Day 92: Uphill

North Fork Feather River at Belden Town - Frog Mountain
1 mile car ride from Little Haven to Belden Town + Mile 1284 - 1298 on PCT
Total 14 miles


Yesterday I was privileged to be a guest together with four other friendly PCT hikers at the peaceful and quiet Little Haven at the Braatens in the deep valley of the Feather River.
Thank you Brenda and Laurie for sharing your home with us. It was great to have a real kitchen, cook some real pasta, and eat delicious fresh veggies from your garden and take a long soak in the river and enjoy the sweet blackberries growing on its shore.
Today morning it's time to head back on trail. But first, I go to the river for a morning swim, pick more blackberries, and share them with hikers Sourcream and Afrodite who started making pancakes in the kitchen. The two other girls (Zool and Pineapple) are early birds and already left to be on trail at six in the morning.








At eight I'm ready and Brenda gives me a ride one mile back to the spot where I left the trail yesterday. I can't see the hens anywhere in the garden. Brenda says that she keeps them closed inside the henhouse until they lay their eggs, and then let's them out; otherwise, the hens like to hide their eggs in places where she can't find them.

I pay a short visit to the resort and store across the bridge, get some fresh fruit and more trail mix to mix with my oats, and start today's journey uphill. It's total 4,800 ft (around 1500 m) climb from the river to the top of Frog Mountain.






At the trailhead we can see old gold mining machinery.






The beginning of the ascent is gradual, with views of the Feather river below..






There are delicious wild cherries on the and oak trees provide shade.








Then the real uphill climb starts, first going through an old burned area with thick bushes but no shade at all.








Luckily after two miles of steep exposed slope the trail enters forest again. There are a couple of springs and streams crossing the trail with life-important water.










The shady forest is a mixed woodland with many species of oak, maple, pine and fir and in places with dense undergrowth overgrowing the trail. One of the oak species to watch out for is called "poison oak" and it's leaves are likely to cause rash when touched by exposed skin.








Water is abundance along the uphill. Almost every mile there is a stream, so it's not necessary to carry extra water and the climb is lighter.








At mile 1293 the trail crosses a bigger stream named Chips Creek. There's a waterfall and under it a deep swimming hole. Halfway through the uphill, it is a good location to take a long break in the cold stream water and wait out the afternoon heat.








During my break I am accompanied by a beautiful butterfly.






Then as the sun starts hiding, I resume the uphill climb towards Frog Mountain.






It is a warm and calm summer evening when I reach the rocky summit. The horizon is red and there is a slight scent of smoke from distant fires. I set up my bivy tent to keep mosquitoes away, and quickly fall asleep. Today's climb has been one of the biggest uphills on the PCT so far. But thanks to the water and trees and energy from my stay at the Little Haven, it was not the hardest one. And there's going to be more downhills than uphills as I head north towards Oregon!

~ In the next days I am entering remote areas with weak or no cell phone service. Next update probably in a few days from Burney Falls or Castella.