Day 109 – 9 Jul 19. Walking Away The Stress

Today 24.0 km (14.9 mi), Total Distance 2166.5 km (1346.2 mi) 5 hours 20 minutes (1320-1835)

I struggled to get to sleep last night and woke up a few times. I was fully awake before 0600 hrs so just lay there and read. A little later I finished off the last of the Cherry Turnovers for breakfast and continued reading until the sun hit my tent and it started warming up.

As I was reading I got a phone call from ONTRAC, the third party contractor who were meant to deliver my DHL package with my passport. The lady informed me that they had searched and could not find my package. I was not having luck with receiving packages in USA. This one was a worry as it was my passport. I asked for an email to confirm this and then contacted the DHL representative from yesterday and advised her of the situation. Her response was to contact the shipper so I passed this information on to Mum. I will leave the reordering of another passport until my next town, just in case they find it.

This has finished off a frustrating stop but at least there was no reason to hang around town anymore so I could get back on trail and try and forget about this for a few days.

I packed everything up and headed across the road to the fast food part of the fuel station. The two owners were outside and we had a bit of a chat. As I had come in here a few times they knew my story and commiserated with me. They were surprised at how easy it would be to get another passport and we talked about the relative lack of bureaucracy in New Zealand compared to USA.

I had a huge and very yummy breakfast burrito, a coffee that was better than most I have had, and got a chicken wrap to go for dinner. I could not resist another Butter Pecan Thickshake (milkshake) as well and finally left well after 1200.

I walked across the road and stuck my thumb out and within a couple of minutes had a ride in a genuine Jeep with four college kids on their way to a cabin for a few weeks. They were a nice bunch.

At the trail head I crossed the road to touch the step I had come down and then was on the trail.

It was so good to be back on trail. The enforced break in Chester waiting for my package was too long and I had been itching too get back out. I had just started to get my trail legs back but after the longer break I would need to take it easy today.

It was a beautiful trail through the sparse forest. It was pretty hot as the trees were too far apart to provide much shade but not uncomfortably so. It was relatively flat and the trail was in really good condition so I had to hold myself back to keep from rushing. My legs were feeling a little tight so I stopped a few times to stretch.

There were several dirt trails taht the track had to cross. Just before one I met a PCT hiker coming towards me but he did not want to chat. 5 minutes later another, a girl this time, came towards me and once again no chat. When hikers get within 10 miles of a town they are focused on that and do not want delays such as talking. I am a little the same myself but do stop and chat.

There wasa very gentle but sustained climb and then I was on the side of the hill as I dropped down to the North Fork of the Feather River.

At the river I filled up with water and discovered my CNOC bladder had a small hole in it so I needed to hold my finer over it while filtering. I remember why I stopped using this bladder to filter water. It is a little stretchy and it is hard to get enough pressure to get water through the filter. I will either have to get another Sawyer bag, with the risk of it breaking again, or use a plastic bottle like the smartwater bottle.

Now there was a section of flat until past a little lake and then there was another sustained climb, with a slightly steeper gradient to get onto the ridge. On the ridge the mosquitos were out in force. If I even hesitated they were swarming me so I tried to keep going, though I could not resist filming some flowers and the landscape.

I waited until I was in a place with a bit of a breeze before going to the toilet as I did not want bites with my pants down.

Now it was a final mile along the side of the hill and slightly dropping to a small stream. I filled up with water here and was having to walk up and down the path as I was squeezing water through my filter to prevent being eaten alive.

Less than 5 minutes later I arrived at the boundary of the Lassen Volcanic National Park where I planned to camp. Bear Cans are required for camping within the national park and I had gotten rid of mine in Sonora Pass. My plan was to camp at the park boundary and then walk across the park in one day as it was just under 20 miles.

Unfortunately there were no flat spots at the boundary so I walked back along the path nearly to the stream with no spots seen. I then headed uphill from the path for 50 meters and came to a nice flat area. Before doing anything I put on my windprooof pants and jacket as protection from the mosquitos and it seemed to work, they did not bite through the material. With the tent up and bear bag string hung I retreated to the protection of my tent.

I had the Chicken Wrap for dinner and it was really good. Then a few snacks before braving the swarms of mosquitos to hang my bear bag and retire for the night.

Visits: 324