Mile 1317.9 to 1332.8 – 14.9 miles total hiked on PCT

In the middle of the night there can still be magical views.

Followed by magical sunrise colors.

As much as I’d like to enjoy the view, needed to get going. I had 15 miles to hike to Highway 36, which would be a rest and resupply stop for me in Chico.

Sadly, it would be more travel through dead burned out forests.

I did encounter some cleanup work at one point. Tell me the trees that had been blocking the PCT trail had been cut up to restore the original PCT trail.

I took the opportunity to do a little cleanup, work to make it more obvious that the correct pass was now the old pass that had been covered over for years.

More views of Mount Lassen greeted me along the long hike.

The final climb took me up and down the side of Butt Mountain.

There’s a whole bunch of jokes I could add here, but I think the name of the mountain kind of speaks for itself.

I’m sure it’s used to being the butt of all jokes. 😄😜🤣

Then I saw something unnatural on the side of the trail…

A rock cairn drew my attention, followed by a concrete post opposite on the trail.

Oh my god, it’s full of stars!

Well, not really but it was one of those momentous moments on the PCT.

It was the PCT Midpoint Marker.

1,325 miles to Canada and 1,325 miles to Mexico where I had started from.

118 days on the trail (plus 23 zero days off the trail). It took me longer than I expected, but just making this far is a big accomplishment for me. I’ve overcome physical, mental, medical, nature, and willpower problems all along the way.

I could’ve stopped anytime and was tempted to many times, but I kept going. I overcame many challenges over the last 1,325 miles and I knew there were more challenges ahead.

But for now, it was time to celebrate with a whole bunch of pictures!!🤣😜📷

My beard was closely trimmed my face when I started. now it almost covered up the words on the midpoint marker.🤣

I added my trail name (both my PCT earned name and my original trail name) to the midpoint marker register.

Sadly, after a brief lunch break, I had to go back to hiking the trail.

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After the cleaned up area and the midway marker, the trail was littered with lots and lots of blown down trees and debris. It was quite a challenge to make my way up, over, around, and (in some cases) under them.

BUT once I left the US Forest sService managed area and entered private land managed by Collins industries, I noticed that it was better managed and almost all of the fallen trees had been cleared.

Self service bush clearing. 😊

At Highway 36, I got a ride into Chico to get some RRRRHTLSB&DC.

Rest, Relaxation, Recovery, Resupply, Hot Tub, Laundry, Shower, Bed, and Diet Coke.

I really had to let my body rest too. Both knees have been troubling me individually or sometimes at the same time. And I wanted to have my eyes checked again. The floaters in my left eye that I had problems with in June were now appearing in my right eye, this time with flashes of light.

One hunter seen on trail – No hikers (through or otherwise) seen on trail.