Day 9: Surprise! It's Seiad Valley!

[Erin]:

We ended the day in Seiad Valley, though not because we'd planned it...

Derek and Lisa dropped us off in the morning at the Cook-N-Green trail, on the Pacific Crest Trail. We hiked around the Red Buttes to catch back up to the Bigfoot Trail. We knew we would be on the PCT for a few days, and we looked forward to a straightforward, well graded trail.

The Red Buttes deserve their name.

The hike was gorgeous, through fire-burnt woods and views of red peaks reminiscent of Australia, with names like "Kangaroo Peak."

Emily models her amazing sun hat, a gift from Derek.

Headed toward Seiad Valley

It was dry but not too hot. We planned on stopping at Lookout Spring, but could not find it... we hiked on to the next spring, which turned out to be completely surrounded by poison oak.

So we hiked on to Seiad Valley, for a day of 15.5+ miles. We went immediately into the Seiad store, where I bought a State of Jefferson pin and both of us bought root beer, ice cream, and beef jerky.

Hiking into town, where hundreds of PCT hikers pass through during the high season.

Eating our ice cream, we walked next door to the RV park, where friendly Bruce and his two dogs greeted us. We took showers in the slightly institutional concrete bathroom and did laundry, then set up our tent on the lawn.

Emily talks to her folks.

This was not the most private of campsites, but we did get to shower...

We were able to call home and relax, listening to distant thunder. My feet were a melange of blisters, and I tried every conceivable combination of bandages and ointment to get some relief. Emily's leg was slowly getting better and looking more leg-like, less stump-like.

The evening was not terribly restful - apparently people living at the RV park need to rev up and then drive their giant diesel trucks at 2 am. And 3 am. And 4 am. And... yes, 5 am. But it was flat ground, and our bellies were full.

Total miles: 15.5