2MoreMiles…

Day 110: (10 miles)
mile 1522 – 1532

Today did not start as planned, as there was a repeat of Subway Cave.  This is NOT good.  Decision time.  Go back down the hill and see a doctor.  Stay at our current site for the day to see if this will pass.  Brush it off to the mocha and the heat and move on.  Those of you who know us probably figured what we did.  Brush it off of course!  My stomach is probably raw from the antibiotics… It will pass.  Three miles later, I have to stop as I have zero energy.  We take a break. I sleep for several hours.  At 4 pm, we decide to stay the night here until we realize we do not have the water we thought we did.  The next water is 9 miles. Awesome.  We pack up and begin to walk.  I feel a little better, but still not 100%. The air is cooler and will continue to cool as we hike.  We are betting that there will be good water before we walk the 9 miles as we have come across countless springs running across the trail.  Four miles in we come across a sign for a spring 1/3 mile from the trail.  Paul goes to check it out.  I take a seat to conserve energy.  Paul returns empty handed as the spring was more like a collection of bug infested cess pools.  Below us we pass several lakes, mocking us with their vast supply of easily filtered water, and no access.  If we were not on a mission for water and I had felt better, we would have stopped to admire the scenery.  I had decided in my mind that if the mountain bikers that we saw this morning on the PCT (they’re not allowed) came by us, I would yogi their water for passage on the trail.  Alas, they did not come by.  I was kind of looking forward to lighting those guys up. Seven miles in we get to a road and it’s getting dark, like headlights needed dark.  I have been on autopilot for three hours now.  Paul spies a sign nailed to a tree by the road and goes to check it out.  Spring, it says, .10 miles.  Should we check it out?  Paul heads down the steep side trail and says he’ll whistle if there’s water. A few minutes go by as I dig out my headlamp.  The sharp shrill of Paul’s whistle pierces the air.  He whistles again.  I acknowledge him by whistling back and begin down the trail.  Halfway down the trail I see Paul’s headlamp.  He tells me to drop my pack and just bring the water bottles.  Once to the spring, we drink freely. It’s icy cold flowing directly from a piece of angle iron piercing the rock from which the water is flowing.  Giant moths attack our headlamps…and we thought mosquitoes were bad.  We climb in the darkness back up the trail to the road.  We decide to pitch camp on a side spur where it appears others have set up before.  I still have the runs, but am now fully hydrated and am able to choke down a little food.  Amazingly I feel better than when I started this morning.  Hmm, probably it was dehydration, heat exhaustion of sorts from yesterday.  Tomorrow should be better.  Meanwhile poor Donna is ahead of us with a practically dead phone.  She had texted me when we were in Shasta City and asked if I could pick up a new data/charging cable for her iPhone 5s.  Unfortunately we were behind her…still and because I’ve been feeling not so good, haven’t been able to catch her.  I text her that we’re at mile 1530 and should catch up tomorrow, in hopes she still has a little power left. 

Mt. Shasta Inn & Suites

Day 108: town miles

Awoke to the sound of rain today. Awesome.  We lucked out again! Glad to be in the hotel. Too bad it was only 6:30 am. Oh well we can’t seem to sleep in any more so up we go. Breakfast with real coffee and laundry are on top of the agenda today. We find both located nearly next door to each other so in with the wash and in to the cafe. We don’t look too strange wearing our only clean clothes – rain gear. We still get some looks because it’s 95 degrees outside and no one is in long pants or jackets. So much for being incognito. After our morning chores Paul gets new shorts and shoes he desperately needed at the local hiking store. We spend most of the day looking through our resupply box and watching TV. Staying off our feet is priority. Dinner will be at the Goat Tavern where the beer and hamburgers are highly recommended.

Day 107: (24.3 miles)
mile 1481.4 – 1505.7

We started strong today knowing there would be a long climb but also a chance to make it to town. The  trail was thick and over grown with spots of poison oak to dodge. We hurried along and made good time to the 10 mile morning break location of Fitzhugh Gulch Creek.

We gathered water and rested because we had 5 mile climb. An Asian woman with sandals, painted toe nails and a large camera approached us. We were all very surprised to see her and asked her where had she come from? She told us that there was a parking lot just a few hundred yards away. She asked us where we had come from and was equally surprised when we said Mexico. Not having any idea we were so close to civilization, we all laughed after she left, and Paul said she was so clean he thought she had parachuted in. After a long break everyone moaned and groaned to get started again and start the climb.

The trail was well maintained and lined with oaks. Reaching the top in a couple of hours, sweating profusely we marched on to get to the water at Trough Creek.  Along the way Maureen, a section hiker, joined the search. She was on the last day of her 500 mile journey. She had finished a1000 miles the past several years and this was her longest section yet. We remember seeing her hitching in to Chester 200 miles ago but hadn’t really talked with her. We were the same age and we compared our trail experiences and found we had many similar observations. I can’t share them all because there were many, but this one we all thought was rather funny. We noticed being older, the young hikers always tell you there trail names and qualify it with “but my real name is ….” As we got to know Maureen, Paul found they had many family things in common. Mostly growing up in a very large family. Paul is one of ten and Maureen one of fifteen. They shared many similar stories and talked for miles. This was great because it kept me entertained distracting me from the pain in my feet.

We hit the 1500 mile mark, stop briefly for a picture and onto Trough Creek. Maybe we’ll camp there.  Once at Trough Creek we realize there are no places to camp.  Must be a sign to push on to town.  Soon we could hear the sounds of cars on the freeway, our destination. The last five miles seemed to go by quickly. 24 miles in all today! We exited the trail where a trail angel, “Vinnie”, had posted a sign stating to call him for quick pick up and transport to Shasta City.

Maureen was so grateful because she hates to hitch and a possible ride from a family friend had fallen through. We were picked up in 5 minutes and on the way to town. We dropped Maureen off at her hotel and said our good byes. “Good bye # 12”, we called, as we had trail named her, for she is #12 in line in her family. Only Paul, who is # 8 would understand that. Vinnie took us into Shasta City, gave us a quick tour and recommended we dine at an Italian restaurant, Mike and Tony’s.  We find a room at Mt. Shasta Inn and Suites.  It’s a little pricey, but we don’t care as the Best Western was full and the other motel close to downtown was as well.  We quickly clean up so as to get to Mike and Tony’s before it closes.  We walk into the bar and are the only ones there. The place oozes atmosphere.  A long dark wood bar, backed with a massive mirror and showcased booze.  Classic booths and perfect lighting.  Through those doors you transition from the new age, magic crystal vibe of Shasta City to downtown New Jersey or Long Island.  You felt like you were in a restaurant scene from the sopranos or the Godfather.  The food was equally endearing, as was the service.  When we arrived, the kitchen was about to close so we ordered quickly, but were treated and served as if there was all the time in the world.  Delightful.

Update on Donna.

Donna didn’t get as far as us today (although she is quite the trooper to jump in and keep up with us like she did). She ended camping with two gals she ran into looking for a campsite and actually knew from Auburn.  How cool is that? The world shrinks.

Castle Crags

Day 109: (17.2 miles)
mole 1505.4 – 1522.6

Up early as usual and out the door. The plan was to get a large coffee at the coffee house and hitch a ride to the trail head. Being early morning the traffic is high, even for this small town. However, two other hikers are at the freeway entrance hitching. They tell us they have been there for over an hour with no luck and we know this isn’t going to work. Remembering I heard about a possible bus I quickly went to work on my phone.  Yes, there was a bus in twenty minutes in front of the shopping center, $ 2.50. We made a quick walk and were on the bus headed for Castle Crags.

The bus driver, Michelle (he’s French), thinks the best he can do is get us with in a mile of the trailhead. Along the way Paul tells Michelle about our journey and they have an in depth conversation. I tell the two hikers that are on the bus with us, don’t worry Paul will get him to drop us off at the trailhead. Sure enough, Michelle detours the bus two miles farther down the highway to the trailhead. Thanks Michelle!! Today the trail climbs through  the Castle Crags State Park about 3200 ft. It’s hot… 90 something degrees, windless, and worse yet, I’m sick again. The past few days I felt good. I finish the ten day antibiotic for the big “G” tomorrow. However, apparently dairy products don’t mix with the G, and for coffee, I drank a large iced mocha.  My favorite, but maybe just a little too much dairy too soon. Now I’m paying for it…All Day!  My stomach is twisting and turning and the heat is awful. Needless to say I made a slow go of this climb. Our goal was to do 20 miles before camping. I could only get to mile 17. I tried to eat a little dinner, but still feel like crap. Did I mention it was hotter than crap.  In fact it was a trifecta of crap. Feeling crappy, hotter than crap and a crappy day-long uphill climb reminiscent of Belden.  Crap!  I hope tomorrow I’ll feel good again, and it’s just the heat.

Tiger lillies line parts of the trail

Day 106: (20 miles)
mile 1461.4 – 1481.4

Today we are trying for big miles so as to set ourselves up for a morning climb tomorrow rather than a late afternoon one in searing heat. The heat is once again stifling.  I’m not sure whether I am still sick or it’s just the heat. I’m still taking the antibiotics, but am not improving as I had hoped.  80% has dropped to 70% energy levels now.  Donna is feeling the heat as well.  Paul is relatively unaffected.  We reach Ash camp where Ash creek and the McCloud river collide and take a swim.  The McCloud was milky brown, as they must have just done a release from the dam above, but Ash creek was crystal clear.  We wait out the heat of the day and ponder how many more miles to push for…8 or 10?  Its up hill, sorta. We begin the push. 

Along the way we run into Ms. Frizzle who is heading southbound.  She had hitched up to Castella to watch the World Cup final with friends and was going to Old Station where she’ll hitch back up to Castella and head northbound again.  We ask her two things: Who won the World Cup and any campsites up ahead?  She tells us Germany won in OT, and about 2-3 miles are “campsites”.  Excellent, as we favored Germany and I’m bushed and not sure I can push anymore.  Paul on the other hand is like the energizer bunny.  He keeps going and going. We finally come to an abandoned road spur that will settle for campsites.  We made 6 of the 10 we had intended.

Day 105: ( 20 miles)
mile 1441.44 – 1461.44

We awake to a cool morning.  It appears that we chose our campsite location well, for if we had gone another 100 feet we would already be baking in the heat of the sun.  Since we had Donna ditch her water bladder in favor of two plastic liter bottles, and her pack design did not allow for her easy access or grasp of the bottles, so all yesterday I had to fetch her water for her.  Today she will be self sufficient as we came up with a rigging system for frontal water access.

It’s amazing what one can do with a spare shoelace, duct tape and a carabiner…good to go!  Off we tread. I’m feeling so, so, but better than two days ago. 

Today we walk a ridgeline and have a peek at Mt. Shasta. The trail weaves through stark logged area and lush forest.  Today I see the largest buck ever, and wonder what hunting zone this would be.  The scenery is picturesque. 

The signage for the PCT strikes us as unique but effective. As it is stifling hot, we guzzle hungrily at every new water source.  We had planned to water up at the last source (Alder creek) and hike another 2 more miles, but by the time we located, collected and filtered the water we were running out of daylight and frankly energy so we pitched camp on the dirt road leading to the “creek”.  Once fully set up, I walked up the road further back toward the trail we had come in on and saw “No Trespassing ” signs hammered high on a tree leading to where we had camped. 

Awesome…we are criminals now.  I announce our infraction to Paul and Donna.  Their response…oh well, and go back to prepping dinner.  Before we crawl into our tents we hear loud “Chewbacca” noises. Sasquatch? Bear? Grouse? Squirrel on steroids? Seeing as it appears to be coming from the bushes and then up in the tree limbs, we think it might be grouse.  Once we have WiFi we’ll google the noise.  Hope we are right.  This theory however does not keep us from waking up with a start to loud crashing noises in the woods on either side of us. The “Chewbacca” sounds go on most of the night.   By morning we thankfully, have not been attacked but have decided that the next time we hear that sound we will seek out it’s source and bonk it on the head so we can get some sleep!

Day 104: (17.8 miles)
mile 1423.6 – 1441.44

Alarm goes off and I assess how I’m feeling.  I’m not particularly hungry but I choke down an apple pie and a chocolate protein drink.  Seeing as both stayed put and I don’t feel any worse, we pack up.  Today, my friend from work, and fly fishing, is joining us for a portion of the trail, and may go on her own for a section.  Two days before, whilst I reclined on the couch sipping Ginger ale, we went through her pack.  By the time we were done, her pack weighed at least 5lbs less.  While appreciative, she was reluctant to let some things go but did in the end, with the exception of her camp chair.  All dressed up and ready to go we headed out to the trail.  I guess we will find out in a few miles or so if this was a good idea.  I lead and set a pace I’m comfortable with.  I don’t feel bad but I definitely don’t feel 100%, more like 70%.  It’s hot and when we break for lunch I have no urge to eat, but I make sure I hydrate. 

The terrain is easy on the feet and relatively easy with some mild climbs for which I am happy.  It was mostly uneventful with the exception of two things. #1- we saw Neef, a Swedish thru-hiker early on the trail heading in our direction.  He looked like $#:!  We pointed out the obvious that he was going the wrong way, and his response was a look of get the “F” out of my way.  I asked, Giardia? “Yes”, he replied, eyes vacant and face ashen.  Make sure you get antibiotics and see a doctor when you get to town, I say.  “Yes”, he replies as he moves quickly down the trail.  Later when we stop for a break we all remark that each of us was thinking, ‘one of us should go with him to make sure he makes it into town’, but each of us had failed to communicate that to each other…lesson learned (he made it safely we heard…phew!). #2 – Donna earned herself a trail name, “Timber”, as she somehow tripped over a small rock during a flat section and took a hard fall.  Her impact with mother earth was like that of a felled tree.  Not sure she’s “happy” with the name though.  Finally someone as clumsy as me!  We ended the day by a spring, as I was bushed and could go no further. 17.8 miles on day three of antibiotics for Giardia, not bad I suppose.  It’s everything I can do though to choke down some food to replace at least some of the calories I’ve burned today.

Burney Falls

Day 103:

I awoke to drool factor 10 and had a cup of tea, then more Ginger ale.  I figured Paul would make it into Burney Falls State Park near around 9 or 10.  I went looking for him around 10 by the park store. A few thru-hikers were there but hadn’t seen him.  They told me about the Bird Spring cache and thought maybe he got waylaid there.  They said the cache was incredible…beer, soda, icy cold water a picnic table, stove plus food.  Figures I miss that one too.  I mutter aloud that if i had WiFi id be able to locate where Paul is exactly, via the Delorme. One of the hikers tells us that you get free WiFi at the visitors center.  Now why didn’t we know that.  We go to visitor’s center. Per the Delorme locator he should be just before Hwy 299.  We decide to drive over there thinking maybe we can catch him before he enters the park.  No such luck.  We go a couple miles down the road and find cell service.  I now see the text from Paul to pick him up at 8pm at Hwy 299…last night. Uh oh!  I now begin to worry a bit.  Where is he. I text him. ‘Where are you?.’ No reply.  Hmm. Maybe he thought we were supposed to meet in Burney (the town).  We drive down the road looking for him. No Paul.  We get to town and check the usual places…McDonalds, Pizza place, Safeway.  Still no Paul.  Well at least at Safeway we pick up a Coke and bag of chips for him and more Ginger Ale for me.  We figure once we find him, we’ll come back for our resupply shopping, and maybe a pizza.  By now the antibiotics are in full effect and I am feeling somewhat human.  Paul responds to my text of ‘where are you?’, “hiking”.  Not real helpful.  Looking at the locator shows he real close to the park. We race back and look for him.  No other hikers or the entrance station has seen him.  Now I’m really worried. It’s super hot, and maybe Paul is sick now. We decide to walk over the hike and bike campsites where they direct the thru-hikers and look for him there.  If our Delorme was set for 10 minute tracking we would have located him sooner, but to save the battery we have it set at 2 hours.  We see him near the kiosk and call to him.  He is pissed, especially because I didn’t respond to his text last night and he couldn’t get ahold of me.  Turns out that he hitched into town, around 8pm, ate pizza, drank beer, got a motel room, did laundry and shopped for his resupply. When we were looking for him in town we had actually passed each other on the road as he had hitched back to the trail. Lessons learned. Stick to the plan, and make sure we all know the specifics of the plan, and countermeasures for variables. 

Paul tells us of a father and son he met who are on a cross country adventure to surprise the father’s older brother who is hiking the trail.  They had narrowed it down to 20 miles.  They were looking for “Bird food”. 

When we drove back into town for dinner, we stopped to take a picture of a sign on the trail.  The father and son were waiting there and had decided to set up camp at that junction.  While we were talking, I spied a hiker heading our way who looked similar to the man standing in front of me.  ‘Look there, is that him?’, I pointed out.  Why yes it was!  How cool it was to be there at their reunion and to be able to capture it for them.  They had driven cross country from Georgia, and their plan worked!

Today started extra early but not for the reasons it had previous mornings. As I’ve posted for the past week or so my stomach has been acting strange. Around 3 am I awoke with some severe stomach cramps and feeling nauseous. Out into the darkness I went before something bad could happen. As Paul described it, “you were grunting and then growling like a bear”. I didn’t find this very funny at the time because I felt  awful…and frankly he’s lucky I made it out of the tent.  However, he was right. I was sick and it was coming out both ends. We both knew what this was “Giardia”, a wonderfully sneaky bacteria that comes from contaminated water that can be found in lakes and streams…or  “carnies”  that don’t wash their damn hands when they prepare your food, and/or fail to wash lettuce.  We have been filtering, “most” of the time. This condition occurs on the trail and sadly is not uncommon, so we had our doctor prescribe the antibiotic for it before we left home. We discussed my condition and decided to start on the medicine immediately. Over the past week several other hikers have left the trail practically crawling with the illness. At 7am I looked up info on my phone and found that one can have mild symptoms without knowing they are infected. However, if you consume diary products you can have a lactose intolerance reaction and have severe symptoms. Yesterday at Old Station I had a large bowl of ice cream and afterwards felt ill. I’m certain I am infected. Fortunately, if I can say that, my friend Donna is meeting us in Burney to join us for a few days on the trail. 911 to Donna and she’s on her way to rescue me.  We decide Paul should hike on. There’s nothing he can do for me. I would rather be left alone anyway. We will meet in Burney in two days, 35 miles. Paul sets off at 8am. “I’ll see you in two days”, he says, and he’s off.  I’m okay with him hiking on as I am seriously miserable and his attempt at cheering me up with humorous remarks is NOT helping. I sit at the picnic tables at Subway Cave close to the restroom which I’m frequenting more often than I prefer.  This sucks!  It’s a perfect day to hike Hat Creek Rim, a searing hot, powder dry, waterless stretch of trail that is rich however, with trail magic, of which I will miss…plus it’s overcast and rainy, another plus.  I wait for Donna to rescue me.  She reminds me via text that I’m not allowed to puke in her car.  I respond that that particular issue is not the problem at the moment.  I sip water with a mix of electrolytes and choke down a saltine cracker or two (if I’m gonna continue to puke I’d like something I’m not really fond of to come up).

I lay on my spread of Tyvex and Zrest pad staring at the sky as it drizzles upon my ashen face.  The day use visitors to Subway Cave avoid me like the plague that I am.  Needless to say, I am not a happy camper.  Donna picks me up just after mid day.  My phone is practically dead (down to 4% charge) when she arrives.  By now movement inside my body has quieted.  I feel fairly confident Donna’s car is safe.  We take a run into Burney for some lunch for Donna at the Safeway and some ginger ale and peppermint tea for me.  Donna is a consummate “smart ass” and the jokes where Paul left off continue.  I love my friends.  Once shopping is done we head into Burney Falls State Park, where Donna used to work and has reserved a cabin for us.  What I don’t know and/or realize is that I will have no cell service.  Prior to getting to the park, I get a text from Paul to go to the look out at mile 1384 off Hwy 44.  We make the detour to see what Paul is texting about.  I get out and take a couple of pictures but can’t even remotely appreciate the view.  Back in the car and to the cabin we go.  Paul now texts, “just got a root beer float”.  Darn, I reply.  However by this time I am apparently without cell service.  When we get to the cabin I immediately crash on the uncomfortable futon bed and sleep in the stifling heat till nearly dark. I awake and sip on ginger ale, while reclined on the short couch I have migrated to and ” help” Donna remove at least 5 lbs of “essentials” she doesn’t need…then back to sleep…drooling on the futon.

All right! I finally get a chance to write about what’s really going on. I leave 1Speed at Subway Cave not feeling well, but there are miles to hike. She has the phone and I have the Delorme Inreach so we can communicate. I won’t have the GPS so I have to rely  on maps. Today is a long stretch that is mostly flat, shadeless, and will be hot. The morning is overcast and muggy. 1Speed almost always leads and we travel at her speed. It’s strange hiking at my speed and I’m not sure how fast I’ll be able to go. This stretch is also water less for the first 17 miles so I’m carrying three liters of water.

Viewpoint at mile 1348

After a short 2 mile climb the trail flattened out on top of a mesa area which had been logged years ago. I can see Mt. Lassen in the distance on my left with very little snow. After 5 1/2 hours I reach the the water cache at mile 1498. Located in some tall pine trees with plastic chairs is about 50 – 1 gallon bottles of water. I refilled my water bottles and relax. Below is a road and I heard a man yell to me to come down and get a “milkshake “. I acknowledge I’m interested and on my way. As I was lifting my pack I couldn’t help but think this is weird, or a mean trick. Where the trail met the dirt road, a camper was parked along side the road. I met a smiling, happy, older man in a skirt.  ” Hi my name is Coppertone”. We fist bump, which is hiker style of handshaking so not to pass on germs. I tell him I’m “Just Paul”.  He laughs, which is the normal reaction to my trail name. What?? I explain that I’m also 2moremiles and that 1speed is down with what we think is Giardia. He tells me he has been traveling the trail and hikers the past 200 miles have left the trail sick with Giardia. He makes me a root beer float, which is refreshing beyond belief. In my head I’m doing the math – miles divided by hours and think I can make it to Burney 17 more miles. A quick goodbye to Coppertone and I’m racing down the trail. 10 miles later I break to text 1Speed. Its only 4: 30 I’m tired but have enough left to do the remaining 7 miles. Most of the remaining trail is flat or down hill. As I approach the highway I’ve yet to hear from 1Speed and begin to think of plan “B”. Hungry, thirsty, and tired I try one last time to make contact but no success.  I decided to hitch to Burney and catch a ride after about ten minutes. Mike, a local from Burney takes me to the local pizza restaurant. Now when hiker hunger takes over you can’t quick enough or get enough to eat. I order a large pizza, pitcher of beer, one plate and one glass. The young girl behind the counter stood motionless staring at me like ” really ?” I paid the bill and sat at my table with my  #12 boldly displayed on the table. She delivered the pizza and beer together and I inhaled it all in record time. After a 35 mile day this wasn’t hard to do. Just for affect, I placed the empty pizza pan and pitcher on the counter and wished the young girl a good night. She stood dumb found, expressionless and made no comment. Still no 1Speed, and now to find a hotel and sleep.

Day 101: (21 miles)
mile 1261.86 – 1282

After a pleasant night on the shore of Twin Lake we pack up and hike on to Old Station with cold drinks in mind. Lately my stomachs been a little rumbly and I’m looking forward to drinking something fizzy besides E-mergen Cs.  The trail is relatively flat and soft on the feet. 

We walk through mostly burn area with little to no cover at first.  We know its going to be hot and have plenty of water in order to stay properly hydrated.  Soft turns to deep sand and powdery silt which seeps into our shoes depositing a thin layer of dirt on our feet as we walk.  We know our feet and calves will require a rinsing before bed, and we will have to violently shake out our socks to reduce the amount of silt they have collected. We discover a spring not mentioned by Half mile or Yogi, but is signed on the trail as we enter Lassen National Forest.  We walk through groves of trees that dirt roads crisscross separating the trees almost into city blocks.  We take a side road with a wooden sign indicating water “this way”.  We hope it leads to trail magic, but it does not, only to the river sooner than if we had continued on the PCT.  Once at the river we take a break, hydrate, soak our feet and have some lunch.  Old Station is only a few miles away.  The PCT crosses several dirt roads and borders some campsites.  We pass by some campers set up with their colorful tow behind trailer facing the PCT.  They holler, ” you hiker trash?” as we pass within 50 feet of them.  We acknowledge that we are.  They say something inaudible to us, and we reply that we are headed to Old Station for cold drinks and continue on, as our “Spidey” senses were tingling.  We strongly suspect they we engaged in an entrepreneurial enterprise, based on their location to the trail, design on their trailer, tye-dye attire and frankly their choice of beer.  We make it to Old Station and it is hotter than a stack of black cats.  Pedi and Hashtag are in front of the store trying to hitch to a cafe called JJ’s before it closes, with apparently no luck.  We plop our stuff down at the picnic tables and go in for something cold to drink.  This stop will be awhile as this is the only opportunity we have to recharge the phone and at least one other battery stick.  This is okay as we have made good time and it is really much too hot to hike as it is…it’s in the high 90’s at minimum.  Pedi and Hashtag give up trying to hitch and go inside the store for burgers. Several other hikers we’ve been leap frogging lately arrive, Fence and Pinwheel.  Free-refill, a 26 year old German guy pedals up on a bike.  He is staying at Old Station for a few days till his birthday and World Cup Soccer is over (and Germany wins).  This is Free-refill’s second attempt to thru-hike the PCT.  He tried seven years ago but got snowed out just 200 miles from the finish.  I think I would have been good with that, but he said he started too late and took too many zeros which caused him to get caught in the snow towards the middle of October.  Once our phone is sufficiently charged and we have completed necessary phone calls, and consumed enough cold food (to include over a quart of ice cream), as well as a cold shower (two SOBO girls at Drakesbad gave us the shower code), we headed off to Subway cave for our last resupply of water before the 35 mile waterless stretch of the Hat Creek Rim.  We originally were going to water up and go another 2moremiles, but nixed the idea and decided to tour the cave and stealth camp nearby (water and a restroom). 

While touring the cave we met the Graves family who talked to us about our travels.  They showered us with Pepsi’s and some chips before they continued on their way. 

The cave is an expired lava tube that actually resembles a subway.  It was literally and figuratively pretty cool, so much so, we considered camping in it until we decided it would be too spooky.  We met several other thru-hikers also stealth camped (essentially illegally camped, but hidden) who were going to get going around 330 in the morning to beat the heat. I think 530 is just right, and Paul agreed.  As the night is getting muggy and clouds are gathering, it appears a thundershower may be in order tonight, so even though it’s hot, the rain fly goes on…turns out it was a good idea. We go to sleep hoping the caches we’ve been told about are stocked.