Total Miles: 252.9
After pulling the 50.5, I was tired but managed to make it to Old Station and get my resupply box. I then hiked two miles and took a nap. I camped 30 miles in for the day.
The next day, I made it to Burney Falls. I got ice cream and a microwave chicken sandwich. My next resupply was Ammirati’s Market in Castella. I would cross highway 5 leading to Mt. Shasta and take a side trail to get there.
Before I arrived, I had enough service to check the weather and it showed rain coming in. I didn’t have a rain coat after leaving mine in the Mammoth hotel and getting drenched and freezing a week before, so I decided to take a nero and go to the outfitter in Mt. Shasta.
I bought solid rain gear, stayed the night, and was back on the trail the next morning. It rained all day. Cold, wet, and windy. I was happy about my nero decision.
The next day I pulled a 47.5 to make up for lost mileage. I was hoping for a big day following that to put me close enough to Saied Valley to make it Tuesday before the store closed. 14 miles before Etna, the snow pack started up again with blowdowns and burnt sections.
It was slow going, and after getting lost at 10:30 at night, I found myself on the side of this steep mountain straddling a tree. I had to climb down in the dark through snow and loose rock. It was some of the most dangerous stuff I’ve encountered so far and finding out I just became an uncle I decided to stop pushing so hard that night.
I camped 38.6 miles in for the day, short if my goal, but not injured or dead.✌🥾🥾
