Day 105 to 106 - Etna

August 8 - 9

Day 105 to 106

Miles:  5+12 (my best guess)

Total Miles:  1618

After a short hike to the road, Fall Risk and I caught a ride from someone from town who was dropping other thru-hikers back onto the trail.  We asked that he take us directly to Bob's Restaurant where we walked in, dirty and smelling of trail funk, and had breakfast.  The server, a middle-aged woman, did not look so pleased to be serving a couple of stinky hikers but she did all the same.  

Day 103 to 104 - Trail Magic and The Russian Wilderness

August 6 to 7
Day 103-104
Miles:  10+35
Total Miles:  1601

View from The Russian Wilderness

After just ten miles we made it Highway 3 where Unload was set up with a grill, picnic table and loads of beer.  Unload had hiked the PCT in 2011 and he had spent the winter on a fishing vessel up in Alaska.  He was back for the summer and decided what a better way to spend his time than to hang out with some green 2012 thu-hikers.  He cooked us burgers and dogs and we drank beer and soda and whiskey.  Even with only ten miles behind us that day, it took very little to convince us to stay that night and keep the party going.  Once other hikers showed up, Weather Carrot and Bobcat, we were in for the night.

Day 101 to 102 - Deadfall Lake and Gumboot Lake

August 4-5
Day 101 to 102
Miles:  20+24
Total Miles:  1556

On August 4th Jubel, Action Pack and I camped at Gumboot lake just a half mile off trail.  We briefly met another group of campers at the lake on a "vision quest."  Unfortunately, none of the vision questers invited us to join them at their delicious smelling meal.  None the less, we took advantage of the cool waters of the lake and took a swim to wash away the dust and grime - I washed my hair with Dr. Bronner's bio-degradable soap.  A deer seemed keenly interested in our tent site and we had to shoo it away several times.