August 6, 2024: Sadly for the reader but luckily for me, not a lot to report from today’s day! I took a zero (= a day with zero miles hiked) to rest the legs and did that successfully!
After a good night (Josh said there could be a skunk visiting and I did smell it for a little while before my movements scared it away) I saw Jami and Josh off to work and began the day leisurely. Coffee, laundry, shower.
Then I took Sam for a walk, and we got some food at the bakery and the gas station (buns, cookies, crackers, soda and chocolate – a hiker’s essentials!). I hung out with dog and cat all day, took a nap and generally tried to stay off my feet.
The day began really smoky here but improved throughout the day. But it was hot … even the walk at 11am had me sweating. 31C and humid.
Northport is small with only 300 residents but there are so many big trucks going through here, it’s quite disturbing. Apparently they are going to the smelter in BC or transporting wood chips to a place south. They are not logging trucks but big semis in weird shapes. Anyway … not pleasant and weird since it is such a remote valley and tiny border crossing.
Jami and Josh got home around 6pm, and shortly after the Kiwi couple made it here too. We all had a yummy pasta dinner together, and later Mo showed up too! It was a fun evening.
They did remember Mo passing through in 2021 and also remembered you, Recon, from 5 years ago! Quite amazing! They have been doing this for a while but once they fix up the house and start renting it out, they will get out of the trail angel business. Not because they don’t like it but their other property won’t be on the trail and not convenient.
Back in the tent now for another restful night. Tomorrow we start the stretch to Republic. At least to the next highway (#395 to Orient) it’s mostly gravel roads.
Oh and a gear answer: For water, I carry the Sawyer Squeeze filter, a 1.5l Evernew bladder and a short bit of a small bladder as a scoop. All very light. The Evernew gets filled in streams and lakes, the filter screwed on, and the water squeezed into my clean water bottles (1l, 700ml, 500ml and 400ml containers, all counted). I usually start a day with one 700ml water bottle full but if there are longer dry stretches, more bottles get filled.
I have great memories there, so cool that they remembered me amongst all the other hikers
Fantastic people. Rare these days that people look at you with full attention, ask you questions, share honestly. Great human beings.