PCT: CA Section R - Seiad Valley to Highway 5 (Siskiyou Mountains)

Day 113, Part 2 - 8/27/25 - Leaving Seiad Valley

Distance: 10 miles

Mile Start / End: 1651, 1667.5

Weather: Sunny, H: 88°

End Location: Kangaroo Spring

Lessons Learned: if you plan less, sometimes it works out more

Left around 4 p.m. after the heat of the day had passed.

Road walked, resumed trail around 4:20 p.m.

Goal is 10 miles to Lily Pond Lake.

The climb out of Seiad Valley is a brutal 7-mile hike with nearly 4500 ft elevation gain.

It’s graded well, but it’s a beast.

I felt good and went fast.

The gigantic breakfast, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, 2 ice creams, and banana were doing the trick.

But it was hot, nearly 90° out.

Unbuttoned shirt completely to let the air in, open tarp.

Halfway around 5:40 p.m., view of valley below.

“Do not go where the path may lead, go where there is no path and leave a trail.”

Started with music (disco house), the podcast, then back to music.

Hiked up and past the Devil Mountains, Lower Middle, Upper along a jaw-dropping ridge.

A new fire burned across the valley, close to where I was yesterday, likely from a lightning strike of last night’s storm.

Took a break looking at Middle Devil.

Left around 7 p.m., 3 more miles to target lake.

Hiked up towards Upper Devil Mountain and caught an amazing sunset, definitely the best one in a while if not the best one yet.

The mountains were cascading shades of blue while the smoke made the sun a deep shade of orange and red.

The only bad thing about hiking during the sunset is that it’s hard to get in flow due to wanting to take pictures.

Geared up for a bit of night hiking, figured I wouldn’t make it to the lake. Kangaroo Springs, 2 miles away and right on the trail, became the new target.

Made it to the spring in the dark around 9 p.m.

Another hiker, Roman, was there and told me where the spring and campsite were.

3 deer lurked around camp, their eyes shined bright in the light of the headlamps.

They like to eat humans’ piss for the salt, which doesn’t occur naturally in the wild.

Filled up water and set up the tent.

Boiled water for MH Biscuits and Gravy.

Set up the sleep stuff.

Saw a headlamp hiking, hoped it was Showgirl, and messaged him on Garmin quickly about the change of plans.

It was Showgirl!

Ate dinner together.

Yogi tea wisdom: “you can always start again” - right on cue, I was thinking about that today. With every ending comes a new beginning.

Talked about the piss-licking deer😂

Saw the flames of a new fire, right by where we just were yesterday, flicker brightly in the night’s darkness

Retreated to the tent and watched tv

Went to bed around 11 p.m.

Day 114 - 8/28/25 - Last Full Day in California

Distance: 25 miles

Mile Start / End: 1667.5, 1692.5

Weather: Sunny, H: 87°

End Location: Donomore Cabin

Lessons Learned:

Woke up around 6:30 a.m., it was a bit chilly and crisp.

Coffee, honey bun breakfast, packed up.

Showgirl left before.

Stretched.

Left shortly after 8 a.m.

Goal is 25 miles to Donomore Cabin where there are cots, a toilet, and spring, also just before the Oregon border so can hit that tomorrow morning.

SOBO Aussie, runner named Julie putting up an avg 40 miles a day, sheeesh, told me about a fun burn section coming up.

Only 5 miles though.

Passed Lauren and Lindsay, told them about the luxurious cabin.

“Last full day in California,” Lauren said.

Bitter sweet? Leans more towards the side of sweet 😅

Played my classic rock playlist, “Piano Man” was stuck in my head.

Nice hiking, breeze, and ridgeline.

Stopped at Spring.

Showgirl there.

Met nice SOBO hiker Stirling, like a Stirling engine.

Charcuterie with apple and salami.

Ellie, the sisters, and Claire pulled up.

Left around 11 a.m. with Showgirl.

Next water in 12 miles.

Steep 1500 ft climb up over 3 miles.

Top around 12 p.m.

Down through overgrowth and blow downs.

Legs got stretched up🥲

Buddha pod.

“Ceasing from harm

To practice good

And to train the mind”

The mind is the basis of all things.

You achieve nirvana by giving all you have to others.

Why would someone hurt someone else? Because they are in pain and want others to feel what they feel.

Wind changed direction, so smoke cleared and Shasta was visible again.

Easy hiking.

Stopped around 2:30 p.m. at a campsite for lunch.

Left at 3:30 p.m.

4 miles to Alex’s Hole, a comedically named spring, for water - I have 0.5 L to get me there and it is hot, I got this😅

Ellie passed me, just like the good old days.

Made it to the spring around 5 p.m.

Steep climb down.

Filled up and washed off using my buff.

Charged up a bit and ate some snacks.

Alex (Showgirl) and Claire pulled up.

We all joked about the name of the Spring.

“Alex’s Hole was crisp, clean, and delicious” 😂

Hung out a little too long, left around 6 p.m.

7.5 miles to Donomer’s Cabin, might have to night hike a little.

Smooth hiking, a short stint uphill then mostly down.

Got a view of Mt Shasta, orange with the smoke, might be the one of the last views of her.

As I descended, I saw many mushrooms: shrimp, fried chicken, and unidentified black russala and my favorite, amanita muscaria (think classic red mushroom with white spots).

The amanita here are a faded red, almost pinkish, with a dash of orange.

While I was happy to see them, I worried that seeing them this early in the season meant an early winter.

I thought about the idea of doing Washington Southbound…

I would definitely be alone, but with the zero days I anticipated taking in Portland and other places, I would likely be alone anyways.

And I could see all my friends as I pass them going the other direction.

I could also end in Portland and hang with my friends after I was done with the trail, which I planned on doing anyways but this would just make the travel after easier.

Hmmmm…

Hiked through thick trees during my last California sunset, it was a nice one 🥲

Swapped out my sunglasses for regular glasses due to darkness and listened to music.

Forgot to put headlamp on, oh well I’m close enough.

Hiked in the dark for the last 0.5 miles and arrived at Donomer’s cabin around 8:30 p.m.

Ellie was there, and Showgirl and Claire arrived shortly after.

Filled up water at the spring.

All ate dinner together at the giant picnic table out front and tried to be quiet since some SOBOs set up a tent right next to the table. There wasn’t much flat ground, but I was kind of annoyed.

There were wonky 2 cots inside, and I offered them to the gals, but Claire said she would just set up outside. “It’s spooky in there,” she said.

Alex said he would sleep on the picnic table.😂

So Ellie and I took the cots

They were so cozy. 😌

Went to bed just after 10:30 p.m

Day 115 - 8/29/25 - Oregon!

Distance: 22.3 miles

Mile Start / End: 1692.5, 1714.8

Weather: Sunny, breezy

End Location: Faucet and Picnic Table

Lessons Learned:

Woke up just before 6am, the cot was spectacular with blow up pad on top

Packed up

Breaky and coffee

Swept and made cabin a little nicer than when I found it

Made music video for PCT Bingo with Showgirl to the tune of “Our House” 😂

Left 8am

0.7 miles to Oregon!

Uphill then reached the border! YAHOO!

Took pics with Showgirl, Ellie, and Claire

Met SOBO hiker Outback Mac, I asked him for his papers and wouldn’t let him pass the border until I saw them

We all headed out together

Took break with Showgirl and looked at Shasta

Got a pic of Dusty Cheeks, the potato I’ve been carrying since Etna (for the 100 mile potato challenge, PCT Bingo), his time is coming to an end, but his facial hair is growing nicely

In Ashland, I shall cook and eat him with a steak

Nice hiking but should’ve brought more water

Took lunch break by creek with the gang

Filled up an chugged water

They are all trying to making it to the Callahan’s cabin today and left before me

The cabin from this creek is 14.5 miles, no thank you

I have food so will stay at a spot 5 miles before the cabin and hike in for breakfast and near-o in Ashland

Left just before 3pm, 9.5 miles to go

Uphill after lunch, top around 4pm

Trail Magic! Grabbed an orange Shasta and put in water bottle mixed with liquid iv caffeine, yum

Descent, 6 miles

More trail magic! Asian pear 😌

I like Oregon so far😂

After I passed the road for Mt Ashland Lodge, I began to hear live amplified guitar and singing and sound very Grateful Dead vibe

A passing hiker walked by with her dog and we had a quick chat

She was also from FL and told me that they do live music on Fridays up at the Ski Lodge, she was going via the road and her truck the other way but said it was just up the hill and suggested I bushwhack

I liked the music and since I wasn’t trying to make it to Callahan’s, I had time to spare but the real selling point was the possibly of food up there

I imagined they had burgers and that sounded way better than mash potatoes and tuna

So I bushwhacked up the mountain

After I reached the top, I was greeted by some trippy dudes with dreadlocks

“Did you walk here?” A guy named Feather asked

“Yeah kind of, I’m doing the PCT” I responded and explained my situation a bit more and the introduced themselves

They said I stumbled into a good night

The band that was playing was called Family Mystic and were really good

I walked up to the Ski Lodge,

Smiles, who turned out to be Lacey’s boyfriend, gave me free entry (otherwise would’ve been $10)

There was also a taco stand, Michel’s Tacos, and I ordered the entire menu for $26: beer, chicken, and pork taco, a chicken quesadillas, and plate of rice and beans with topping cilantro, onion, cheese, etc. - it looked amazing

After I got my food I sat down at a picnic table that had some room to spare are ate, delicious

The band was groovy as hell

Great cover of Bird Song by the dead

Homeland by Matthew Sarina (bassist, streaming on YouTube) and a few other funky tunes

Having walked 20 miles that day, my legs were tired and didn’t feel like dancing so after eating, I moved

A cute girl with lavender biker shorts and a flow star had space next to her and I asked if I could join her

She got up to dance and flow and I held the fort and massaged my legs with corkball and tiger balm

I saw Lacey and she came up and sat with me for a bit

She told me String Cheese Incident was playing tomorrow in Jackson

Hmmm…. I do love some string cheese

I decided to leave around 7pm, which gave me enough daylight to hike a bit more and chatted with Feather and his friend Hunter as I was leaving

He told me about a spot called Jackson Hot Spring with springs, $10 camping, a sauna, and apparently music - the same band was playing there tomorrow

I told them if I got my chores done tomorrow then I would definitely consider it

I left at 7pm and walked back out the way I came

Hiked 2 miles in the pale evening light to the picnic table and faucet, no chance I could camp there - it was a house and someone was living there😂

So hiked another 2 miles in the dark to a dirt road and set up camp

I was still full from tacos so just ate a Snickers and went to be around 10:30pm, my first day back in Oregon has truly been Bill Withers, such a lovely day 😌