Morning view of Mt Shasta

25 miles down. 303 to go!

The well-worn hitching spot of Dunsmuir, CA

45 minutes. No luck yet. Thankfully another thru-hiker left a cup of water for us :)

Amtrak southbound

On the coast starlight to Dunsmuir, CA...just about another 9 hours to go. I'm lounging to Musak in the top-floor lounge car--lots of MacBooks, free-spirited spontaneous guitar jams, food bloggers, dominoes and ladies with hairy chins. That's Oregon for you.

My starting weight is 121. Base pack weight is 12 lbs (this is with no food or water). I've packed light this year, since Etna, Seiad Valley and Ashland are calling for 0-10% rain for the next few weeks. Yet, the lightweight rain jacket (Mountain Hardwear, compression stretch) and Patagonia regulator zipneck fleece are sitting is PDX ready to be sent if the weather turns. Thanks, Garth! (whose food bag on the AT weighed twice my BPW. :p)

The 2011 thru-hiking "pack" has made it up to Etna, CA. (It's been a tough year, WAY too much snow. Most recorded snow in Washington ever.) We'll hit the stragglers of the pack -- and then crush them. (no, not really, I'm just trying to get the bravado out now instead of using it later against my best interests.)

I'm fearful that I didn't pay enough attention to packing; I'm sure I forgot something. How could my pack be only 12lbs? I almost convinced myself that I didnt need underwear, but came to my senses and packed them in my frantic preparation....right next to my glitter strips (silver band-aids). If I had to choose, I'd take trail bling over underwear.

I cut myself in between my toes this week...who does that? And now I'm worried that it will give me problems as the heat rises and the skin rubbing begins in my Adidas behemoths. The thing I fear most is the hot, dry weather's wrath on my feet. 328 miles in 2.5 weeks is fast if you've not already been hiking from Mexico.

Time for an IPA and some Sponge Bob Popsicles. I heard they sell them in the cafe, and personally I think I need to put some calories under my pack straps.

More from the Mecca of Dunsmuir,
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Desert costume '11

Sun hat trials and tribulations....I want shade, but my head is too small for this monstrosity. Found some great arm warmers made by Turtle Fur on clearance...not really necessary in the NoCal desert, but I couldn't resist. Don't they look great with my pink camo gaiters, courtesy of Dirty Girl Gaiters?

This year I'm using an REI Flash ultralight 30 backpack. My GoLite Jam from last year gave me too many problems--the foam padding buckled and bowed out from my back the more I cinched the side straps. Although I've seen this happen to many others on the trail, GoLite refused to take it back or fix it. I'm excited to try out REI's competition.

Starting with ladies Adidas Supernova Sequence, size 9.5 wide--I've gone through the drill and decided that I value my toenails enough to wear a shoe 1.5 sizes too large.

New purple running shorts (my signature item on the PCT) by Puma with a nice soft liner inside, and Fit Sok poly stretch cushioned socks were purchased at FitRightNW. Love those guys. Great selection.

Now onto food boxes tonight. Train departs for Dunsmuir, CA at 2:30pm Wednesday PST....more soon.
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Heading to Dunsmuir, CA

Time to start linking up the disparate parts of my completed trail...The plan was to complete WA this summer, an easy jaunt from Portland to Panther Creek Campground, then 289 miles to Stevens Pass, where I first met Happy JO in 2002 and hiked to Canada. But this year I can decide if i want to handle snow, and well, I don't. The reports so far say snow in the trees and 6-7 ft of it at Indian Peak Wilderness. I'm not even sure that the snow will melt at all this year.

And so, a return to the hot, dry, dusty ridges of California--the stuff I really enjoy. It's time to hump water, slather on the sunblock and work on my tan. More updates coming soon.
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Part 2 of Walk for Jake (Mojave to Yosemite) is up! Thank you to everyone who donated!

Part 1 of Walk for Jake (Mexico to Mojave) is up on YouTube!