July 24-25: After 3 days of looking at the mountain, I arrived at the town of Mt Shasta. Many hikers (including myself) had been looking forward to Mt. Shasta because it was the first sizable town since Lake Tahoe. Which meant amenities like an outfitter to upgrade gear, good restaurants, cell service, a decent grocery store. For me, it meant new shoes!
Mt. Shasta was also nice in the fact that it wasn't filled with the meth-tweakers, but instead with earthy-crunchy mellow, dreadlocked, bongo playing, tie dye wearing, shower eschewing, bare-foot yogis. Lots of crystal shops and cannabis clinics around. It was hard telling the locals from the thru-hikers!
Mt. Shasta was also nice in the fact that it wasn't filled with the meth-tweakers, but instead with earthy-crunchy mellow, dreadlocked, bongo playing, tie dye wearing, shower eschewing, bare-foot yogis. Lots of crystal shops and cannabis clinics around. It was hard telling the locals from the thru-hikers!
My Merrells had lasted me since Kennedy Meadows, at the start of the sierras-- about 800 miles! And they still looked good from the top. But the bottoms didn't feel good. My feet had been aching for about 2 weeks and it was time for new shoes. The outfitter was filled with thru-hikers and it became like the water cooler at an office-- we were all standing around,showing each other our new purchases, comparing notes on the trail, and catching up with people we hadn't seen in a while. The same happened at the laundromat. And the pizza place. And the movie theater (It was really hot in Mt. Shasta, and the movie theater was air conditioned. And playing Ant Man)
I ate at a great Mexican restaurant my second night there and ran into Hot Shot with her mom. I was surprised. Hot Shot, in addition to being a wilderness firefighter, was almost 6 feet tall. I figured she' have blown past me a while back and I'd never see her again. Turns out, Hot Shot had been having some shin splints and foot problems and she had made the decision to get off the trail at Mt. Shasta. Quite a bummer, but probably the best decision for her.
I ate at a great Mexican restaurant my second night there and ran into Hot Shot with her mom. I was surprised. Hot Shot, in addition to being a wilderness firefighter, was almost 6 feet tall. I figured she' have blown past me a while back and I'd never see her again. Turns out, Hot Shot had been having some shin splints and foot problems and she had made the decision to get off the trail at Mt. Shasta. Quite a bummer, but probably the best decision for her.
Oh, and did I mention that when we asked for the bill, we were told that another patron at the restaurant had paid for our meal. Mt Shasta was filled with trail angels!
Its nice to take a zero in a comfortable town, a town you feel good walking around in. A town where you can browse in bookstores and listen to street musicians and join in on a free yoga class in a park. Mt Shasta was like that. And unlike the last town I unexpectedly zeroed in, Mt Shasta left me feeling rested and serene, not wired and jumpy. Which really is the purpose of a zero day!
Peace, love, and trail magic!
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