Burney to Chester

Transcribed:  September 14, 2013

From the Journal:  August 31, 2013

Mom and I got up super early (maybe I am finally used to trail schedule) and got town chores done.  This included finding coconut soy lattes and having blueberry pie for breakfast.  I got to spend time with Mom and Mike before we headed back up to the state park.  Ben and I have decided to hike the very hot and dry Hat Creek Rim together so we met up in the afternoon to nearo out of town.  We walked 12 miles to the Crystal Lake Hatchery.  We walked past Baum Lake right at dusk, and saw several herons take flight into the pastel sky.  We also saw an owl and many deer.  It was a magical evening for wildlife.  Huff and Bomber picked us up and we got to have a lovely dinner with friends.

September 2, 2013

Yesterday we took an impromptu zero to hang with Huff and Puff and Cherry Bomb before they headed back to San Francisco.  We had an awesome breakfast at JJ’s Café before heading back to the trail.  We fed some albino rainbow trout and gazed at these huge white birds (herons or egrets) before saying farewell to our trail buddies.  And so Smooth and I headed out to the heat.  At noon.  Not our best planning but there was some cloud cover at least.  We walked 14 miles to the water cache at Road 22.  Sunset was beautiful with all the clouds and Shasta on one side and Lassen on the other.  I have heard a lot of complaints about Hat Creek Rim, but everyone has failed to mention the beautiful views.  It’s good to be back at home. 

 Breakfast at Old Station

September 3, 2013

I am sitting at camp, eating chocolate and sipping on wine that Smooth and Huff cached at Old Station.  It has been a great day.  Hat Creek Rim was nowhere near “unbearably hot” and there was plenty of water.  We stopped at the store in Old Station for Squirt and ice cream bars before heading on our way.  We are now camped beside Hat Creek, about to walk into Lassen National Park.  24 miles today.

September 4, 2013

The area surrounding Lassen was made stark by the burn that went through last year.  We followed a chain of lakes through the blackened area and had a relaxing lunch on the shores of Lower Twin Lake.  We saw the very strange Boiling Springs Lake and the boiling mud pots that surrounded it.  As dusk was approaching we got back on the PCT and took a detour northbound.  We conveniently realized this mistake after making camp and so will have a few more miles into town tomorrow.

September 6, 2013

Yesterday we walked 17 miles into Chester by 12:45.  Going to town can inspire some efficient walking.  One of our first stops was “The Dentist”.  Dr. Webb and his office manager, Karen, do awesome trail magic giving dental hygiene supplies and meal vouchers to a local Mexican restaurant for hikers.    Karen, (aka, The Tooth Fairy), was absolutely wonderful to talk to.  Naturally , our next stop was the Mexican restaurant for margaritas and fajitas.  We have been intermittently eating, resting, catching up with family and friends, and taking care of town chores.  We were going to leave town but ended up taking a rest day.  I am so glad, both because we have a lot of prep over the next few weeks before going into the Sierra (switching gear, new map sets) and because Benny’s foot is bothering him and needed a day of resting and ice.  Chester has been super friendly, and we are on to Sierra City in the morning.

Fajitas and margaritas in Chester

 

Trying on hats - getting ready for the Sierras