Definitely not boring . . . · Aug 31, 09:09 am by Jennifer Pharr
Challenges . . . that’s what long distance hiking is all about.
After surviving triple digit temperatures and a lack of water in the desert, then miraculously making it through the Sierras without postholing to my death or being swept away by a turbulent river, I was eager to see what particular perils awaited me in Northern California.
Well, in case I missed the 30-mile waterless stretches of Southern California . . . they’re back along with the rattlesnakes. And those bears and lightning storms from the Sierras? Still here. Oh, and let’s not forget the biggest obstacle of all. Yep, that’s right . . .
Canada is still over a 1,000 miles away. But hey, if there weren’t any challenges then things would be boring right? Well, let me tell you—things have been anything but boring!
Like the night I was camping with some friends and suddenly heard something making lots of noise and rubbing against my tent. I semi-consciously remember shushing it away and hoping it would leave. Well, it left my tent alright . . . but unfortunately, being a bear, it went right over to my friend’s tent and slashed through the tent wall to snack on some leftover food he had stored in his pack. That definitely wasn’t boring.
Or how about the day that after skirting around thunder and lightning storms I awoke the next morning to see the surrounding mountain tops covered in white. In just a few miles I discovered that the surrounding white was actually hail from the night before, and even in warm temps I found myself walking over two to three inches of accumulated hail for much of the morning.
How about when I got stung by four bees while trying to bushwhack down to a watersource? Did I mention I’m allergic? Fortunately, two of the reactions were really rather mild and none of them effected my breathing or caused anaphylactic shock, thus avoiding having to use an epipen. But the one on my butt did prevent me from sitting comfortably for the next few days, and the one on my ankle caused swelling, puss, bleeding and yes cankles (for those of you less informed, those would be fat rolls in my ankle).
And then there was the rattlesnake that got too close when I tried to take its picture, and the thirty-mile section of totally exposed
ridgeline that lacked water and boasted 104 degree temps.
Oh, and what about my first geyser, or boiling lake, and we can’t forget the burping mud. Geothermal activity definitely isn’t boring!
Or what about the amazing views of still-snow-covered Mt. Lassen and Mt. Shasta? Nope, not boring.
And the least boring of all is the fact that although I’ve come 1,606 miles, I still have over 1,000 to go. (That’s right, I’m still in CA. This is definitely one heck of a long state). Furthermore, as if us hikers weren’t stressing out enough about the remaining mileage . . . we are now all facing a huge dilemma of whether to skip the next section or to stealth hike through it. Yes, that’s right. The Marble Mountains are closed. Closed to day, over-night, and, yes, even PCT hikers. It seems those pesky and prevalent wildfires have caused them to shut down the entire wilderness area. I guess you could say we’ve all lost our Marbles. Whereas in most areas forest fires are put out or contained, in a wilderness area they are permitted to burn and run their natural course. Ahh, in the words of Usher, “let it burn, let it burn, let it burn.”
But it can’t burn!!! We still have to hike through. After working on this unforgiving state for two and a half months and finally getting
within three days of the Oregon border, you’re telling me I’m at a standstill? What is this?
After much deliberation it seems there are only two options: A) The fires seem to be pretty much to the west of the trail, so I could technically hike through the closed area . . . risking federal punishment, a $5000 fine, and six months of prison time (not to mention the actual fires and restless animals), or B) skip ahead and finish the state of CA knowing that despite all my efforts and hardwork, there are still 50 miles that I can’t claim and continue on a hike that is sadly no longer an unbroken walk from Mexico. How frustrating would that be? The only analogy I can come up with is that it would be like kissing your sister, although I have never really understood that statement, and I definitely don’t think it could ever apply to me, but still it seems the only thing that will fit.
So yes, here I am sitting in Etna eating a pint of chocolate ice cream and trying to decide what to do. I really can’t tell you where my road will lead or which path I will choose. But I can tell you this. Either way, once the decision is made, it definitely won’t be boring!
As always… all my best, jp
If you’re interested you should check out my bio on the Balance Bar Grants website as well. Just go to www.balancebar.com and while you’re there, apply for the next round of Balance Bar Grants. That’s right, whether it’s yoga, basketball, skateboarding, whatever else your passion may be. Being chosen for a balance bar grant is a great way to fulfill your dreams. Plus I think it’d be cool if one of my friends got chosen for the next grant period!!!
Alright, that’s really it until next time. jp
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