), fruit (best fruit stand ever!) and ice cream (I, the fat kid, actually declined the 1/2 gallon milk shake challenge). That night Piper's Mom & Lowell took us in and fed the five of us amazing things and we played horseshoe on their luxurious green lawn (it's amazing how much we take soft, supple grass for granted, one good thing about civilization). You can check out her pic's here.
Friend Levi came out to hike a little over 1/26th of the trail with me, meeting up in So. Lake Tahoe then sneaking through the Desolation Wilderness (without a permit!) up to Sierra City. I think he contributed over 200,000 calories to the mission of the trail via waffles, sushi, and other other delicious things! Thanks Levi! You can check out his pic's here.
Things on this trail remain stupendous, despite the climbing mercury. I've taken a slower pace here through Northern California, taking time to soak up some trail magic here and there with some new and old trail angels. I can't wait to angel myself next year: I'm already planning Margaritas and Key Lime pie for next year's crew somewhere in Oregon.
In other news, I've started to develop blisters on my heels, which really doesn't make much sense to me unless my feet have grown bigger. I guess they say that is supposed to happen. Weird.
For those of you hoping to find more blogs more often (brother Brian, here's looking at you!), expect an annoying amount to spring up in the first half of August, when I'll be getting off trail to attend good friends Kate & Pete's wedding upstate NY, and will have my own, speedy, computer for more than the usual 1/2 hour of slow, trail computer. NYC, I hope I survive you in all your technological prowess. I have trouble with doors these days.
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Gonna be interesting to see how you tolerate the pace and the crowds back east, Cait. Comin' home to a place you've never been? Hope to see you in the Catskills, if only briefly. Take care on the run in to Portland.
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