Day 82 & 83: Red Moose or Bust!

(Mile 1170.5 to 1197.5 = 26 miles + hitch, Zero!)

Sunrise from bed!

Well, yesterday we found ourselves 14 miles in by lunch.  We were shocked.  Don't ask, we have no idea how we did it.  We reviewed the maps and the numbers -- there was no mistaking either.  A few shorter breaks, terrain was average ... We stopped asking questions and accepted that we had just kicked some major behind.  And then decided, what the heck, let's push for town tonight!  And so we did.  We hit Sierra City before 7:30 pm and were welcomed into the Red Moose Inn by Margaret and Bob Price.  A hiker insisted on giving us a hitch the last mile, so we rounded out our day at 26 miles.  Our longest yet!  Great encouragement for the big miles planned in Oregon.

We don't catch as many sunrises, but they sure are magical.

What a place, the Red Moose Inn.  Not only is it full of character, coloring books, and secret sewing machines, the two offer free showers and laundry and free camping in their backyard.  They cook breakfast and dinner.  They gave us ice for our feet and spare gallon Ziplocs; fresh towels and accepted our hiker packages.  Use of their laptop for internet and phone for domestic calls.  They fully support thru-hikers.  It is like staying with family.  How people can just open their homes like this to perfect strangers is remarkable to say the least.  And then do it again and again, day after day throughout the hiking season.  Can you imagine?  When they're not doing this, they are gold miners.  Literally.

Has a feel of Grant Wood, I'd say!

It was a wonderful stay.  We couldn't resist a full zero.  Sierra City is what you imagine all mountain towns to be.  One main street with a handful of blocks covered with mining town-looking store fronts, all sandwiched between a ravine and a mountainside.  Quaint and walkable with no stripes down the road ... which somehow lures the woods-savvy hiker to walk IN the road.  We had to remind each other to get out.

PCT hikers love breakfast. And real coffee.

Today was three square meals, laundry, resupply, errands, postcards, icing, and coloring.  It was one of the most relaxing zeros since the Stagecoach nero a few weeks in.  Coloring was the most therapeutic thing I've done all trip.  I was brought back to my childhood, choosing my favorite Crayola crayons and coloring in Precious Moments coloring books.  Testing colors on the front page.  The nine year old in me was very pleased.

Almost halfway! Sierra City. Red Moose Inn.

We head out early tomorrow.  Hilly and hot, covered with poison oak and lurking with rattlers.  Bring it on.

Our first banana slug!  Gumby loved it.

Day 81: It's the Little Things

(Mile 1148.5 to 1170.5 = 22 miles)

Sunrise at 5:45 a.m. You may not see it, but there was a rainbow. :)

Today was a pretty ordinary day.  Average ups and downs, a small pass, creeks, mosquitoes, some really great views ... but it was made better by a few little treats.

Early hikers get the views.

First, there were people!  A small army of trail runners passed us this morning, as well as a group that seemed to be a hiking club -- a club who allows DOGS to go, too! -- and a group of kiddos on some sort of summer camp-ish activity.  They all stopped to ask us about the trail.  This is always a good reminder that we are doing something out of the ordinary.  There were a number of smaller groups of hikers as well.  Regular people always spice things up!  And they smell good.  And wear white.

Castle headstands for Castle Pass!

And then there were the two road crossings today.  Highway 40 (Donner Pass!) and Interstate 80.  And I-80 had a rest stop at the crossing!  We have never been so excited about a rest stop in our lives.  Gumby got all wide-eyed at one point in the morning and turned to me and said, "They'll have outlets!"  She looked like a kid on Christmas.  And outlets they had.  As well as warm running water and flushing toilets.  Alas, no vending machines!  It was the perfect lunch stop.  We looked homeless once again, but we were happy.

The Peter Grubb Hut. What a treat!

The final treat, besides another incredible campsite on a ridge ... and a rainbow this morning! ... was a visit to the Peter Grubb Hut.  It's an on-trail building owned by the Sierra Club for hikers and skiers.  It was great!  Thick and grounded and clean with just enough funky features.  If it hadn't been so early, we would have stayed.  A wonderful little treasure along the trail.  If you're in the area, go and stay for us!

It was spin and span inside; rustic, cozy and inviting. Talk about a dream home!

We are still going a little crazy, but these little things helped us out today.  We'll see what tomorrow brings ... night!

Sunset from camp - solo night trail #2.