Zero in Reno plus a drive to Dunsmuir, no hiking
Total PCT miles hiked: 1400
Due to our early start Keith (Starman) and I arrived at the Sierras when there was still a lot of snow, and decided it wasn’t safe to attempt a crossing given my skill level. We elected to flip up to northern California and hike southbound (SoBo) back to where we left off near Lone Pine – giving the snow a chance to melt out. During this flip the PCT milage will be counting down, but I’ll include a tally of our total milage hiked so that you can keep aprised of our progress in a linear fashion.
By the time we arrive at the hotel in Dunsmuir my only thought is how tired I am. The previous day’s hitch hiking marathon, followed by today’s long drive to Redding and an hour long Lyft ride to Dunsmuir has left me wilted. But we don’t have anything for dinner, so we leave the blissfully cool darkness of the hotel and wander into downtown Dunsmuir in search of sustenance.
The small grocery store is a sorry sight for hungry hikers—I swear they have a bigger dog food selection than human food. Eventually I cobble together a meal of whipped cream and strawberries, and an avocado and Keith gives up on the grocery entirely and orders a pizza which we walk down the street to pick up. The sun is blazing hot even as it works it’s way towards the horizon. It’s only a mile back to the hotel, but in my current state of exhaustion that feels like walking to the moon.
Walking into Gary’s Pizza Factory Keith sees the sign for delivery and jokes that we should get them to deliver us back to the hotel along with the pizza. Genius. Except when he goes to pay he doesn’t ask if they’ll give us a ride. Coward! Engineer, socially awkward coward! But if my mom taught me one thing it’s that you might as well ask for what you want, the worst they can say is no. With my remaining energy I muster a smile and ask the lovely women who are working behind the counter if they would be able to give us a ride back to our hotel. And because the world is mostly full of kind people, they say yes.
I’ll walk over 2,000 miles to get to Canada, but no way I’m walking the mile to get back to the hotel, not if I can help it.
Great post! There really are a lot of nice people and the PCT seems to be surrounded by them. Enjoy the journey!!
Awesome. Ask and you shall receive a ride to your hotel. Keep on keeping on…