At mile 1286.8. Hiked 16.5 miles today. I ran up on a grouse with it’s brood of baby chicks. The mother hen ran around in loops on the trail in front of me all the while fluttering loudly and angrily. The hen performed its job of distraction because at first I didn’t notice the chicks. The wayward chicks that had not already disappeared in the undergrowth competed with me for  mother hen’s attention. One second the hen was charging toward me, the next it was running angrily toward her...

At mile 1270.3. Hiked 20.5 PCT miles today. Hiked alternate route adding another mile or two. My campsite with human company, again. Good! Usually my only camping companions are bear and deer.  Today I hiked the Bucks Lake  alternate route so I could visit Haskins store. But first, I need to tell you about what I figured out. I’ve been meeting thru-hikers of the “intense” variety who are doing 30 plus mile days and who entered the Sierras in May (early) only to be caught in a blizzard and have to...

At mile 1249.8. Hiked 25.3 miles today. I am finally seeing other people. Yesterday I saw Golden who moved on ahead of me. Today I saw a number of thru-hikers who flipped the Sierras. I’ve also been seeing a few section hikers. Nearly all have been SOBO.  There were 2 types of hikers I have been seeing today. There are the smart hikers who avoided an early hike through the Sierras and there are the intense hikers that plunged into the Sierras, early  but left the Sierras early for one...

At mile 1224.5. Hiked 20.8 miles today. When I stuck my head out of the tent, I was surprised to see a spectacular sunrise. The hiking was hard most of the day. There was a lot of climbing and the trail was rocky. My legs were sore most of the morning. The good part was great views of the Sierra Butte and many lakes. Here is Sierra Butte. Here is Sierra Buttes after hiking away from it all morning. After lunch the trail got easier and smoother. I was still sore and tired...

At mile 1203.7. Hiked 8.3 miles today. Late last night after I had turned in, the Sheriff dropped a homeless drug addict off at the PCT camping area at the church. I never got out of my tent, but I heard some of the conversation between her and Evan and Peer Pressure. She was asking for things and otherwise rambling. I overheard her tell the others that she stole things. I won’t go into it, but today she was still around and my things started disappearing. The missing food...

Day 43 - From snow to heat At mile 1195.4. Hiked 23.1 PCT miles today plus walking to and around town. I didn’t see anyone today until I was a few miles from Sierra  City. There was some snow to navigate through, but I quickly moved out of snow and into heat. I’ve also had my first mosquitoes and mosquito bites and used mosquito repellent for the first time, but still the mosquitoes haven’t gotten bad, yet. I’m prepared with tent replacing tarp and head net.  I hitched most of the...