Day 63Etna, California

I go down about 9 miles to Etna Summit and wait about 30 minutes before a car takes me to town. Etna is renowned for welcoming hikers and the day confirms it.

After breakfast, I buy new soles, Dirty Girl gaiters and some provisions in the outdoor store. There are no suitable trail shoes, but the soles should already relieve my feet. Then I take a shower at the campground, do a laundry and prepare 4 days of food to Ashland.

A music festival occupies the city. They let me in to buy a sandwich and listen to some songs, but the atmosphere and the prospect of a noisy night make me want to go back. I meet many hikers, including Spoon, Squirt, a 17-year-old and Full Moon.

I reserve accommodation and a barber shop in Ashland, then order a new pair of Altras supposed to arrive the same day. At 7:30 p.m., I walk up the 10 miles to the trail, an unrealistic idea with 1,200 meters of elevation and the night falling. Fortunately, a pick-up ends up taking me back and dropping me off at the trailhead. After a day started with painful feet and almost more battery, everything is again under control.