September 14

Distance: 17.8+1.5 | Ascent: 1750′ | Descent: 4250′

Mile marker: 1459.3

Lunch: J – tomato orzo (B+), A – cilantro pesto pasta (B+)

Dinner: J&A – cheeseburger (A++), hot dog (A+), canned peaches and fruit medley and canned yams (A), canned tuna (B), miscellaneous bars and trailmix leftover from our food supply (C)

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At the start of the day, the Sierra Buttes were small on the horizon. We should be getting used to large geological features appearing too far away to pass in the day, but we’re moving at a good clip by now. It’s only logical that we overtake them.

We descended into a valley with lots of small lakes and ponds. We passed by a day hiking couple who couldn’t believe we had been in the woods for two months. They were floored when we said it would be two more. That happens a lot.

We were trucking to make it to Sierra City before the general store, where our next resupply box sat, closed for the day. We also wanted to give our bodies a small break as we both felt worn out. We finally crested over the ridge and saw the town. But, even though we were on the ridge and had the town in sight, we didn’t have phone service. That’s a good indication that it’s a small, itty bitty town. Having “city” in its name is misleading.

The ridge we crossed over was the trail junction to the Sierra Buttes. The other side was rocky and exposed. The trail reminded us of the North Cascades.

The trail entered into a shaded forest and it was a cooler walk down into the city. We had to endure a 1.5-mile road walk into the town, but it was downhill and mostly shaded in the late afternoon. Along the way, we passed another Australian who we just met at Belden. Another hiker getting a hitch waved at us. We think we also met him at Belden. Friends!

We arrived at the store for our box a half hour before closing. We ordered a burger and hot dog. It was the best burger Jason ever had. He tried to remove his exhaustion and hunger from the equation, and yeah, it was a really, really good burger. If you ever accidentally find yourself in Sierra City (nobody goes there on purpose), get the burger.

We stayed the night at the hotel across the street. Unfortunately, the laundry machine was broken. It’ll be another few days before we can feel clean clothes again. Something about putting on our dirty hiking clothes after taking a shower tends to negate the effect of the shower. (The shower still feels great, no doubt.) Chores in the morning and a half day of hiking is the plan.