The Walking Dom

Mile 1374 / KM 2211
Sierra City to Belden to Chester to Old Station

Song of my day: "Black Cherry Pie" JEFF the Brotherhood. I didn't think much of these guys when a friend showed them to me for the first time, but these days I'm a fan! You gotta let them soak in a little. It's like WEEZER with an added pan flute and some metal rifs. Winner combo!

I miss: Sleeping in. I get up at 5:30 every day and that just isn't right, considering I am on a vacation. #notfair

Being outdoors 24/7 is something truly humbling and amazing and something everyone should do in life, but after 3 months of deer and nature and skeeters and rattlers, I was in desperate need of some good ol' night life. Never did I imagine that the best kind of night life would happen on the trail itself, but it did!

I was having the worst morning ever as I was limping down the last 5 miles to Belden. I even cried for the first time on the PCT (this is not normal-Katie has cried at least half of the days we've been out here), because I was getting so frustrated about the pain in my feet, but then I heard something in the distance. Wait, what? I was in the middle of the woods and I was hearing techno from the valley below. Sweet!!! When I got out of the forest an hour later I walked into town and I found myself in the midst of what felt like a mini Burning Man. Hell yeah!

It just so happened to be the weekend when "Sunset-Campout" was taking place in Belden (a town which normally has a population of probably about 7?!?!). I was told that the festival was sold out but there were volunteer jobs that hikers were able to do for some all access-wrist-bands. "Shortcut", a girl from Australia, and I got a job at the parking lot 8 miles further down the river. The thing is, I don't have a drivers license (I know I know, sooon soon), so I was probably the worst person they could have picked for the job. A truck got stuck in the woods and I am totally holding myself responsible for that. Sorry :/ But anywho! Armed with cocktails and wristbands a bunch of hikers and I ended up having an absolutely fabulous night. Belden, I'll be back next year and I'll make sure to bring a unicorn floatie.

Northern California's great so far and most importantly; I am half way done with the PCT! I'm passed the mid-point and officially closer to Canada than to Mexico! Holy shit! I can feel that this section is definitely getting hotter again and we'll soon have to face the second deserty part on this trip, which I am not looking forward to. Kinda thought I was done with the sweaty part. But we'll make it through this one like we've made it through all the other sections before this. We walked through a huge burned down area yesterday which was super pretty during the day and evening, but it got real creepy at night. Branches were falling down and I think there were bears around all night. Didn't sleep much at all. But still alive and kickin'.

The only thing that I am not sure about is if I can make it to Canada with the foot issues that I've been having lately. Both of my feet are now heavily inflamed and nothing seems to help. It's gotten worse and I can't make it through the day without at least 5 Ibuprofens. It is the reason I skipped a 40 mile section from Belden to Chester (which didn't feel right) but I just couldn't walk anymore. Spent the night camping behind the church in Chester and got some new legit "orthopaedic"-insoles from the dollar store since that was the only store that sold ANY insoles. Might as well give it a shot! But seriously, I'll get a new pair of ONs soon and hopefully those will help in combination with some good insoles. I had to take some drastic measures and go ultralight with my pack to get as much weight off my feet as possible, which means I am stove less now and that sucks big time. I've also only got one pair of shorts left. No more long pants. Not sure how that's going to work out next time I do laundry... but that's a problem of an other day :) Until then I'll eat cold soacked gross food in dusty shorts.