July 18, 2013
25 miles
mile 1381
New
Lava tubes formed by underground river of lava whose outer crest had hardened quickly
Arose to a flustered Ole. From 11:30 until 1:30 AM he had Waged a lonely war against the most dangerous night predator in the Forest. While we slept the battle raged on, around and over us. Weapons brought into play included rocks, hiking poles and threats of destruction. Seven separate attacks were repulsed.. Finally the destroyer of the night peace moved on and Ole could take rest.
Viking was not so lucky. A couple of days before he awoke to all his possessions spread out over a couple hundred yard Square area. Much of his clothes had holes chewed in them. The culprit in both cases? The Nightstalker of evil intent? Who could be so malevolent? Why that fuzzy cute Disney grazer by day—-deer. It’s motivation, salt. Deers crave it, and human urine and clothes are full of it. Especially people hiking 20+ miles a day. Deer grow bold by darkness and come close for a urine click. Intoxicated, they move in for salty clothes snacks. Shoes have even disappeared. Darwin dictates in the forest. Us or them. Deprived deer or nude hikers. The victor determined by the morning light.
Several hikers passed by early and walked through the freezing stream. The light of day revealed a log bridge 50 feet downstream. Advantage lazy start. The path ran flat and soft. The miles melted away. The speed comparable to a moving walkway in an airport. Enough water lay about to keep the walking lubricated. The forests varied. At times the National Park Forest with floors carpeted with fallen trees. Then a massive burn. Followed by sterile rows of corporate planted trees. It kept ones attention.
Lassen viewed through a dead landscape
Burnt to death
Seventeen miles by lunch. Ate some pounds off my pack. Walked on, but not far, as a store placed itself in my headway. The heat was up and the thirst was on. Clenching required a lemonade, a Gatorade, a chocolate milkshake and a Mountain Dew. Hydrated to bladder capacity returned my shoes to their Natural function.
You never know what you’ll see on the PCT
Rounded a bend to firetrucks upon firetrucks. Another bend and halfway and orbit sat under firefighter custody /care. The story poured out. Another PCT through hiker had diverted to the woods for a constitutional. Burning their TP had quickly gotten out of control as the dry pine needle bed makes excellent tinder. A quick spread to a quarter of an acre. There the fire was halted by the just arrived orbit, halfway and the unfortunate original hiker. They built a dirt path around the fire by clearing back Pineneedles. The fire was unable to beach the path and the day was saved. The firefighters doused the burn, gathered needed information from orbit and halfway, then released them to the trail. Smokey the bear would have been proud. My observation a ringing endorsement for the ass blaster.
A 30 mile stretch of dry trail awaits my arrival tomorrow, so I stopped early at the last water stop. Adjacent to my patch of home dirt were extensive lava tubes which I explored thoroughly. My exit coincided with the return of the beer foragers. They were able to confirm a rumor that a local convenience store was giving Away a free sixpack to each through hiker. They carried their confirmation. Thus the sunset to the sound of clinking glass. I to bed early, falling asleep closer to Canada than I had been the previous 76 nights.
Steve Halteman
On the Pacific Crest Trail
Hiking the PCT for the Kids of Escuela Verde
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