August 4, 2017
1396 to Burney Mountain Guest Ranch
Burney Mountain Guest Ranch to Burney Falls State Park
Burney Falls State Park to Mile 1422.2
Pacific Crest Trail Thru-Hike: Day 91

Got up at 4am; the morning’s slog across the rest of the Hat Creek Rim put me so close to finishing Atlas Shrugged! Reading (listening to) this book has taken me nearly all of California.

Bad Blis-ters and a Giant Crucifix

Walked into Burney Ranch and it was a religious disappointment. First thing when you get on the property is a 20-30 foot tall metal cross. However, there was air conditioning and a little sample cup of homemade ice cream. Not the feast I was expecting, but leaving here will put us in a better position to get to Etna on target.

I soaked my feet and met the caretaker. Airplane Mode, a woman I met once in the Sierra, sat next to me. She has been progressively cutting her foot deeper and deeper to try and leak out her blisters. Highly do not recommend this method. She’s gotten so far into her foot that she’s hit the dermis, and you can see the layers and layers of skin. She asked if she should go to a doctor or just keep hiking. She said she has pain meds so that she can keep hiking.

Just as I started to feel antsy, Blis (short for Blister) and his crew of antagonists rolled up, threw their shit all over the porch, splayed out, and swallowed the peace we had created in this fly-infested corner of the hiking universe. And who should be with Blis but my very favorite person, the top antagonist of them all. Trail Name. Time to go!

Cake in the Wilderness

On our flight out of the Guest Ranch we came to a road. I looked to my left, and sitting under the tree was a familiar face…Cake! He was about to get a ride into the town of Burney to resupply. I figured we’d soon see him down the road as he’s about 6’7” and can cover ground much faster. He did give us a nugget of joy—Sam was only about a day ahead. He had been to the Guest Ranch yesterday!

We crossed the road and BOOM! A picnic table with an umbrella and ice-cold tang. Alex just about had a heart attack. I think he had a hidden affinity for Tang that was even a secret to him until the moment he tasted it, ice cold, in 95F California heat.

Beer and Waterfalls

Marching on, we stopped yet again at Burney Falls State Park, because, beer. Beer and ice cream. We drank a six pack, spent time with a gal called Grandma Candy (on account of her affinity for depression-era candy), and then Cake walked up. He was accompanied by his friend, Righteous, who had long hair and wore Lennon sunglasses even during the day. We shared a beer with them and then headed out to climb up a giant mountain.

We are now camping with Grandma Candy. Saw a skunk on our climb out of Burney Falls and had to yell and bark at it to get it off trail and keep it from spraying. We’re on the push to Etna in one week, with a Castella resupply in the middle. We have about 77 miles to Castella, targeting a Monday arrival. I’m really missing my parents. Alex even said so, completely out of the blue. My eyes are closing, so I’ll sign off now.