[pct-l] Update..Flight of the Spiriteagle

[kahley7 <kahley7@ptd.net>]

One of those frustrating calls...bad connection, complicated
by my current bout of tintinitus.

They called from what Jim called a backcoutry packstation...
This is a remote section of the trail which has them packing 
a week-plus food so they were bummed to find only bagels...
not even cheese as the cheese wouldn't come till after they 
pushed on.  
They had held up in Vermillion with a bunch of other hikers,
hoping that the 80 temps would take down some of the snow.
J&G started their hike about two weeks earlier than the
norm,
and that's come back to bit them on the butt as the early
start has negated the benefits of a low snow year.  The high
passes still
have a lot of snow.  In fact, I think they said that their
was no
trail over Forester.  But who can afford to hole up and wait
for
two weeks so they push on.  
Ice axes are definitely a must and held tight at the ready.
One
woman had to self arrest three times!!!  One particular ice
pack
was only passable because a hiker with two axes held on with
one
as he cut steps with the other.  
The temps have been hitting 80 and the stuff is melting but
of
course that holds it's own problems with stream crossings. 
G&J
have developed their own buddy system...Jim on the upstream
side
to block the brunt of the force from Ginny, who can then use
that
reserve of strength to grab Jim if he looses footing.  One
time
she missed and Jim went bobbing downstream.  Luckily, it was
not
one of the crossings that are located just upstream form a
water 
fall.  Jeeze...seems to me that that is a dumb place to put
a 
crossing but it doesn't stop there!  G&J got their first
view
of a high water fall...on  Silver Creek I think...
A real "ooooh and ahhhhh" sight.  Not quite as attractive,
when
a couple miles later they found the trail crossed the
waterfall half
way down!!!  Well...nobody said this wasn't gonna be an
adventure!!!

They don't see many hikers on the trail but in town there
are just
enough to create a nice little social scene which is a nice
change
from the isolation of the CDT.  They did see quite a few
hikers on
the John Muir Trail.  In fact, Ginny said she doesn't think
some
of them should have been permitted.  Extremely under
equipped and
you have to assume under experienced...or else why would
they be out there in sweatpants????

They seem to be on track with there schedule so the 
maildrop is still good for about the 4th of July
c/o General Delivery
Sierra City
 Sierra City, CA 96125         
Be sure and write:
Please hold for PCT Thruhikers Jim OR Ginny Owen  7/04/00
on the letter or package

Upcoming maildrops are:
7/11            c/o Belden Town Resort
                PO Box 56
                Belden, CA 95984              
7/16            c/o General Delivery
                Old Station, CA 96071        
7/19            c/o General Delivery
                Burney, CA 96013              
7/28            c/o General Delivery
                Etna, CA 96027                
7/31            c/o General Delivery
                Seiad Valley, CA 96086
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