As The Crow Flies

Trail Twitter

crow — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

Hey from Echo Lake. 3 bars. Ditching my phone until Kennedy Meadows. #
Bye! #

Trail Twitter

crow — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

The water at WA1115 is not running–just a few small stagnant puddles. #
Running unmarked water north of wa1115. #
So hot and muggy it was hard to hike today. #
But I think I'm going to like being here this time of year instead of June. #
1107.3. 2 bars #

Trail Twitter

crow — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

Goodnight from mile 1154.5 full signal. #
1147 1 bar #
1143 3 bars #

Trail Twitter

crow — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

Water at WA1243 is 1/3 mile off trail. #
WA1232 is a small pond below the trail off trail. #
WA1216 water is off trail. Did not find it. #
But other hikers did. #
Water 1212 is a crapy off trail pond called Summit Lake. #
Charged by mountain bikers on the PCT! #
Though WA1182 is off trail and difficult to get to, there are many unmarked, on trail water sources north. #
Sleeping on the crest tonight. Big views and a big moon. 1176 3 bars. #
Very cold and windy night up on the crest. #
I think I'll ditch this phone at echo lake. #
1176 full service #
1168 4 bars #

News from the trail

crow — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:01:11 +0000

I’m at a new trail angel’s place called the Red Moose Inn in Sierra City—super nice people.

Barefoot and Chacos did not feel that great, Chacos and vibrams have not been that great either… my feet really hurt some of the day. I hope the shoes I have in Echo Lake improve things.

Yesterday, north of Sierra City, I was charged by a bunch of mountain bicyclists but I held my ground and yelled at them. They laughed and biked on. There were vans with the name of YUMA on the side that brings people up….they may be responsible this plague .

Still meeting north bounders who are confident that they will make the border this year. Their optimism is creepy.

That’s all.

Trail Twitter

crow — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

Water at wa1322 is 1/2 mile off trail. #
Water at wa 1308 is 300 ft off trail. #
It's a little ways off trail but there is a sign. #
Poison spring is further north than waypoint wa1302. #
Still meeting northbounders. #
Northbounders who started in April. #
Mile 1286 one bar. #
Beldon was open for business at 8am. I've never seen that before. #

Trail Twitter

crow — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

I'.m at the halfway post. It says 1325 miles but according to Halfmile it's 1326. #
That's 400 miles for me. #
1326 2bars #
You know what's bad backpacking food? "Carb Balance" tortilla #

Trail Twitter

crow — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

1341.3. 2 bars. #
Spending more time laying in the shade than hiking. #
Still meeting northbounders. #
Hitching in to Chester. So far not one car has been by. #
Mile 1334. 3-4 bars. #
The only other time I've been to Chester, I got there on a bus because of a fire closure. #
"Piper's Mom" left a message at the trailhead offering rides. I might try her after awhile. #
Pieper's Mom was busy fixing breakfast for a hiker but sounds like someone is coming. #
I should have gone in last night. But didn't want the hassle of hitching in, resupplying, and hitching out that late. #
I should have sent more to drakesbad than I did. #
Breakfast in town. #
The barefoot thing is not working for me. #
Neither is the no caffine rule. #
I'd like a dose of caffine, some music, and some shoes. #
Shoes and music are coming to Echo Lake……I picked up some instant coffee in town. #
How far I have fallen. #
"Piper's Mom" gave me a ride back to the trail. #
She was bringing another hiker back to the trail. A young man who started 3.5 months ago. #
Among his possisions was, I kid you not, a big rock. #
He says someone gave it to him and he doesn't mind the weight. #
1331 2 bars. #

Trail Twitter

crow — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

UPS and FED-EX no longer deliver to Drakesbad but they pickup the packages when they go to town. #
1346 1 bar #
New Chacos and found some pain relievers in the hiker box. . #

Trail Twitter

crow — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

Good News! New northbounders reporting cache has been restocked. #
8 Northbounders today. #
1408.3. 2 bars. #
More good news, cloud cover and a nice breeze. #
Hat Creek Rim is beautiful and dramatic tonight. #
It's one of my favorite places on the trail. #
1402.5. 4 bars. #
My feet kept me all night. They wouldn't quit screaming. #
New Chacos are on the way. I can't adjust the staps on the ones I'm wearing #
So the squeeze my swollen foot. #
If I can hobble along another 2 weeks I have real shoes in my drift box. #
Mile 1394.5. #
1394.5 2 bars. #

Trail Twitter

crow — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

No water at WA1435. #
Hey from Burney Falls camp store. 1423. Low signal #
If you are in pain at Burney Falls, pain relivers will cost you 1.49 for two pills! #
Also I saw a bear. #
I saw a really big rattle snake on the trail today. #
1418.3. 3 bars. #
I think I broke my little toe. #
Northbounders are saying the big chache on the Hat Rim section is bone dry. #
That means 30 miles without water. #
Mile 1414 4 bars. #
Wishing I had bought some of those pain relievers. #
Mile 1411.5. Low signal. #

Trail Twitter

crow — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

Hey from mile 1465. Trail still thick with northbounders. #
Mile 1459. 2 bars #
I think Mt Shasta is following me. #

Trail Twitter

crow — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

Laying in a sweet spot under a tree next to the trail mile 1498.5. Thinking I don't want to move. #
I've ate all of todays food and some of tomorrows and only hiked 8 miles. #

Trail Twitter

crow — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

Hey from the PCT hiker site at Castle Craigs Park. 3 bars. #
The Sign says only 1487 miles to Mexico. #
I miss my cushy shoes, caffine, and music, but I'm trying something new this trip. #
I'm marking unmarked water and noting dry water sources. #
Also updating town info. #
Yesterday the trail was clogged with nortbounders but there were only 2 other hikers at hiker site. #
They tried to leave yesterday but got lost and came back. #
With the freeway, the trains, and the people, Castle Craigs State Park is the loudest place to sleep. #
But I'm still having a hard time getting out of here. #

Trail Twitter

crow — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

Though I did find water at 1577, there are a couple of unmarked water sources further north that have better water. #
Including a piped spring. #
Though there is water at wa1671b there isn't any at WA1671. #
Hey from mile 1536.5. 2 bars of service. #
I'm so happy to be hiking south. Meeting lots a northbounders, but that should fade soon. #
I'd liked to get some more miles in, but I'm sitting at the best view campsite. #
Looking at Mt Shasta while the sun sets on my back. #

Trail Twitter

crow — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

Mile 1604—2 bars. #
Made it out of town and back on the trail. #
I'm taking it slow and enjoying a lot of naps on the crest #
I've met two couples who plan to go through the Sierras in October. #
That sounds pretty late to me but what do I know about it. #
I'm hiking some in Chacos, some barefoot, and some in Vibram 5 Fingers. #

Trail Twitter

crow — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 03:10:00 +0000

Trail report: conditions good Ashland to Siead Valley. #
Siead Valley store open from 7-7 daily. Cafe open from 7-2 daily. Rv park $10 a night $5 package fee waived if spending the night #
All water sources between Ashland and Siead Valley running. #
Buckhorn spring –mile 1641 between Siead Valley and Etna Summit section Q is either dry or off trail. I looked around for it but didn' … #
Hey from Etna. #
Mile 1607 #
The Marbles are harder going south. #
Trail good between Siead Valley and Etna good. #

Trail Twitter

crow — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:10:00 +0000

Hey from mile 1679.3– 2 bars. #
I've met a lot of hikers today. #
Most of the southbounders. This may not be as private a hike as I had planed. #
You can't believe how beautiful the world I'm waking up to is. #

Trail Twitter

crow — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:10:00 +0000

Sitting under a tree waiting for a thunderstorm to pass. #
Mile 1715. ATT 4 bars service. #
While I was perched above the trail, a coyotee came through the woods and started hiking down the trail. It didn't see me. #
It's hailing big hail. So I'm going to stay under this big tree on top of the ridge. #
Just ran into a couple I met in 2008 at the Canadian border. They're doing a flippity flop flop hike. Mile 1706.3 3 bars. #
I've been doing some barefoot hiking. The trail is mostly soft. #
Just dinking along for this week…….maybe for my whole hike. #

Trail Twitter

crow — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:10:00 +0000

I home! Back on PCT where I belong. #

Trail Twitter

crow — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:10:00 +0000

On my way to the trail . #

Heading out

crow — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:48:57 +0000

I’m packed, I have Halfmile’s maps all printed out and all his waypoints loaded onto my GPS.

I have my map drops figured out—–Carry with me maps from Ashland to Drakesbad, send box to Drakesbad Ranch with 2 days of food and maps of Drakesbad to Echo Lake. Send to Echo Lake, box with Bear Canister, maps from Echo Lake to Kennedy Meadows, stove, vapor barrier. Send box on at Echo Lake to Kennedy Meadows with maps from Kennedy Meadows to Campo. Send bear canister home from Kennedy Meadows.

I found someone on Craig’s list looking to do a ride share from Portland to Ashland tomorrow so I may have a ride. But if anyone knows anyone that is going to Southern Oregon in the next few days let me know— will pay for gas.

What footwear to bring has been a hard one for me. I bought some hiking shoes and microspikes because I was worried about snow south of Ashland… but the hiking shoes hurt my feet and put a big bruise on the top of my foot. So I guess what I will be wearing is, bare feet, neoprene socks or Chacos. I bought a big pair of neoprene socks that fit over my Chacos and tried the Microspikes on while wearing Chacos— they seem to work but I’m thinking the snow has got to be melted by August so I’m still debating whether to bring the Microspikes.

I hate logistics… can’t wait to hit the trail… I’ve been away to long.

Trail Twitter

crow — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:10:00 +0000

Testing…..does this work? #

My shinning new computer

crow — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:51:10 +0000

After replacing 2 hard drives, 2 mother boards, a memory module, 2 power adapters, a fan, a heat sink, a keyboard, a case lid, 2 power button covers, and reloading Windows 4 times, Dell decided to send me a new computer. They had to “build” it though and that took 3 weeks.

I just got the new computer, it’s black, shiny, has twice the memory as my old one, a faster processor, twice the storage capacity, a web cam, a microphone, and is running Windows 7.

I’m grateful for the upgrade but one thing is missing…..no modem. And since I connect through a dial-up it’s sort of useless to me at this point. I called up Dell and they said I had to buy an external modem from them. So that’s on the way, but I’m fixing to leave.

I’m heading out to the trail soon and I can’t wait to leave this computer business behind me. I’ve been away much too long.

Another bear

crow — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:17:44 +0000

Another bear at my cabin. This one was a black colored one. I didn’t get a picture of this one. This one came first thing in the morning too, like the other one.

He knocked over a box of new car parts I had out waiting for the mechanic that comes to my cabin; it was a heavy box as there were new shocks and break pads among the car parts.

My neighbor saw a moose in the field by his cabin. I’ve never seen a moose at my cabin but I found a moose skeleton on my property.