August 14, 2017
Mile 1632.8 to Seiad Valley
Seiad Valley to The Road Up the Hill
Pacific Crest Trail Thru-Hike: Day 101
Took the road walk out of Seiad Valley per everyone’s recommendation. The trail promised overgrown poison oak, excessive sun exposure, more miles of incessant switchbacks.
I can hardly believe it but they closed the section of the PCT we just finished. They closed it TODAY. Literally as we walked out of it they closed it because of the fire that kept us from making the 6-8 miles out of Etna. If we hadn’t done a long day yesterday, we could have been kicked off trail. I had also been worried they would close the road walk around the Jefferson fires in Oregon, and we found out today that they have done that, too. BUT! Better news is that there might actually be a REAL alternate that follows trails instead of a 63-mile road walk, and that’s huge. If it’s true, and is what I think it is, that would be sooooo wonderful. My uncertainty with it is not being 100% sure where the fire closure starts and stops.
Seiad Valley was fine, it was nice getting to stop with Cake for a bit and see gaggles of other hikers sitting on the pavement chatting Trail News and getting our updates. The swarms of flies in the parking lot where everyone sat to drink beer and repackage resupplies were overwhelming. The sun set, and we headed out on the road walk with Cake, Beave, Righteous, Vice, and Boathouse. Last trail town of California, over and out.
Hiker trash (Righteous shown here with the dog) sitting in the parking lot at Seiad Valley, Photo Credit: Beaver/Steve Jeffreys