Week 14: Sierra City - Highway 36 (Chester)
- scarlson51
- Sep 7
- 5 min read
Approximately Mile 1,196 through Mile 1,332
Sunday, July 20th - PCT day 85
Lots of switchbacks as I continue my climb up the butte. Past 1,200 miles around 7:00 this morning, which was cool. The spot also had a nice view of Sierra City, now some 2,000 feet below. Very cool but rather exposed. Traversed along the southern flank of the mountain. Saw some mining roads. Around 10:30, I ran into a group of dudes on a bachelor's trip. They invited me over and gave me their breakfast leftovers: pancakes, steak, eggs, and watermelon. Super epic. The day was super hot with not a breath of wind to dampen the heat. The views of the retreating Selma Buttes to my south and forested mountains intermingled with lakes was pretty nice. Though the wind picked up as soon as I reached camp. Goodnight.
Monday, July 21st - PCT day 86
Very pretty sunrise this morning, also very windy. Saw some more cows and then ran into Riff. Very pretty views of more forest clad mountains with craggy peaks showing above the green. Made 10 miles by 10:00 am which is always nice. Sang Sailor Brown as I walked. Crested a beautiful ridge after finding some nice-looking ore under Mt. Etna. The ridge looked out over some crazy green rock formations and some awesome lava flow peaks. The weather started turning nasty in the afternoon. Very dark voluminous clouds appeared and high winds. Only a little rain though. Camping w/ Ellen and Riff near Alder Spring. Also found these three blue jay feathers today. Good find.
Tuesday, July 22nd - PCT Day 87
A little cloudy all day today. The temp was wonderful since ~60% of my day was spent in exposed burn areas. Long ~13 mile downhill to start the day, mostly burnt. Took a road detour to avoid the worst of the damage, sang Roll Boys Roll! and Randy Dandy Oh on my way along the road. Got very close to being bit by a rattlesnake that was hidden under the thick brush at a seep; foot was about 4–6 inches away from it! About a half mile later I took a swim in the Middle Fork Feather River, also washed my shirt. The water was cool, but not freezing. Just the thing for a hot day! I was severely craving an ice-cold beer, hot dog w/ cream cheese & grilled onions. Damn, I need to come back to this river with Luke and do some prospecting. Very promising kettles in the bedrock near the bridge & vertical slate beds passing under the river a little farther upstream. The 8 mile climb away from the river was a little brutal though. Constantly climbing at a surprisingly steep grade. Thank God most of it had not burned, however, as that climb would in the full sun would have been fucking awful. Last night after I had already set aside this journal, Johnathan, an elementary school science teacher from New Jersey sang us Rocky Mountain High while playing his guitar. He was very good. Anyways, camping with Ella (not Ellen), and Riff again tonight which is nice. Always nice to have some company in the evening, especially seeing as I only saw one other human today after leaving camp. Home caught crab w/Angela’s eggs for dinner. Goodnight.
Wednesday, July 23rd - PCT Day 82
Pretty sunrise this morning from camp. Climbed the rest of the way up the ridge. Called dad while I got water from a spring. Mostly forested with the occasional view until I reached Bucks Lake Road. The next two miles from there were rough. Not a super steep uphill but the trail was an old dirt road so there was no cover from the sun. It was dummy hot. Climbed past Spanish Peak with great views to my north and east. Several beautiful lakes amongst the forested hills. The last ~4 miles of the day were rather burned. Walking through burnt forest in the full sun with a breeze blowing, not fun. Found a nice camp though on a granite knob that is clear of dead trees.Goodnight.
Thursday, July 24th - PCT Day 89
Wonderfully crisp, cool, wildflower-scented air this morning. Met Wolverine and Jimmy on the very steep but relatively short climb down to the Belden Resort. Got a massive burger, JoJo’s and a cheese quesadilla with a Corona to wash it down. After lunch I got some supplies and headed to the bank of the North Fork Feather River. Found a nice spot shaded by a natural trellis of wild grapes. Unfortunately, they were not ripe, but the blackberries were. Had a great swim and read the rest of the day. Had some thunder and rain later in the day, dry and warm. Goodnight.
Friday, July 25th - PCT Day 90
Early start this morning left camp at 5:40 to get most of the exposed bit of the long, and tall ascent ahead of me done before the heat of the day set in. Saw Fruit Loop camped in an old stamp mill which was fun. Climbed for 13 miles through mostly burnt forest, finished that by noon on the ridge. I had a grand view of Mt. Shasta to the north. But in the foreground the burnt forest stretches away for miles and miles in every direction. Set up camp at Cold Spring because of incoming bad weather after 19 miles total. The sky had been rumbling since around noon but at 4:00 it went and truly burst asunder, purple lightning flashing through the sky followed by deafening thunderclaps that rolled on for 30 seconds or more. Their sound being echoed off the valley walls. The rain continues to come down pretty bad but I’m warm and dry. Goodnight.
Saturday, July 26th - PCT Day 91
A little rainy this morning. Crested a burnt ridge & called Grandma and Grandpa until I lost service, which was nice. Very pretty views all day as I walked a C shape along a ridge that banded the head of the valley. Dark clouds in the afternoon but no rain, just a little thunder. One of the ridges to the northwest had an immense jet black craig upon its summit that looked like some long abandoned citadel. Passed the halfway point at the PCT – 3 cheers! Camp was not ideal due to the forest still being burnt but it was the best I could do. Goodnight.
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