July 13: today I would be headed into another town for a resupply. I had ailed the resupply ahead from Lake Tahoe, as the stores were notoriously small in Belden. Despite their small stores, Belden had notoriously large music festivals along the river there and was said to be a great time. Plus there were some local trail angels who hosted hikers at their house which sounded wonderful!
I woke up to a beautiful sunrise in my beautiful camp spot with cell phone coverage- sigh- packed up and was on my way.
I woke up to a beautiful sunrise in my beautiful camp spot with cell phone coverage- sigh- packed up and was on my way.
( I also awoke to a big pile of bear poop near the campsite, but it hadn't tried to get my food, so it was all good)
Hiking in the early morning is my favorite part of the day.
Beautiful sunrises, lots of animals out scurrying around, cool temperatures and bigger miles. It was one of those great mornings.
Hiking in the early morning is my favorite part of the day.
Beautiful sunrises, lots of animals out scurrying around, cool temperatures and bigger miles. It was one of those great mornings.
of course, it then turned into one of those mornings when you are heading into town and it seems to go so slow! The PCT is not only a hiking trail, but an equestrian trail, as well. Which means it is graded for horses. Which subsequently means that when you are dropping in elevation into town, sometimes it takes a ridiculously long time because of the endless long switchbacks. (The AT tended to drop you straight into town with sections of trail so steep it was almost like jumping off a cliff) Neither scenario is ideal.
When I finally reached the end of switchback hell, I found her Belden was not so much a town as a campground with tent spots and rustic cabins priced like luxury hotel rooms. It did have a nice little store and restaurant though. So after sodas and ice cream, I joined Prickly Pear and Baby Eater to hitch to the other campground in town where our packages were
Shower, laundry, resupply box packed up in the backpack, and giant cheeseburgers. Our work in Belden was done.
It seems we hit Belden on the wrong day as there was no music festival, but all the campgrounds were full (and pricy). And the trail Angels had put up a sign at both campgrounds saying they were no longer hosting hikers. Nothing left to do but hit the trail again!
So we headed up switchback hell on the other side (this side had blackberries galore though, so it waster like purgatory) and went until darkness was just starting to fall and we hit a sizable campsite. A bunch of other post Belden hikers arrived after dark and we had ourselves a little camping party! Our own little sleep-rave!
When I finally reached the end of switchback hell, I found her Belden was not so much a town as a campground with tent spots and rustic cabins priced like luxury hotel rooms. It did have a nice little store and restaurant though. So after sodas and ice cream, I joined Prickly Pear and Baby Eater to hitch to the other campground in town where our packages were
Shower, laundry, resupply box packed up in the backpack, and giant cheeseburgers. Our work in Belden was done.
It seems we hit Belden on the wrong day as there was no music festival, but all the campgrounds were full (and pricy). And the trail Angels had put up a sign at both campgrounds saying they were no longer hosting hikers. Nothing left to do but hit the trail again!
So we headed up switchback hell on the other side (this side had blackberries galore though, so it waster like purgatory) and went until darkness was just starting to fall and we hit a sizable campsite. A bunch of other post Belden hikers arrived after dark and we had ourselves a little camping party! Our own little sleep-rave!
peace, love, and trail magic!
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