Tuesday, August 16, 2011
I APOLOGIZE...I'M A LITTLE BEHIND AND DAD IS WAY AHEAD ON THE TRAIL...
Hi there....
What a busy summer this has been, however that is absolutely no excuse for not updating dad's Blog in a timely manner! Shame on me...(slaps wrist). Ok...
I can't even remember exactly when/where dad joined the trail again (that's so bad!), but he is back on it and is progressing well!! To make it a little easier, I'm going to "insert" his email to me recently, which explains his doings/goings as of recent. The weather has been warm but I'm feeling at ease with the fact that he reminds me (and I remind him, if he DOESN'T remind me) that he is listening to his body and takes a ZERO day when he feels the need. He hasn't been able to share too many pictures but has said that he's taken numerous with his phone.
Here is the email that dad sent about a week ago on the 8th of August...
"I'll just give you a summary of thr last couple of weeks, Have hiked over 250 miles and over some rough country. Left the Castle craig area the first stop was Etna Mount Shasta continued to dominate the horizon, as I left interstate 5 and climb to the crest; where the terrain is more rocky and sparsely treed, the expansive views were incredible as i wound along the route changing directions often, finally reaching Etna summit. The Town is 15 miles NE but got to the road and a couple was just getting ready to head down the mountain and gave me a ride so diden't have to wait at all. I was glad for the day and 1/2 that I spent there, as i had twisted my ankle and needed some down time. There is a place there that the hikers meet so was glad to hear some of the stories, and also an update on the trail and snow conditions. I had slipped going around some snow and tore my britches and shirt, so got some dental floss at the store to use for thread on the britches, but the shirt I had to use duct tape to hold it together, I have been pretty much alone as the couple I was going to hike with never showed up or were out of sync with the schedule.
Anyway after a good rest and some good meals the next stop was the little town of Seiad Valley, This section makes a beeline north through the Marble Mountain wilderness with only minoe elevation gain and loss in the beginning followed by a dramatic decent to the Klamath River and Hwy 96 Then you go west through the town famous for it's 5 poung pancake challenge. This is also the last town in California that the trail goes through. The next section follows Hwy 96 briefly before clombing steeply to complete the final leg of the Calif PCT. You are soon in Oregon. The route turns east and finally reaches I-5 12 miles from Ashland at Siskiyou Summit.
In summary the hike has been good. Very steep and long climbs made it difficult to make really good time. I have been getting som 20 plus mile days but hike about 12 hours to do it. A funny experience, I use that foil wrapped Tuna Fish as a suppliment to my top ramon noodles, anyway I didn't use the whole package so put the rest in a zip lock bag. Well, it leaked all ove my pack and got all over the tent, Not a problem, except we are in bear country, My understanding is bears like fish. So I thought maybe I could put the remaining fish in the creek and it would wash downstream and fool the bears. Well it just sank, so i took some rubbing ointment and rubbed on the tent, thinking that may fool them, anyway I didn't get much sleep but my sinuses were clear in the morning.
I have been a couple of days with Dell and Janel (my Cousins here in Medford) and will depart in the morning headed for Crater Lake 107 miles North, Want to get as far as possible as will leave the trail for convention at Boring, and looking forward to that.
Will keep you posted..."
So, there you have it! I will attempt to post a couple of pictures that dad has emailed me, however, 3 of them are from his hike in May. The most recent is title "The Trail". Again, thank you for following dad on this journey. He sounds great when I talk to him and know that he will continue to do good as long as he "listens to his body".
Tootle-doo until next time!!
What a busy summer this has been, however that is absolutely no excuse for not updating dad's Blog in a timely manner! Shame on me...(slaps wrist). Ok...
I can't even remember exactly when/where dad joined the trail again (that's so bad!), but he is back on it and is progressing well!! To make it a little easier, I'm going to "insert" his email to me recently, which explains his doings/goings as of recent. The weather has been warm but I'm feeling at ease with the fact that he reminds me (and I remind him, if he DOESN'T remind me) that he is listening to his body and takes a ZERO day when he feels the need. He hasn't been able to share too many pictures but has said that he's taken numerous with his phone.
Here is the email that dad sent about a week ago on the 8th of August...
"I'll just give you a summary of thr last couple of weeks, Have hiked over 250 miles and over some rough country. Left the Castle craig area the first stop was Etna Mount Shasta continued to dominate the horizon, as I left interstate 5 and climb to the crest; where the terrain is more rocky and sparsely treed, the expansive views were incredible as i wound along the route changing directions often, finally reaching Etna summit. The Town is 15 miles NE but got to the road and a couple was just getting ready to head down the mountain and gave me a ride so diden't have to wait at all. I was glad for the day and 1/2 that I spent there, as i had twisted my ankle and needed some down time. There is a place there that the hikers meet so was glad to hear some of the stories, and also an update on the trail and snow conditions. I had slipped going around some snow and tore my britches and shirt, so got some dental floss at the store to use for thread on the britches, but the shirt I had to use duct tape to hold it together, I have been pretty much alone as the couple I was going to hike with never showed up or were out of sync with the schedule.
Anyway after a good rest and some good meals the next stop was the little town of Seiad Valley, This section makes a beeline north through the Marble Mountain wilderness with only minoe elevation gain and loss in the beginning followed by a dramatic decent to the Klamath River and Hwy 96 Then you go west through the town famous for it's 5 poung pancake challenge. This is also the last town in California that the trail goes through. The next section follows Hwy 96 briefly before clombing steeply to complete the final leg of the Calif PCT. You are soon in Oregon. The route turns east and finally reaches I-5 12 miles from Ashland at Siskiyou Summit.
In summary the hike has been good. Very steep and long climbs made it difficult to make really good time. I have been getting som 20 plus mile days but hike about 12 hours to do it. A funny experience, I use that foil wrapped Tuna Fish as a suppliment to my top ramon noodles, anyway I didn't use the whole package so put the rest in a zip lock bag. Well, it leaked all ove my pack and got all over the tent, Not a problem, except we are in bear country, My understanding is bears like fish. So I thought maybe I could put the remaining fish in the creek and it would wash downstream and fool the bears. Well it just sank, so i took some rubbing ointment and rubbed on the tent, thinking that may fool them, anyway I didn't get much sleep but my sinuses were clear in the morning.
I have been a couple of days with Dell and Janel (my Cousins here in Medford) and will depart in the morning headed for Crater Lake 107 miles North, Want to get as far as possible as will leave the trail for convention at Boring, and looking forward to that.
Will keep you posted..."
So, there you have it! I will attempt to post a couple of pictures that dad has emailed me, however, 3 of them are from his hike in May. The most recent is title "The Trail". Again, thank you for following dad on this journey. He sounds great when I talk to him and know that he will continue to do good as long as he "listens to his body".
Tootle-doo until next time!!
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