Migrating North - Days 52 - 56

Day 52

Zero Day

Today was a really big day off the trail. I made the decision to flip up to mile 1500 and start hiking South. There are 11 other hikers doing this same plan with me. Due to the massive amounts of snow and the nasty weather in the forecast, I have decided it’s best for me to skip up and continue to hike rather than wait around. I am going to go to mile 1500 then start hiking south until I get to the point where I left off here in the Sierras. Then I will go back up to mile 1500 and start hiking North again. This was a very tough decision for me because I always imagined hiking it one straight line, but based on the condition I really feel like this is the best decision for me going forward. I am excited!

Day 53

Zero Day (driving day)

At 8am, myself and 10 other hikers piled into a 12 person van and drove up to Castella, California. We stopped off at Vons to do a resupply then we went to the post office to send out Sierras gear to Lake Tahoe which is when we will need it again coming back south. It was so funny seeing 11 hikers all traveling together and doing chores together!

Once we were on the road it was such a blast! Doing an 8 hr road trip with all these hikers was so much fun we all contemplated just driving around the country together. We listened music, ate junk and laughed. Typical road trip activities but hiker style!

We are all staying at a hotel and waking up in the morning and getting back on the trail!!! Yay!!!

Day 54

Mile 1500.8 to Mile 1477.4 ~ 23.4 Miles

I was finally back on trail and boy did it feel good. After stopping for breakfast with all the hikers, we all go a ride to the trailhead and started to hike! It was absolutely beautiful. The change of scenery and more importantly change of trail conditions was so pleasant. I hiked near, Mt. Shasta and along the way had a breathtaking view of the towering peak. When I come back up to mile 1500 and hike north I will have some more views of the towering mountain.

It was very strange walking south and knowing I will be for the next month to month and a half. My body had gotten so used to walking north that even where the sun is located during the day had me a bit thrown off. Reading my maps has also been an adjustment. These are things that I know I will get used to and probably just when I do it will be time to start hiking north again.

Overall I am so happy with my decision and am so excited to be able to enjoy the process and take it all in the best way I can.

Day 55

Mile 1477.4 to mile 1452.6 ~ 24.9 Miles

Today I caught myself admiring the beauty of Northern California. There is so much lush green everywhere! While walking on the trail there is times where it feels like I am in the Amazon jungle or something. There are also a lot of parts of the trail that are overgrown which means I am walking through and fighting the brush. I was told that there was some poison oak in this last section and I did not notice... so hopefully I don’t break out in a rash.

I saw my first deer on the trail today! Each of the hikers I’m with also saw one too. 8-Ball, who was about 5 minutes behind me said he saw a deer that was following me! He told me that it was curious and just kept following me for like 5 minutes. I did not hear it or notice it was behind me.

Day 56

Mile 1452.6 to mile 1424.7 ~ 27.9 Miles

Today I fell back into a real groove. My hiking was fluid and I felt one with the trail. It’s a hard thing to explain, but I get this feeling of trance while I’m in this groove. It doesn’t feel difficult to hike. It’s effortless. It’s so amazing!

I was in this trance and I had an abrupt awakening out of it. Just to the right of the trail I saw a movement and heard a rattle. I jump to the left and sure enough there was a rattle snake. Looking up at me and telling me to not get any closer. I listened, took some pictures and moved on. It’s always fun seeing one of those. Although the next few miles there is no trance. It’s pure focus on the trail and every noise is startling.