Section P is 98.5 miles long and runs from I-5 to Etna. August 4th - 8th.
Day 90, 7.1 miles to Dog Trail Trailhead.
The shades were closed so our normal alarm clocks of the rising sun and chirping birds were both unavailable. We went to the market to grab a few extra snacks and breakfast. I smashed a box of six donuts and washed them down with some chocolate milk. Then we walked up to the I-5 on ramp to get a hitch back down to the trail. A full sized semi truck pulled over and I was happy to cross another interesting vehicle off of my hitch list. I was amazed how roomie the cab was and that it was an automatic. The driver was a nice guy who immigrated from Pakistan and said our hike was inspiring him to finally follow one of his dreams to ride his motorcycle a long the entire Pacific Coast Highway. He dropped Sea Lion and I off at the trail and took Shark and Squirrel another exit or two down to Castella. We hit the 1500 mile marker, got water from a spring, and were feeling great. I was so ready to get back to crushing smiles after taking two Nero days. Around a bend, the Castle Crags came into view and they looked awesome. I wondered if there were climbing routes to the peaks. I got to the Dog Trail Junction and decided to wait for Sea Lion and turned my phone on. I had a text saying she wasn't feeling good so I replied that I'll wait here. Then she called and said she was throwing up and the pressure from her hip belt would send her dry heaving again so she was stuck. I left my pack at the junction and galloped back three miles to help. It is amazing how fast you can move with trekking poles and suddenly being 30 pounds lighter. I carried her pack back to the junction as she slowly picked her way along. Dog Trail leads a short half mile to a road where we could hitch back to town to see a doctor but she insisted we just camp near the trailhead and see how she felt in the morning. She was already starting to feel better and a doctor will most likely just say to rest. Luckily, we did find a great campsite by the North Fork Castle Creek and since we were there early I had time to write some postcards and edit some movies. As night fell she was able to keep down some goldfish crackers and water so things were looking good.
Castle Crags.
Day 91, 28.4 miles to Deadfall Lake.
She felt like a new woman this morning, no residual signs of yesterday's sickness, and she said she was good to go for a 25+ miler. So we hiked back up Dog Trail and began the big ascent for the day. We stopped for water at Disappearing Creek, which has an accurate name. It is almost entirely under giant rocks but surfaces for a mere 20ft section. I again could see the rugged outline of the Castle Crags but the haze seemed even thicker today. We took a snack break at the top of the climb and then lunch at the next spring. We planned to rock ten miles to the next spring but I took a break under a shady tree and we checked the guide and saw that the spring was 0.3 off trail, so we adjusted and went 2.5 extra miles to Picayune Spring which is directly on trail. It was pretty flat so the additional mileage was no big deal. After another food break we pushed on through the final bit to Deadfall Lakes. It was getting late when we arrived so my shorts wouldn't have time to dry out before the hiking began the following morning so I went for a skinny dip. It feels so good to rinse off the miles of dirt and sweat before bed. We found a great campsite under a huge pine tree and there was a big comfy rock bench that had been constructed. It even had a back rest!
Castle Crags.
A wise old caterpillar.
Geology.
Day 92, 23.6 miles to Highway 3.
The trail had 24 miles of a gentle down hill slope to start the day and we decided we can push for 35 miles. There was a campsite with water at that mark, we were feeling strong, and got an early start at 6:45. We went 6.4 miles to a stream for second breakfast and then took lunch at a spring at 13 miles on the day. We were making great time so we also took the shoes off and kicked our feet up for a rest. Some new faces joined us; Mockingjay, Lumberjack, Danger, and two Germans Obi-Two and Hightower. We all left about the same time but Sea Lion and I quickly took the lead. The views were again pretty much smoked out, so I hiked with the zoom lens on hoping to snatch some wildlife photos. It was an eight mile haul to the next water which we made in two hours on the dot! I cooked some instant taters and loaded them up with tuna and olive oil, gotta keep the calorie I take up on a 35-miler. Sea Lion said she hopes there is trail magic at the upcoming road crossing and I said there is no way. It is a Monday afternoon and on a rarely traveled road. We took off to finish the downhill and when we reached Highway 3...there was a van. And the van had an awning deployed. And there was tons of beer and Moscow Mules. And a burrito station. And Shark and Squirrel were there. And so was my buddy Swamp Swan from the AT. So right away we knew the 35'er was toast. Swamp Swan was with some fellow class of 2017 AT hiker friends and one of them, Scuba Steve, had just got a brand new decked out Sprinter van. They were returning from a road trip to the coast and decided to throw some trail magic before returning to the PCT. I learned that Scuba bought the van before he hiked the AT in 2017 but there was an 18 month waiting period. We housed beers and burritos all night and camped in the parking lot. It was a great time.
Japanese Gentian.
Bees love me.
Van trail magic!
Day 93, 30.6 miles to Statue Creek.
We thanked Scuba Steve in the morning and set off feeling slightly dehydrated and pretty groggy. It was another smokey day so there weren't any good views to enjoy and we blasted from one water source to the next. I listened to ReLoad by Metallica to power up the only big climb of the day and by the time I got to Scott's Creek, I was ready for a nap. I checked the mileage and there really just wasn't time for it since we were determined to drop a 30 miler. I instead made an instant coffee that I have been carrying for way too long and now was the perfect time to use it. I almost never drink coffee so this was enough to amp me up like Popeye with his spinach. I crushed the short and steep climb, found the next water to be disgusting muck, and left Sea Lion a note saying meet at the next one. I crossed into the Russian Wilderness which made me think I was lost for a split second. The smoke was thick but it again looked like some awesome views and ridges shadowed behind it. Sea Lion caught up right before a stream where we watered up and had dinner before making the final push to 30.6 miles. We arrived at Statue Creek and set the tent up just before dark. Another 30 in the bag!
I must've taken a wrong turn.
Day 94, 8.9 miles to Etna.
I retrieved some water and we packed up for the short haul to Sawyer's Bar Road where you hitch into town. The smoke was thick so I didn't get many good photos today but it was great to relax in town. Only it was a tough hitch getting to town. We waited at the road crossing for over an hour and didn't see a single car but, luckily, the first truck picked us up. And even more luckily, there were three German shorthair pointers in the back! These were my dogs growing up so there is a soft spot in my heart and I was happy to get them on the windy road down to town. Once there we posted up at the Hiker Hut, did laundry, relaxed, and enjoyed the free beer on check in. Then we borrowed the bicycles to go get a food resupply and pick up a M5 screw to act as a temporary tip for my trekking pole. The original carbide tip fell out and continuing to hike on it would wear down the shaft itself. Black Diamond sent me replacements to Ashland, Oregon, just across the border. We met Shark and Squirrel at Denny Bar Distillery for drinks and a delicious pizza dinner.
