September 8

Distance: 14.6 miles | Ascent: 1700′ | Descent: 2840′

Mile marker: 1324.1

Lunch: J&A – cereal and milk (A, A)

Dinner: J&A – junk food (B+)

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We had a really cool campsite. It overlooked Terminal Geyser and have us great views of the full moonrise last night and a colorful sunrise this morning. We were trying to get in and out Chester today for a quick resupply heading into a six day food carry.

The hike out to the road was easy. Some overgrown thorny bushes (white thorn?) and a few blowdowns barely slowed us down. There were giant pinecones (always fun) and pretty manzanita. We passed a northbound hiker we had met back in Oregon. They hit the border a few days ago and were going back to sections they had to skip due to fire closures. We’ve been so lucky as we’ve squeaked by the last two fires that closed the trail.

The burn area today was worse than anything we’ve seen in California. Completely scorched earth and few remaining trees to repopulate. When we finally reached the road, it was supposed to be easy getting to town. Our friend texted to say he got a hitch in five minutes. We tried for close to an hour before giving up and waiting on the bus, which was also running an hour late. In the end, we sat at the trailhead for close to two hours trying to get into a town less than 15 minutes away by car.

Finally, the bus came. It dropped us off right in front of the grocery store where we treated our inner child and binged on junk food for the afternoon. Cheetos, Twizzlers, Twix, Reese’s Sticks, soda, lemonade, a loaf of bread, and watermelon (health). Hunger hiker has truly set in. We got to the post office for our resupply box. Then we sat on an unused stage in the empty town park, sorting our resupply box while our things charged on the outlets. We made a few calls (more chores) before heading out to try getting back to the trail before dark. It’s only been four days since our last hotel. We didn’t really earn one today.

Thankfully, we caught the last bus of the day, which took us straight back to the trail. It sure beats setting up in the city park and getting sprayed with the aggressive sprinklers there, which have apparently drenched many tents this year. Being on trail will also get us an earlier start tomorrow. This is the beginning of a six day stretch. We’ll have earned a hotel room by the time we finish this stretch. Fortunately, the daily mileage is more reasonable than the last leg – only 22 miles per day. It’ll almost seem too easy.