Day 65Siskiyou County, California

I find Belly Slater, who tells me about an alternative route to Seiad Valley that avoids a section of blowdowns. By keeping the pace, I can get to the coffee before it closes at 14:00.

I reach Seiad Valley before 12:00 and find Belly Slater, Full Moon, Squirt and Spoon. The 4 of them skipped part of the trail by car from Etna, which explains why they are ahead of me. I eat a chicken sandwich with fries, drink several sodas and recharge my devices for a while.

We then take the alternative: a paved road then a trail, hot and steep, but cleared of the blowdowns. I catch them before their camp and then I continue for another four miles.

At the coffee shop, I learn that my Ashland shoe order was cancelled without explanation. So I will have to find another solution on the spot. In return, today’s advance will greatly reduce the distance to the city.