Mt. Shasta to Etna

I’ve been hiking with fellow Boise resident Sloth, and we’ve been continuing to rack up the miles since Burney Falls State Park. Smoke from the Dixie fire has been an intermittent issue, but air quality should be improving as we reach the Oregon border. The Bootleg fire remains very large and active, but the trail runs west of it and for now, out of the smoke.

Northern California continues to follow the pattern of sharp descents into trail towns, with equally sharp climbs out. Of course, now your pack feels twice as heavy now that you’ve resupplied. There’s a special kind of lethargy we all feel leaving a good trail town that’s difficult to shake off. I’ll need to ponder on a good name for it.

Animal encounters:

Somehow I have lived my entire life in absence of blackberry pie milkshakes. The emptiness of my past life now consumes me.

The town of Etna is a special kind of genius. Not only do they have pie milkshakes, but they also have a combined BBQ and brewery. I may need to move here someday. Regardless, I’m here until I can pick up my new shoes at the post office tomorrow.

Trail vocabulary:

Muggles (noun)-day hikers oblivious to the magic of through hiking. Readily identified by their clean clothing and detergent fresh scent.

Oregon, I’m coming for ya…