Campsite at mile 1295.47 to Carter Meadows trail junction

Mile 1315.52 

Got up this morning and finished the climb out of Belden. Then hiked up and down for the rest of the day. 

Camping tonight at about 6600 feet in elevation and the temperature is very nice for sleeping. 

Lots of downed trees again today, fire damaged and beetle damage.

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2021 Update:

Got up this morning and finished the climb out of Belden. Then hiked up and down for the rest of the day. 

Camping tonight at about 6600 feet in elevation and the temperature is very nice for sleeping. 

Lots of downed trees again today, fire damaged and beetle damage.

Photos from Today: https://www.b-photo.com/Travel/PCT-2016-Day-by-Day/August/August-6/

Mighty Mouse's blog for today: http://www.timandgerri.com/blog---2016/day-109-6-august-mile-129547-131551

Belden to Campsite at mile 1295.47

Started off the day in Portola organizing food for the next section of hiking. Then went to the laundromat to wash clothes and while they were washing went around the corner to a diner for breakfast. 

The chores done, Tim drove Share Bear, Mighty Mouse and myself back to Belden to start our hike for the day, up the other side of the valley that we descended yesterday. 

The climb started out hot and sunny, and stayed that way for quite a while. We ascended past old burnt tree trunks that gave evidence that at some time in the past the mountain slope had plenty of big shade giving trees, but those won't be back anytime soon. 

Eventually the trail reached unburned forest and things cooled off a bit. We ended up doing about 11 miles, which was good for starting a challenging uphill hike at around 2 in the afternoon. 

It is nice and cool tonight, good for sleeping. A couple owls are serenading us.

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2021 Update:

Started off the day in Portola organizing food for the next section of hiking. Then went to the laundromat to wash clothes and while they were washing went around the corner to a diner for breakfast. 

The chores done, Tim drove Share Bear, Mighty Mouse and myself back to Belden to start our hike for the day, up the other side of the valley that we descended yesterday. 

The climb started out hot and sunny, and stayed that way for quite a while. We ascended past old burnt tree trunks that gave evidence that at some time in the past the mountain slope had plenty of big shade giving trees, but those won't be back anytime soon. 

Eventually the trail reached unburned forest and things cooled off a bit. We ended up doing about 11 miles, which was good for starting a challenging uphill hike at around 2 in the afternoon. 

It is nice and cool tonight, good for sleeping. A couple owls are serenading us.

Photos from today: https://www.b-photo.com/Travel/PCT-2016-Day-by-Day/August/August-5/

Mighty Mouse's blog for today: http://www.timandgerri.com/blog---2016/day-108-5-august-mile-128429-129547

Paved Bucks Lake Road to Belden

Camped last night near a road, and Tim met us in the morning and took most of our gear so we could slack pack the 20 miles to Belden. Two other hikers took Tim's offer of a slack pack, so Pogo and Painter also got to enjoy walking with light packs. 

The hiking was quite easy today until the last seven miles, which is where the trail drops about 4000 feet in elevation, which is hard on the feet and knees. 

Tim picked us up in Belden, which is a small resort that normally hikers stay at, but which is currently booked up for a wedding. We went back to Portola where Tim has been staying for a few nights. Had a good meal on the way to Portola in Quincy.

Video: Slackpacking!

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2021 Update:

Camped last night near a road, and Tim met us in the morning and took most of our gear so we could slack pack the 20 miles to Belden. Two other hikers took Tim's offer of a slack pack, so Pogo and Painter also got to enjoy walking with light packs. 

The hiking was quite easy today until the last seven miles, which is where the trail drops about 4000 feet in elevation, which is hard on the feet and knees. 

Tim picked us up in Belden, which is a small resort that normally hikers stay at, but which is currently booked up for a wedding. We went back to Portola where Tim has been staying for a few nights. Had a good meal on the way to Portola in Quincy.

Photos from today: https://www.b-photo.com/Travel/PCT-2016-Day-by-Day/August/August-4/

Mighty Mouse's blog for today: http://www.timandgerri.com/blog---2016/day-107-4-august-mile-126547-128429

Unpaved road 23N65YB to Paved Bucks Lake Road

Packed up in the morning and set out to do the twenty miles to our next planned stop, which is setting up twenty miles for tomorrow. 

The trail seems to be getting a feeling of all the same and more of the same. We hike through pine forests and oak forests and some clearings and up hills and down hills. Of course, sometimes the climbs are gaining or losing a couple thousand feet, but it is feeling like a rinse/repeat sort of thing. 

There are occasionally some of the giant old growth trees, which are very impressive, especially when compared to their smaller neighbors.

-----------------

2021 Update:

Packed up in the morning and set out to do the twenty miles to our next planned stop, which is setting up twenty miles for tomorrow. 

The trail seems to be getting a feeling of all the same and more of the same. We hike through pine forests and oak forests and some clearings and up hills and down hills. Of course, sometimes the climbs are gaining or losing a couple thousand feet, but it is feeling like a rinse/repeat sort of thing. 

There are occasionally some of the giant old growth trees, which are very impressive, especially when compared to their smaller neighbors.

Photos from today: https://www.b-photo.com/Travel/PCT-2016-Day-by-Day/August/August-3/

Mighty Mouse's blog for today: http://www.timandgerri.com/blog---2016/day-106-3-august-mile-124458-126547

Unpaved Road to Unpaved road 23N65YB

19.96 miles. Oh so close to 20. 

My body, especially my feet are still getting back into the swing of things and hurting with the weight of the pack. So it was wonderful to be able to hike with a light pack for about 15 of today's miles thanks to Tim, Mighty Mouse's husband, who met us as we packed up camp this morning and then again this afternoon. 

Much hiking in trees today. Up and down along sides of hills and over ridges to go up or down the other side. 

Lunch was a chore, with dozens of yellow jackets flying around wanting to share our food. I got stung on the leg as we were packing up, fortunately it isn't very painful, just irritating. 

Bugs were also out in force for dinner, mosquitos this time. DEET kept them away enough to eat quickly, but early retreats to tents were the order of the day.

Annoying lunch companions.

--------------

2021 Update:

19.96 miles. Oh so close to 20. 

My body, especially my feet are still getting back into the swing of things and hurting with the weight of the pack. So it was wonderful to be able to hike with a light pack for about 15 of today's miles thanks to Tim, Mighty Mouse's husband, who met us as we packed up camp this morning and then again this afternoon. 

Much hiking in trees today. Up and down along sides of hills and over ridges to go up or down the other side. 

Lunch was a chore, with dozens of yellow jackets flying around wanting to share our food. I got stung on the leg as we were packing up, fortunately it isn't very painful, just irritating. 

Bugs were also out in force for dinner, mosquitos this time. DEET kept them away enough to eat quickly, but early retreats to tents were the order of the day.

Photos from today: https://www.b-photo.com/Travel/PCT-2016-Day-by-Day/August/August-2/

Mighty Mouse's blog for today: http://www.timandgerri.com/blog---2016/day-105-2-august-mile-122464-124458

Dirt and the PCT hiker

So, if you didn't know, hikers get dirty. Really really dirty.

This is one day on the trail. My feet and hands were clean in the morning.

Campsite at mile 1206.18 to Unpaved Road

Got up and out and hiking by about 7:15, could still get Moving a bit faster, but sometimes it isn't easy. 

Up and down and all around today. Sunny and warm when the wind was blocked by ridges or trees. Saw a small snowfield still hanging on, but that is becoming a rare sight. 

Camping tonight near a dirt road at around mile 1224.

Shoe issues are always fun. I like these shoes, but this one seems to be a bit defective.

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2021 Update:

I don't remember a whole lot about today. Since I wrote so little, it was probably tiring.

Got up and out and hiking by about 7:15, could still get moving a bit faster, but sometimes it isn't easy. 

Up and down and all around today. Sunny and warm when the wind was blocked by ridges or trees. Saw a small snowfield still hanging on, but that is becoming a rare sight. 

Camping tonight near a dirt road at around mile 1224.

Photos from today: https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-WwBsRTc/0/5a6a60fb/XL/i-WwBsRTc-XL.jpg

Mighty Mouse's blog for today: http://www.timandgerri.com/blog---2016/day-104-1-august-mile-120618-122464

Need tougher shoes

Actually, I really like the shoes that I am using, La Sportiva Wildcats.

But this pair only had about 300 miles on them when this happened, the side completely split open.

Luckily there is an inner layer that is holding on, so my foot isn't poking out just yet. New pair on order and hopefully the old ones will last until I get the new pair.