Week 7 Mileage: 267.4
NO JUNK FOOD! …but they had cigs
This section I needed to crush. It was flat-ish through Burney Falls, and I really could make up some miles. It’s a high desert, so water isn’t plentiful, but the easy terrain meant I could get to the next source quick. Pulling big miles into Old Station, I charged my stuff, ate, filled my h20 and headed out. Finished with a 41.5-mile day. I didn’t sleep well. Cowboy camping with mosquitos buzzing is tough and I gelt it the next day. 4 hours of sleep after 40 miles isn’t ideal. After a couple days, I arrived at Burney Mountain Guest Ranch, a new spot on the trail in a good location between Old Station and Burney Falls. I met the owners and resupplied. They had a saltwater swimming pool and all kinds of amenities. The owner gave me some sun block, chips and guacamole and by 6:15, I was on my way. Didn’t make it more than 6 miles again and crashed. I’ve got to start hiking later.
Other than some overgrown sections of trail and ripping my puffy, I made it smoothly to the highway leading into Mt. Shasta at 6:30 am, did a 2-mile road walk and resupplied at Ameratti’s Market. I wanted something different than hiker food. Shitty gas station food was my plan; hot dogs, foil wrapped breakfast sandwiches. Any of that overprocessed American crap that causes cancer and makes everyone fat. BRING IT ON! They had none of that. Nothing, not even microwave burritos. I was very disappointed. I probably stopped at the only convenience store in the whole country without any of that food. I settled for a loaf of bread and made pb&j’s.
Back on trail, with a 10 mile climb and 155 miles to Seiad Valley. It was hot, I had a full resupply. It went on and on forever. I do like this section of trail, it’s kinda like the Sierra with no snow. Scree rock and switchbacks, the trail leading up and over passes that aren’t too bad. Biggest week yet!
