The Pacific NorthwestJul 31 2017

Seiad Valley

Aug012017
Map thumbnail of location

After a quick -- yet quite interminable -- 6.5-mile road walk this morning, I arrived in the town of Seiad Valley. This town, pronounced "SIGH-ad", is noteworthy to me because of one important attribute: it's the last town in California. I'm almost done with my first state.

Also, it has amazing milkshakes. I would drive a considerable distance for one of these. It's hard to explain what makes them better than all of the other milkshakes I've had, but they're easily the best of the Trail (so far?).

Another thing about this town is that it is dreadfully hot. As in, a high of 106°F today. This normally wouldn't be a huge deal except that, being on the Klamath River, there's a massive climb out of here. Across 6 miles, I had to climb from 1,300 feet to some 5,900 feet. On exposed hillsides. With only two piddly low-flow springs.

So I waited until it cooled down to a chilly 98°F at 4:00pm and then hit the trail. Yeah, it was a brutal climb.

It was really pretty though!It was really pretty though!
Especially the sunset.Especially the sunset.
OoooooOooooo
Close-up!Close-up!

Oh yeah, and they're trying to secede from California and convince the bottom of Oregon to come along.

I'm not going to hold my breath.I'm not going to hold my breath.
Oregon!Aug 02 2017