Pacific Crest Trail: Drakesbad- Burney (and then Montague)

Day 42
1354.56-1382.6
Hot

Day 43

Death

The above is all that I typed out in the last two days so I will have to actually write some things out while we are in town.

Day 42 we both struggled a bit with the heat wave. We were doing our normal thing and stopped at the last water for 8 miles around 10 am. Marissa left before me so I figured she was up ahead but in reality she had hopped behind a tree for a bathroom break and I did not notice her. Eight miles later, I was wondering how she got so far ahead and where the water was. I was checking my GPS on my phone that told me I had .4 to the water. I walked about .4 and saw no water or anything that looked like there used to be water. Slightly panicked I looked at phone gps again which told me I was .8 past water. Confused, I began walking southbound to see if I missed it. I came to a trail junction that lead to a parking lot in Lassen National Forest so I opted to follow it thinking that there would be a fountain in the parking lot. Somewhere along the way I took a wrong turn and walked until I found a family whom I asked for directions to the lot. I followed them back to the lot and came down the opposite side of where the PCT intersected with it. I picked up the pace to the water fountain and then had three small children jump in front of me to stand on the fountain pedestal when I was only a few feet from it. They ignored me standing behind them and they were not drinking water. After a little bit of me just waiting there I asked them if I could get water and they still ignored me. The crazy lady coming out of the woods (aka me) had to raise her voice to ask them to move and they looked terrified but holy moly the water was good. I walked over to the picnic area and did not see Marissa so I opted to wait there knowing it was our last water source for a while. She eventually showed up, distraught from the heat and we sat there until about 6:30 pm. We took off for another 7 miles and hiked past darkness to set up for our 22 mile dry section the next day. We watched the sun rise behind Mt. Shasta and had a stunning ridge walk the whole evening. We got to camp late and opted not to set up tents or sleeping bags since we planned on waking up at 2:30 to beat the heat. Including the backtracking and taking the wrong trail, I walked 29.6 miles.

Day 43
Come 2:30 we hopped off the ground and walked a mile to the water which was located .3 off trail but dropped 500ft elevation. Straight down and straight up! After filling up with 4.5 liters each, we began our trek. Packs were heaviest they have been and temperature was already warm at sunrise. We took a break at 7am and then proceeded down the hill to find a man offering us apples and root beer floats. How could we pass it up?? Another girl walked down trail and joined us, excited to see other women out on trail (we haven't seen many lately). After about 20 minutes we decided we should be on our way. I talked to my mom for a few miles since there was service and then found some shade for a quick lunch. As the day wore on, the temperature spiked, the water on my back was disappearing, yet I was not making any miles. With 2 miles to go, little water and no shade I was beginning to feel a bit miserable but I had no choice but to keep walking. Marissa was far back behind me and I knew she was struggling but we both had to take care of ourselves first. I made it to water exhausted and looked for Marissa coming down the hill. She made it about 30 minutes after me and said "I need a day off". I felt the same and we had just enough service to ask my mom to contact family nearby that could hopefully pick us up. After about an hour of sitting by water and cooling off I walked .2 to a road to try to get service and figure out what was going on. A cop car pulled up and asked me if I was Emily. Hesitant, I said yes and he had said that my cousins husband called a dispatch down in Burney Falls to pick us up. Handy to have people who know people! We were both overwhelmed with gratitude and relief as we were driven into town and later on to a home for some respite.

We are taking a few days off as a heat wave moves through Northern California. Temperatures are predicted to be between 104-111 the next few days and the trail is lacking in water. Walking 20 plus miles in that heat sounds not only miserable but dangerous. We are sad to say that we may be skipping a small section but ultimately we both agree that it is a smart decision for both safety and happiness.