7/23/20; mile: 1,287; elevation: 2,218 ft.
We all wake up at about the same, do our morning routines and head back to the trail. We’re all anxious to get to “town” for our resupplies, which is “only” 8-miles away…..but all downhill. The first couple of miles are along ridges in chaparral which provide decent views of the surrounding landscape, including the exposed opposite side of the Feather River Canyon that we’ll have to climb later in the day. One of the more notorious climbs of the entire PCT. Sidewinder and Pac Man soon leave me behind as I take some time to make phone calls and texts giving my trail angels an update on my progress to meet me in Belden. The race is on! After passing the side trip to Canyon View Spring, the trail enters the trees and begins a very long series of switchbacks down the canyon wall.
Halfway down, I hear someone yell really loudly. Then Pac Man calls my phone. He never calls anybody. With an elevated energy in his voice, he rapidly tells me to watch out for the mountain lion he just crossed paths with. He will tell me later that he also a small deer a little later and figured that the mountain lion was on the prowl for breakfast. Regardless, I’m on high alert now. The slope is steep with a lot of trees and downed logs around the switchbacks…perfect places for mountain lions to pounce. No ear buds now, goosebumps and hair standing on end and my pace certainly suffers. I never did see the kitty. Maybe Pac Man did this to make sure he beat me to town…
Just as I approach the trail logbook location just above the train tracks (a large group of people including the Cuddle Puddle are just a day or two ahead of me), I hear the rumble of large stones being trampled on. At first, I think it’s a horse or two heading southbound towards me. I hurry up to beat having to cross paths on the narrow trail to find my brother’s truck parked on the other side. Looks like we tied the race to meet each other! Superhunk (my brother’s “name”) and father “Big Vic” drove all the way from Sonoma to do this for me. After warm greetings by the train tracks, they offer me a ride to the store. Nope, I’m walking. So Jason drives the truck and my Dad walks with me the half mile to the store/restaurant.
Superhunk had packed a knee sleeve, some ice, ziplock bags (as well as beers!) for me, so we sat on the tailgate and caught up on life. Oh yeah, there was a resupply box as well. After icing my knee, a couple of beers and going through the box, we head into the restaurant for lunch. Sidewinder and Pac Man join us on the deck overlooking the Feather River and we dig in. The Belden Burger (not on the menu) is just a monstrosity…and don’t forget there’s fries. And more beer. All the while I’m still icing my knee. Over the course of lunch, my Dad comps me a room at the Resort so I can continue to ice my knee. It was now afternoon and the 4,000-foot climb out of the canyon did NOT sound like a good idea. I wasn’t hard to convince. But not for Pac Man and Sidewinder.
Over the course of the afternoon, I sit and ice, talk with some other hikers while hanging out and then see Sidewinder and Pac Man walk back in to town. Too hot. I offer my shower to them, buy some more beer, and then we all hang out on the upper deck of the motel as we watch and listen to the river. By early evening, we go to dinner where I get another burger (not the Belden this time) and then wait for it to get absorbed by my body. They decide to leave again so I escort them to the edge of town and watch them hike away from me, feeling sad and lonely. Did I make the right choice?
My knee says yes. The shower feels great, I even rinse my clothes. I re-organize my food, getting rid of one dinner since Belden took care of that. I watch TV (limited programming) and just ice away. At least I’ll have a morning start for the climb. It’s the best that can happen considering the circumstances.
Savior out.