WalkingCarrot

First, a tribute to the Carrot. She is one of the most “stoic” hikers/people I have known. Never complaining, always willing to tolerate whatever conditions she finds herself facing. She is unwavering in support and positive attitude and in her willingness to be flexible in all matters. A perfect hiking companion. Here’s to the Carrot – “Happy Birthday!”

We have a tight schedule today. In order to make it into town in time for a celebration of the Carrot’s birthday we must try to cover 23.4 miles by 5pm. So we are up and on trail at 6:50pm. “Happy Birthday Carrot”, now get up and get moving…and, please, feet don’t fail me now…..

Today the scenery continues to become more stunning, taller peak rise above us, in the distance some are covered in snow. Granite walls explode onto the scene. We walk above deep canyons carved by glaciers. This is scenery that invites comparisons to the Sierras, and does not come up lacking. But with this scenery comes a price – tougher trail. The climbs are longer and steeper. And there are more of them. The “roller coaster” just got more exciting. Our schedule demands we cut breaks sort and push the legs onward anyway, even when they want to rest more than ever. But, if the Carrot wants a milkshake on her birthday this is what we must do.

And the air is heavier with humidity and thicker with smoke. Definitely wildfires burning somewhere and winds drifting the smoke our way.

Clouds build all day and start to rumble around 3pm. Rain falls in the distance. Shimmering white sheets falling from dark clouds across the valley to our north and east. A few drops spit on our path as we race across an open bluff and down an exposed ridge to the comfort of trees. We continue hiking in a light rain to the pass, arriving at about 10 minutes past five. We have managed to do the 100 miles from Dunsmuir to Etna in 4 days, making up a little bit on the schedule.

There are three cars parked at the pass, their passengers are all outside engaged in various conversations. We chat up one of them hoping for a ride to town. But they all have other plans, hoping the rain will clear soon enough to hike in themselves, or they are heading the other way. We watch one car, a fully loaded pickup truck cruise by with no room. Twenty minutes pass with no traffic in our direction. Rain starts to fall more earnestly, enough to dig out rain gear.

Just as the clouds start to really let loose in a serious downpour Jim, a UPS driver, stops in his big brown truck. Out the door he announces: “I really shouldn’t do this, but hop in the truck.” I take the fold down passenger seat next to the open door, while the Carrot sits securely on the floor among backpacks and packages. As we drove/floated down the road from the top of the mountain pass the rain poured down even harder. A gully on the side of the road flooded over top, washing debris across the road surface. Several deer, includng a young buck, were “flushed” from the brush by the rain.

We arrived in Etna to sunny skies with no trace of the torrent occurring farther up the hillside. The famed Alderbrook Manor is in escrow, but their “hiker hut” providing hostel accommodations is still in service. However all 4 bunks were taken. There was room on the floor, but for the Carrot’s birthday we wanted something more. We checked out the motel – full. Things were looking grim.

Then we ran into Trainwreck, Strut and Tigger. Hey had just left “Father Surges” where there was no space inside, only room on his lawn to camp. They had heard about “California Campus” so that is where we all headed.

Tomas, the director of CCTG showed us around and could not have possible been more hospitable. They gave us a room with five beds, let us take showers, do laundry, use their computer room for internet and invited us to join the for meals and their weekend program. Simply amazing. Their group has a very interesting mission of education and aid, far too much to go into detail here. In brief, they train volunteers from around the world to direct developmental and educational projects in Africa and Central America. A very diverse and interesting group of faculty, staff and students. I highly recommend checking out their website: www.cctg.org and learning more about them. For us, it was enough to know that they live and espouse all their ideals and are very friendly to hikers.