Friday, August 19, 2011

August 15 - Seiad Valley

End: ridge between Lower and Middle Devil Peaks
Daily: 23.8
Total: 1668.5
View from our campsite

Kalamath River

We would have been in Seiad Valley way sooner if the berries hadn't all been ripe on the way down. If we don't make it to Canada before the snow falls it will probably be because we spent too much time picking berries. Strawberries, thimbleberries and tons of blackberries down on the road.

After following the trail through a poison oak forest, we had to walk 6.4 miles on roads. Apparently people around here don't want to allow the PCT through their land. Which is understandable, just annoying. It added about 3 or 4 miles to our day, all on roads.

This is the State of Jefferson. For those of you who have never heard of it, here's the explanation. Northern California and Southern Oregon believe that they should be their own state, because they aren't represented enough in the state governments, they government officials don't know what's best for this area, and the state government doesn't do enough for the area for the amount of taxes they pay. So almost everyone around here considers this place not California or Oregon, but the State of Jefferson. There are even road signs. I wish they could be their own state.

Anyway, after the road walk, we took a siesta in the tiny town of Seiad Valley. We had delicious milkshakes (best on the trail, and we've had a lot of milkshakes in the last 500 miles), and then washed off/napped by the creek and under the bridge with the Canadians and Hotrod. A wonderful afternoon.

Then up up up. This may be the steepest climb on the trip. We timed it to do part tonight and part tomorrow but we ended up doing most of it tonight. We did it at the perfect time of day, and we'd had a coffee from the cafe, so that really helped.

Now we're camped on the most badass campsite ever. It's on a knife's edge of a ridge with steep drop offs on either side, with a sunset on one side and a moonrise on the other. Barely big enough for cowboy camping.

Sleep and shooting stars time now.

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