Day 104 - Seiad Valley. 1657.7 (21.6)

Kevin Silvernale February 22, 2017

The long gradual descent into Seiad Valley makes my knees hurt just thinking about it. As the trail lost elevation, the abundance of water was a little overwhelming. From needing to carry 10-15 miles worth of water + an overnight liter and a half to, now, needing a half liter between each of the rather large streams.

There were plenty of logs to help cross the streams and there were many streams that at one point in time had bridges. I imagine with all the debris in the area, when these streams reach their high point in the season, not much stands a chance of surviving such a torrent.

The PCT is the road going into Seiad Valley. Along said road was a half mile of prime blackberry bushes. I was on schedule to make it into Seiad Valley before 2 pm, but got hung up here for a good 45 minutes just chowing down on the sweet and juicy berries.

About a mile from reaching the Seiad Store, I was out of water and it was at least 100°F when a van pulled over offering me a ride. After a moment of deliberation I came to the conclusion that I was done with this road walk. After helping them clear a spot in the back of there van for me to sit, I was shuttled the last mile and was just in time to get a LARGE MILKSHAKE! For whatever reason, the small cafe shut their doors at 2 pm... this day might have been a Sunday.

Butterfingers and my plan was to organize our resupply, relax out of the heat and sun for the day, then this evening hike 2-3 miles or so up the long and daunting Seiad Valley climb; a climb that has full exposure to the sun for the nearly 9 miles and 5000' of elevation gain. While relaxing in town, we met up with Irish Matt, M&M and quite a few other faces I hadn't seen in a while.

With everyone enjoying their time and taking some time off in Seiad Valley, it made it rather difficult to leave. Butterfingers and I wanted and needed to stay on schedule to Ashland and further to Crater Lake. We were both meeting our families there and didn't have an extra day to give to this fun and quaint valley.

Less than 1000 miles to the Canadian Boarder!

Day 103 - Questions. 1636.1 (24.6)

Kevin Silvernale February 21, 2017

The first is a rhetorical question... Do you ever think about meteors/shooting stars during the daytime?

With reference to where you currently are, which direction is the Earth moving around the Sun?

When you walk 20+ miles a day, there is a lot of time to think. Music will only go so far. Podcast's will only go so far. Eventually silence is needed. While walking in silence, my mind loves to wonder... and the above questions is where it led me today.

The reason I loved last nights campsite so much was due to this mornings sunrise. Tied for first place in terms of sunrises. The day continued as usual... every 5 miles or so (no less, maybe more) I would take a break, refill my water and eat a small snack. Lunch with Butterfingers was at a Ranger Cabin that was unoccupied.

Easy access to the back-country and this portion of the trail also belonging to the Big Foot Trail, meant there was a constant stream of hikers walking by. With more hikers around, it was fun to hear their stories. There was a couple that I'd seen on and off over the past few days. They were hiking the BFT and said parts of it were so overgrown, there was no markings of a trail to be seen making for a rather difficult month long vacation. Reminding me of the Sierra's, the three of us laughed as we expressed that we wouldn't have it any other way.

Butterfingers and I pushed a little longer of a day today so that tomorrow we would make it to Sierra City before the temperatures climbed too high. It wouldn't matter... if the Sun was shining, this place was hot!

Day 102 - Leaving Etna. 1611.5 (14.2)

Kevin Silvernale February 20, 2017

Butterfingers and I took our time leaving Etna. One more stop into the grocery store to browse the shelves, finding anything to add more weight to my backpack... visiting the coffee shop to download podcasts, music and the PCT water report. Then ending at the Hostel which, as word had it, would provide a ride back to the trail (13 miles away) for $5 per person. That felt like a steal since other hikers had waited near half a day to find a hitch up to the trail.

Reaching mile 1600 made me feel like nothing could stop me from reaching the California-Oregon Boarder. Then shortly after passing that mile marker, there was a Rattlesnake, all coiled up and ready to strike. That would have definitely put a hinder to my plans.

One of my favorite campsite on the PCT here would provide me with the best night sleep I'd had in a while.

Day 101 - Etna, California. 1597.3 (5.8)

Kevin Silvernale February 19, 2017

With less than 6 miles to hike, today would be a nero in Etna. Butterfingers was up and out of camp before I had left my sleeping bag. Today was her Day 100, so we planned on celebrating in Etna with a large milkshake. That was what our minds zoned in on when town was in sight since the past week has been very warm, reaching well past 90 degrees each day.

Food, milkshake, find a motel, food, resupply packages, food at farmers market, milkshake, laundry, food. That is just about how Etna went. A very friendly town as advertised by all PCT handbooks, the farmers market had the sweetest... juiciest peaches I've ever had. The strawberries were nothing short of heaven and I ate two baskets of them.

There were quite a few hikers hanging out at the farmers market and as the vendors and live music wrapped up, we all parted and went back to our shelters. Butterfingers and I had a room at the Etna Motel. Fairly disappointed by the amenities, we wish we'd stayed at the hostel. But you live and you learn, and it work out some of the times (right Butterfingers?).

Day 100 - DAY 100! 1591.5 (25.2)

Kevin Silvernale February 18, 2017

Day 100... had a similar feel to my birthday. It was a milestone that I could only move forward from. And I had reached triple digits. Along with that, today I also crossed the point of less than 100 miles to the California-Oregon boarder... another major milestone!

Throughout the day, I saw many people on the trail, most were part of a group of trail workers that were packing out after 5 days of work. While eating lunch I had the chance to talk with one of the older workers who had a heavy external frame pack that he said was from the 1970's, when he had hike the PCT.

Now I've meet quite a few people while on trail that had hiked the PCT before 1980, all of whom I have a great respect for. In today's condition, with trail angels, much easier hitch-hikes and a growing popularity of the trail, the Pacific Crest Trail will kick anyone's ass. But in 1976, hiking the PCT meant you had to walk many more road miles, meet unfriendly town's people repulsed by the smell of having hiked 7 days without a shower and hike a lesser maintained trail. Let's not forget that there was no "ultralight" gear back in those days, there was just gear that worked and lasted (which often had to be DIY) and gear that fell apart after a couple of uses.

Needless to say, the trail would not be what it is today if it were not for hiking enthusiasts draw to this Long Trail when it wasn't the popular thing to do.