July 15, 2018 Mission Impossible: filling up the hungry hiker

It may be Mission’s “mission” to thru-hike 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada, but the rest of us in his family/framily of trail angels are on a mission to try to feed his insatiable hunger.  Today the mission fell to cousins Kerwin and Tina Grivey from Orland, CA who drove up to the junction of the PCT and Interstate 5 near Castle Crags to take Mission some fresh nectarines & those amazing Red Haven Peaches and some real food.  Then he enjoyed another meeting with his childhood friend, Dillon Thompson from Hollister who was up in northern CA this week.  It looks like Mission probably ate some more food in Mt. Shasta City with Dillon.  The summer monsoon that has been playing havoc with California’s weather this week sent some thundershowers while he was hitching with today’s angels. But now he is back on the trail in dry weather and won’t have to pitch camp in the mud.

 

Kerwin, Tina and Dillon all look so sparkling clean!!!  But Mission’s smile says it all, meeting up with family and friends is a little bit of heaven along the long road.

Mission took advantage of  Mt. Shasta City WIFI to send Granny Hat some more pictures.  The first set were taken several days ago at MacArthur Burney Falls.  Granny visited that beautiful spot as a child and loved walking the narrow path that winds behind the falls in a recessed cave area.  Swallows nest there and are busy flying back and forth  through the cascade to bring food to their babies.

The water in the falls comes from underground volcanic springs above and at the falls, which are 129 feet high, and provides an almost constant flow rate of 379 million liters per day, even during the dry summer months. Burney Creek is a tributary of the Pit river, with its mouth on Lake Britton to the north.   Burney Falls were called the “Eighth Wonder of the World” by President Theodore Roosevelt and declared a National Natural Landmark in December 1954. (Wikipedia)

 

 

Two evenings ago the combination of monsoon clouds and sunset made for stunning views of Mt. Shasta.  If you look very closely, Granny thinks you might be able to see something suspicious flying about that lonely mountain breathing fire and smoke. Are all the dragons gone?  Or do some still live in the Pacific Rim volcanoes? If you can’t see one, Granny Hat has heard that you can just imagine dragons.

Mission’s GPS coordinates tonight are 41.16002, -122.31242.  It looks like he is camped in Castle Crags State Park.  Those of you following and comparing the GPS progress will notice that his longitude measurements have changed more than his latitude in the past several days.  He has truly been “going west, young man” but that will change soon.

Granny Hat is so very thankful for today’s trail angels and their encouragement and generosity to Mission.  Hike alone, but eat in good company!

“When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit awhile with me

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up… To more than I can be

There is no life – no life without its hunger
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly
But when you come and I am filled with wonder
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up… To more than I can be”

Josh Groban