Hiking partners

The Bigfoot Trail is gnawing at me. I feel the tug, but I need a hiking partner for a trail this remote. My other hikes have been alone, but with the assurance that there are other hikers behind me if something happens. Not so on this one. There would be no one coming up behind.

There are two absolutely incredible human beings with the skill that this trail demands. WILDCAT is a Triple Crowner (completing the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail), and Fatty is a younger outdoor Guide and Physical Therapist.  I send them both an email:

I'm thinking about another hike, this time just 360'ish miles. You might recall how beautiful NW California was, with the Marble Mountains, Russian Wilderness, etc. I have wanted to go back there and also wanted to hike from there to the west into the redwoods. Well, now a guy has proposed a new trail that wanders through those areas, emphasizing the botanical diversity on the way. Sounds like a great hike. http://bigfoottrail.org


Unfortunately, neither are available to hike this year. I set my sights on 2016.  The pull of this Trail is strong.

Kickstarter

On my PCT hike in 2004, I fell in love with the Trinity Alps and Marble Mountains, located in the farthest northern stretch of California. Remote, wild, and rugged, the trail has amazing expansive views of jagged granite peaks, as well as beautiful lush forest below treeline.  I vowed I'd get back and hike more in this area, but alas a decade later I I still haven't.

Today, I ran into this random Kickstarter campaign, proposing a new thru hike in this area.
Kickstarter BigFoot Trail

This is very intriguing. I generally hike alone, but this is too new, too remote, too rugged. I'd need a hiking partner. I click on "pledge" and start thinking of who might join me on this hike.

(Click Next to continue reading my daily blogs as I hike along. )