Date: Tuesday, August 8th 2023
Day 125
Miles Hiked: 26
Miles: 26
Total Trail Miles: 1661.6
Ascent/Descent: 3463/6240 ft
Start Time: 05:29
End Time: 20:35
Temperature: 38°C (100°F)
I started early wanting to get down the hill and into Seiad Valley before the cafe closed at 2pm. The constant down was painful on my shins, the worst they had been since I had started hiking again. It was a bit monotonous today, just hiking down into the valley in the trees and shrubs with no views. I stuck on my audiobook for entertainment and ended up finishing the last 4 hours of my book! Whilst I was stretching a mumma deer and her baby came down the path and watched me just a couple of meters away.
I just made it to the cafe in time and was very excited when Heather the owner said she could make me a big stack of blackberry vegan pancakes. I also got a burger to go to pack out for dinner. It was 39°C down in the valley so even in the shade it felt hot. After lunch I bought some bars to top up my food supply from the shop and walked down the road to Wildwood RV park where I intended on getting a shower and hanging out for a few hours for the temperature to cool before hiking up the hill a few miles to camp. I took my clothes into the shower figuring damp shorts and top may keep me a bit cooler for an hour. There were a few other hikers about including Shawn who I went to the cinema with in Shasta, so we caught up whilst sorting our bags. I started hiking again at 6:45pm and made it 4 miles up the hill before seciding to camp, it wa getting late and dark and I was exhausted.