Sierra City to Belden

DAY 94 (August 4)
To Tentsite Mile 1199
3.3 miles

I call Wissem to see how Ramon, the cat, is doing. He is back from the hospital and has started eating a little bit, not much but some of his favorite treats. Not sure though if that is enough. In case he does not eat he would need a feeding funnel. I see him via FaceTime video and although he gets painkillers, he looks weak and exhausted. I feel so sorry for him that it makes me cry while sitting on the porch of the general store.

I leave Sierra City with Troubadour and Bubble Boy in the late afternoon to avoid the heat.

There is a bigger climb out of Sierra City but I am happy to be back on trail. The temperature is ideal and it feels a lot less exhausting than expected. It smells like incense on the way up. Is it sandalwood?



DAY 95 (August 5)
To A-Tree Springs, Mile 1217
18.5 miles

I wake up around 5.30am and start walking at 7am.

On top of a ridge, I receive a text message from my mum. Realizing that I have service up there, I call home to see how Ramon is doing. He is eating some treats every day, so at least a little bit.

With Bubble Boy and Troubadour, we set up our tents by a spring and a road. Not a cozy place but a good starting point for tomorrow's ascent. Troubadour is playing some songs on the ukulele while we prepare dinner and a curious dear starts sneaking around the tentsite, not being afraid at all.




DAY 96 (August 6)
To Tentsite Mile 1239
21.8 miles

Slept pretty well and woke up at 5.30. The deer show up again and we stare at each other for a while. Funny situation.

Troubadour is going to zero today. I head out at 7.30 but Bubble Boy catches up shortly after.

After a tough climb late morning, we have lunch. An older gentleman joins us and we admire his super light pack (roughly 4 pounds, feels like a shopping bag). It's all quite expensive stuff though (tent, backpack, and rain poncho from ZPacks). His wife is following him in an RV providing his resupply every 3 days so he does not have to carry much food which is another reason why he can go that light. Great that he is through-hiking at his age though.

We camp by a trailhead at a paved road and I learn how to light a campfire. Nice!


DAY 97 (August 7)
To Tentsite Mile 1258
18.5 miles

I love the mornings on the trail! While I have my coffee, rays of light are slowly making their way through the trees. I haven't slept so well for quite a while, did not even wake up once at night.

10 miles downhill - 8 miles uphill - 5000 ft elevation gain


DAY 98 (August 8)
To Tentsite Mile 1280
22.4 miles

We find a snug little campsite just four miles before reaching Belden. It's a small, sheltered spot with some lovely views. I'm looking forward to catching the sunrise from here tomorrow morning. While I drift off to sleep, the crickets provide a comforting backdrop with their chirping.



 

DAY 99 (August 9)
11 miles (4+6)
To Myrtle Flat & Tentsite (Mile 1291)

It’ s all downhill into Belden but I am happy that we did not do it the day before when we were tired already. Knowing myself I might have stumbled a few times running down.

We get into Belden just right when the restaurant opens and have a yummy breakfast.

I call Wissem and see a Ramon that looks like the one I know so I am relieved that he is doing better again. Still has to get antibiotics but is eating his normal food again.

With Bubble Boy, we hitch to a campsite that has a little post office just 1.5 miles further up the road. He has a resupply box there. Get some food from Bubble Boy and buy the rest in the small store. A bit pricey but I prefer to buy here instead of going into Chester (in approx. 45 miles), going off trail and losing time. I want to get to halfway PCT and then to the Oregon border asap!

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South Lake Tahoe to Sierra City

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Belden to Old Station