July 7

1269-1294

We take another enormous breakfast before getting back on trail.

It is another unbearably hot day, again over 100 degrees and we are once again walking through the remnants of a burnt forest. The sun feels oppressive and we walk slowly to avoid overheating. We climb up to a ridge and I find that I have cell service.

I call my Dad and we are able to talk for a few hours as I am hiking along. It is a wonderful treat to be able to talk to him, and feels very surreal to have service while I am kicking up ash in a ruined forest.

I run out of adjectives to describe the heat. We are drinking gallons of water each day. Our packs and clothes have salt crystal stains on them from our sweat. By the end of the day, our ankles swell and get itchy.

We descend 4,000 feet into the North Fork of the Feather River and into a little settlement called Belden Town. Belden Town is known for hosting raves.

As we walk in, covered in ash and pouring sweat, we hear the heavy bass of techno music pounding out of large speakers. We get a ton of looks as we pass through throngs of people dressed in music festival attire.

It is quite a culture shock.

Leaving Belden involves a 15 mile, 4,500 foot climb, through another burnt forest. We plan to hike into the night to save ourselves from the heat. Even after the sun sets it remains above 90 degrees.

I hike with my shirt off and drink deeply at every water source. As we cross a talus slope I shine my flashlight up the slop and see a pair of large eyes illuminated by my light. I throw a few rocks at it and see that it is a mountain lion. We watch to make sure it leaves and then frequently scan the trail behind us with our headlamps to make sure we are not being followed.

After a few minutes we pass a tent set up next to the trail that is illuminated with a flashlight, which is unusual to see. Most hikers are asleep by sunset. Later we learn that this was our friend Papa Bear who had a harrowing night with this mountain lion prowling around his campsite. We set up camp at 11pm with plans to wake early to finish our climb before the heat of the day.