Riding The Crest 2009

SECTION L   I-80 - Hwy 49

July 25 - July 26 

Ten-to-six, a long day! Despite getting up at 7 I did not get on the trail until 9. Ralph made us egg burritos and coffee. I was pretty well packed up but just getting it on Jur takes time. I took the ¾ mile access trail back to the PCT. I then traveled along some rock to get to the culverts going under Interstate Eighty. I walked Jur through the culverts as they would not have been high enough for a horse and rider to safely go through. Jur is getting to be an old hand at all this and nothing seems to bother him (except snow banks). There were great views back at Castle Peak. We had a bit of everything today: wooden walkways, huge rock to walk across and small rock to roll under hoofs, forest tread and marsh with a bunch of saddle crossings thrown in. I saw quite a few day hikers and talked with four women at the Peter Grubb Hut for awhile. It is fun to tell about some of the adventure now. It is also fun to see the surprised faces when you say you are going to Canada or have been from Mexico. Many ask, “You are not kidding?” Even I am beginning to realize it is quite a feat. I give anyone who has done any portion of the trail credit and those who have done a majority of it deserve honor. It IS a feat! After I crossed Webber Lake Road I climbed the mountain's saddle and a good way across it. It was sunset before I came off it. Then I went .2 mile to get water. I am sure glad I did as the creek on the map after that never materialized. I set up camp at 9:30 in the dark for the first time but thankfully no mosquitoes to speak of. I was inside my tent when a couple came by and we talked about the water situation. I gave them what was left in my Platypus Filter and it filled their water bottle up. They called me an angel and I said no we are all just there for one another. And that is how it seems to work on the PCT. We all become a community. It felt good to be able to return some of the help I’ve been given. I ate my dinner with hot tea and at 10:30 called it a day.

I camped about three miles south of Laiser Meadows. The couple that got water from me camped just above me and left out before I got out of my tent. I woke at 6:30 hearing another hiker passing. Then I ate and fed Jur and worked on the computer until 8. Then I started saddling and packing Jur. We got on the trail with all four boots on Jur at 9. He moved out well at the start of the day. At 9:42 I passed Laiser Meadows ¾ of mile to east of PCT with a lake on my left. We did not find water until Jackson Meadow Reservoir in a creek passing under the Road 70. Jur got a drink while I filled my water bottles. He also got some more grass. It was 10:50 with 11 ½ miles to go to Hwy 49. At 2:25 we crossed Downie Road and had come 9 miles from Jackson Meadows Reservoir. Four to five miles south of Hwy 49 there was a lovely small clearing with grass. To the north was a long series of rocky switchbacks down to an inaccessible creek. Then we dropped down into Paradise Valley to Bear Valley. It got really hot down in there. We passed the sign for Wild Plum Campground and I was a little confused but knew it could not turn sharply so kept on. Then the trail seemed to curve west and went down to Loves Falls. There was a long bridge over the creek with people below swimming. We then went along a trail that paralleled Hwy 49 until it crossed it at the very small and nondescript trailhead. Ralph was dozing in his chair with Ech by his side. Ralph jumped up and greeted me and got me a soda. He had brought me a rocket popsicle too. It was great. Something cold after that hot ride. We took the packs off Jur and then Ralph went to get the trailer. He was gone about ½ hour and I rested in the chair and Jur ate alfalfa hay. When Ralph got back we loaded Jur and headed down to Sierra City. Ralph and William were parked on the side of Hwy 49 west of Sierra City. There is a Forest Service station and we were on the other side of the street. The trailer fit just perfect in a roadside pullover and the horses were safely high-lined further off the road. William was right off the road. He said he was hot and could not imagine how hot I must have gotten. Ralph made us all chicken, rice and broccoli. I started packing for the next four days. After dinner I got a shower and worked on my computer. 

NEXT: Riding with a hiker for three days!

 So many trails - So little time!

This website is intended to share our adventure with you.
Visit as often J (or as little L ) as you like.  

We 'd like to hear from you. Please sign our guest book and/or e-mail us.

Janice will be your commentator.