Day 76 – Mile 1582.2 – 1600.8

Tentsite (2) to Etna

Just 18.6miles to go to town. I’d hoped the trail would be as ‘cruisey’ as the day into Mt Shasta, my hopes were dashed.

The usual alarm & leave camp times. The trail started off relatively easily despite being uphill. I only had 1 litre of water left so finding the next source was high on my priority list. After I went through a very green and damp grassy meadow section (4.4miles) I realised the water source on the map was ‘off-trail’ & reports of water dripping from a pipe didn’t appeal to me so I carried on. Just another 1.8miles to a stream crossing the trail hit the brief.

Now the trail got really rocky, and it started to steeply climb the side of a mountain. There were a few blowdowns here but after I crested the ridge I entered an area where the forest fire had happened 3 or 4 years ago and Manzanita bushes had started to get established the blowdowns here were every 5 or 6 paces. Tough times. I somehow still managed to do ‘10 by 10’.

A couple of hours later I reached ‘Paynes Lake’ a beautiful spot at about 2,000m elevation. I decided to stop for lunch here and filter the water that would last me the rest of the day. ‘Min’ caught up with me at this point and had lunch too, but he also went for a swim in the lake.

I decided to keep going keen to get to town and start relaxing properly (knowing I had no more hiking). Just 5.6miles to go, but half steeply uphill & half steeply downhill. As I reached the high point of the ascent I was greeted by the most incredible view of ‘Smith Lake’ a just reward for my efforts.

I reached the road at about 2pm. I waited until 2:20 for the first car to approach and stuck out my thumb. Luckily it stopped and a very friendly couple drove me the 10miles steeply down the road to Etna.

I checked into my hotel room with a pint tub of Ben & Jerry’s ‘Chunky Monkey’ ice cream and polished the whole thing off in no time. Shower & laundry next all under the same roof. I checked out the supermarket, just to see what supplies they had. (I think resupply will be difficult here, I might have to be creative)

For dinner I went to the ‘Etna Brewing Co’ and had a burger and 3 pints. I didn’t have to walk very far back to my hotel room and bed. Looking forward to a ‘zero’ tomorrow.

Water filtered: 239.0 litres

PCT Miles hiked today: 18.6

Nights under canvas current streak: 0

Max streak: 18

Total nights under canvas: 62

Showers: 17

Trail Magic: 11

Thought for the day: “If it’s endurable, then endure it. Stop complaining.” – Marcus Aurelius