Day 108

Castle crags campground to campsite - 27.2 miles

Total - 1530.6 miles

Last night was hottttttt. I woke up in a sweat multiple times and was very comfy. We had a big day ahead of us: 27 miles with our biggest climb yet of 7000 feet of elevation gain. There is a closure in this section for rehabilitation of a local frog species so we finished up a blue blaze to get back on trail. I was sweating hard. Caleb was off this morning and he expressed to me his thoughts about the trail. He got some pretty harsh news from a friend in the morning which definitely threw him for a loop. I think we all go through thoughts of quitting especially when you think that you might be losing time with loved ones. We talked for awhile about it and I tried to pick his brain about what he was thinking. We ended up hiking alone after filtering some water and a snack break. The climb wasn’t bad, it was just hot. So I plugged away at it for most of the morning. The views were insane. Probably one of my favorite view days while in Northern California. I reached a good shady spot for lunch and chilled for about 20 minutes before I realized I fucked up the water. I thought there was water close by but I was dead dead wrong. It was 8 miles out and I had half a liter. Luckily, I still had to climb but at a very very low grade which didn’t take much effort. I would take a sip every mile to conserve. Just when my mouth would get hella dry. I finally pulled up to the spring and I was met by a trail angel and another hiker! I asked if they had any water, which they didn’t, but the guy had a cold coke which was easily one of the best cokes I’ve had on trail. I was so parched. He also brought out a homemade cookie with whip cream and a cold cherry on top. It made the suffering of the last 8 miles so worth it. I was also praying for a cold bev while hiking so my prayers were answered. I grabbed water down a very steep hill, chugged a liter (best water yet), and then made my way back up, very out of breath. Caleb had caught up by this time and was chit chatting with that trail angel. The trail angel mentioned that under mount Shasta there are rumors that people live 100 feet down under the mountain. Something about the tectonic plates moving and trapping them? The lenticular clouds are not clouds but they are aliens. Honestky I couldn’t tell if he was serious or not as he only laughed one time during this entire conversation. I don’t think he was but who knows, ive met a lot of crazies out here. We left and did the last two miles to the most beautiful campsite we have had recently. Shasta in the front with all the clouds around. Plus there was service so you know what I’m doing tonight - SCROLLING. I did get to call mom and dad, as well as camille and give them all the gossip. Caleb and I then had dinner before smoking a lil and chit chatting like always. We can’t tell if it’s going to rain as thunder clouds keep growing but haven’t seen rain or lightning flashes. Just thunder sound.

Rocklicker first day back on trail after like week and we already lost him. We keep joking that he’s cut from the same cloth as Ben from Boston who can’t get up anywhere close to the time Caleb and I get up and out of camp. The man is the exact same. All Caleb and I want to do is hang with people and no one can stick to our schedules or even match them for that matter. Just get to camp. We wanna hanggggggg. But rocklicker got up when we left, had coffee with the camp host until like 10:30. Procrastinated the climb until 2:30 and now is camping 5ish miles back from us. Truly Ben from Boston and him should just hike together at this point. Ben from Boston is off trail now to go to the boundary waters with his dad so he will meet back up with us the 9th in Medford.