New Faces, Middle Feather Fork River and Belden – PCT 2017: A Hiking Story [31]

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Part 30 ‘Back on Trail, Sierra City & Out of the High Sierra’

Day 94 (11/07) – Alder Spring

Getting up to a warm coffee and oats was much more desirable than the past two mornings when I had forgotten to acquire a fuel canister for my stove. I packed up and set off around 6:30am. The others were not far behind, but I set off anyway.

I met up with a guy named Bee Bop (whom I briefly met the night before) and a girl named Twig. They camped not far ahead of us the previous evening. We ended up hiking a large stretch of the trail together and had lunch by a stream.

We passed at least 15 southbound hikers who had flip-flopped (heading southbound into the Sierra now that it was later in the season). It worked like this – most hiked from Campo (at the Mexican border) up to Kennedy Meadows – the gateway to the High Sierra. They then skipped ahead to Ashland just at the Oregon/California border and hiked south through Northern California and then the High Sierra, before reaching Kennedy Meadows again. Then, they would rejoin at Ashland and finish, heading north to Canada. Yes… it sounds silly, but I get why some are doing it. I personally much prefer the continually heading north method – no matter how hard.

Later in the day, 3G caught up with us, and we tried to find a campsite around the 25-mile mark. I was thinking we’d all be camping at Alder Spring, but 3G was ahead and must have pushed on. Bee Bop wanted to make another mile (has a certain mileage to make every day). Twig was only a mile and a half behind me when I left her, but she had sore feet and must have camped earlier. So, in the end, I camped alone at Alder Spring. The mosquitos were out in full force, so I set up my tent inner. I cooked up some pasta whilst wearing a head net and quickly got into the protection of the tent.

Distance hiked: 26 miles (41.84 km)

Total PCT hiked: 1234 miles (1,985 km)

Day 95 (12/07) – Middle Feather Fork River

bzzzt bzzzt goes the alarm, and ‘unnnngh uggggggghhh’ goes me.

I was sore – my legs weren’t used to hiking big miles, but I still managed to leave by 6am. I walked back uphill the way I came down to the spring and set back off on the PCT. Bee Bop was still packing up in his tent, but I saw no other northbound PCT hikers. 3G must have really pushed hard the previous evening and camped further ahead.

I was making good ground and almost did 10 miles (16.09 km) before 10am (widely known as ‘10 before 10‘ on trail). Bee Bop eventually caught up to me and after 13 miles, we hit Middle Fork Feather River – a large river at the bottom of the steep valley. With some rock scrambling, we climbed down to it and went for a swim in the deep eddy out of the main current. The water was delightfully warm for a change, and the wash was welcome. We had lunch and chatted with a southbound hiker also having a break there.

After the river, we had a huge almost 3000 feet (0.91 km) ascend. It was draining, but we managed slowly. I met a Finnish hiker called Polar Bear who had done all the Sierra section (most people I’m meeting now had skipped the Sierras due to the snow).

Eventually, we made it to the top of Lookout Rock and Spring, for which our legs were thankful. We met a couple of other hikers there but pushed on. Bee Bop and Polar Bear got ahead as I was weary and wanted to camp earlier. When I got to Bucks Lake road junction, there was trail magic! A bag of Coors Light beer cooling in the creek by the road, with a rubbish bag for the empty – thanks random Bucks Lake resident! I found a campsite shortly after – a nice grassy area.

Distance hiked: 26.5 miles (42.65 km)

Total PCT hiked: 1261 miles (2,029 km)

Day 96 (13/07) – Belden

Sleep… was a bitch – first, there was the thumping of a bear’s feet, alerting me to make noise and shine my headlamp in its direction. It didn’t come too close, thankfully. It feels more vulnerable when in a tent as opposed to standing with trekking poles when hiking. Then came deer noises and breaking twigs.

I set off early at 5:30am and burned miles fast. It was pleasant walking along the ridges and hiking past Silver Lake offered a great view.

At points on the trail, I met up with Bobby Hill (I hadn’t seen him since the day we all parted ways deep in the Sierra). Also Bee Bop and Polar Bear, but these guys overtook me eventually. It was extremely hot on top of the exposed ridge before the huge descent. I got phone reception at one point and received some good news – Rex had received her bag! She wants to rejoin me sometime next week ahead on trail!

Soon enough, I found myself heading downhill – almost 5000 feet to the bottom! I estimated about 35 switchbacks in total! I was glad to arrive at the bottom, switchbacks can be painful!

When I arrived in the small locality called Belden, I went to the bar / general store and ordered lunch, along with buying ice cream and some Gatorade.

There were many hikers here chilling out, both south and north bounders – each way having to descend their steep hills. Bobby Hill, 3G, Dasani and myself all had beers and drank on the patio until it was dark. I had already gotten Rex’s and my resupply box, and sorted through it whilst drinking and talking. There was no way to send this one back to Rex’s parent’s place as I did with the other box at Sierra City.

That evening, Bobby Hill managed to ‘yogi’ (trying to get free stuff) some food from the side door to the restaurant kitchen. The lady said there was a heap of chicken that was basically going to be thrown out and gave it to us. Generally, I don’t like doing this, and don’t like feeling like I need charity – however, I was hungry and wasteful chicken I was not going to turn down! We decided we should probably find someplace to camp, and headed across to the opposite side of the river to camp near the trailhead. We found a concrete gazebo shelter and cowboy camped there.

Distance hiked: 23.5 miles (37.82 km)

Total PCT hiked: 1284.5 miles (2,067.2 km)

Next Post:

Part 32 ‘The PCT Halfway Point and Lassen Volcanic Wilderness’ 

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