Dwellmann - Pacific Crest Trail Journal - 2009

View: 1  2  3  4  5 
(Click image for full size)


Ridge over Silver Lake

NCal Day 5

Down, Down, Down.

The trail angel house is 2.2 miles from the PCT crossing. I walked it yesterday, today Mrs Williams so nicely drove us back to the trail. The hiking today was quite spectacular. We were up on the ridges for about 10 miles and the views were spectacular. However, the last part of the day was probably one of the steeper descents on the PCT. It goes down 3,700 feet in less than 5 miles. Bone rattling to say the least. And the damaged toe from yesterday definitely didn't appreciate it.

At the base of the descent is the town of Belden. You walk right by the restaurant, though I didn't walk by, I walked in. I shared a table with Jaybird & Biscuit and had a quite yummy cheeseburger. Yum, Yum. I hung out there for several hours enjoying the nice breeze by the side of the river (they luckily have outdoor seating). There are trail angels here too, the Braatens, that let hikers stay in their house addition. They weren't even home. But they gave out the number of their neighbor (Bruce), who comes and picks up hikers and takes them to the guest lodgings. So I was lucky enough to get a shower and a place to sleep. All of the trail angels never charge anything but have a jar for donations. So nice of them.

Lastly, I mailed a package to the Belden post office for re-supply. The post office closes at 1 but I didn't get to town until 5. I called the Braatens in the morning and they went to the post office, got the box for me, and it was waiting in the guest house. What would we do without the trail angels? Don't want to find out!

Entry 61 of 121
First  :: Previous  :: Next  :: Last