PCT 2023: EP 21 - Chester to Lassen Volcanic NP | Finding Beauty in the Burn

[@MrJohn12041]

Love the new hat! It looks good on you!

[@debralints8926]

It’s been raining here in upstate New York for 2 days now. Thanks for a wonderful video very enjoyable. God bless you hon . Stay safe

[@guanaca6622]

Welcome back to the trails .I love the drums music.

[@GraceEspinoza-lp5ye]

So glad to see you’re back out there! You’re such an inspiration to us newbies. 🤗🎉

[@shades1959]

Great to see you back out there. Getting your legs back under you should be quick. You look well rested. Smart to take some time off. Thanks for sharing. Looks beautiful out there.

[@carolhindley7942]

So glad to see you back on trail! Section hike or thru hike - just do what feels right for you. Whichever, we’re thankful to be made to feel we’re right there with you - your willingness to share all of this is a gift for all the rest of us. Carol and Barb 🇨🇦

[@VivianInTheOC]

The wide brimmed hat looks cool! 😎

[@tammyjarvis3699]

Yay! Back on trail! I’ve watched you get tougher and tougher every hike, so I’m convinced you’ll get tougher out there in the forest too lol!

[@boomerabilia]

I'm glad that you're back. Tracy, I'm watching the codgers and they're right before you and I saw the area they went through and. It was a lot of burn area... Here's what they said though. They're in Oregon now. The trails in Oregon are pristine and they take care of them more there... whereas there's a lot more blow downs in California and they even really don't maintain the trails that well which makes it annoying for all of the hikers... They need to get more people out in California and fix those trails otherwise it takes more time... But the Oregon trail is absolutely gorgeous and you're going to love it. I would be personally afraid of bears because there's been reports of more bear activity this year. But when you think of all the people that are out this summer , millions and millions of people all over the place, it's not a lot of bears. It's more people than bears... I'm anxious to see what you do next and have a great day wherever you are! Lassen Park is really beautiful but I don't think the trail goes through the whole park ... Where until you get to Mount Shasta ... By the way, I really like that hat on you, a lot of people have a Fuller brim hat and now we know why! It looks really super good

[@jhonyermo]

Following you since your very first PCT hike. FWIW, your new sombrero. It looks just great. Very spiffy, I must say! 🤠

[@susanrogers3350]

It’s funny that you love the desert portion of the pct. I can’t stand the desert portion but LOVE all the trees on this portion of the trail. Sadly, so many of them have burned. By the time you read this response, you will really see how badly the burn is with all the blow downs. I do hope you like the upcoming trails as I always find trees nourishing. Love to see you back on the trail!

[@lizzshields8086]

That new hat looks great on you!! You had some beautiful views along this area even with some burn spots! When the fires hit I was working at Drakesbad and lived in the Warner campground had alot of thru hikers stay in my site!! Was great listening to their trails stories! Then came the fires and we had to leave! I've wanted to go back and see what it looked like. Thanks for taking us along!!

[@sportsfan5872]

I’m so glad that you are continuing on the trail, I love your videos. I have enjoyed them every year. I really hope that you do the entire trail but I can understand section hiking. Do you hang a food bag…if so can you video that. Keep safe and enjoy the trail:)

[@TikiBirdTracy]

I have not hung my food yet! I could though.

[@hikerJohn]

You *look* well rested at the start of this one :o)

[@deniseflygirl]

Hey you’re back! Yeah, for me, wide brim hats are mandatory on trail as I often would end up getting too pink otherwise. And I cannot afford to do that anymore. I also do the umbrella in direct sunlight. Enjoy your time back on trail.

[@anitasimmons3599]

Wow what a difference. I walked through a lot less burned areas than you did, I was through there in 2017 starting at Belden and hiked until Etna Summit were the fire closure stopped my hike. I really enjoyed Lassen NP, but I also had a bear canister, the Ursac was not approved in Lassen foraging few more years and I understand it is only on a test basis right now. The burn area through the last part of the park was scary with high winds and a thunderstorm. I remember how light my pack felt after mailing the canister home at Old Town. I camped at the same campground in the park and hiked through the rest of it the next day. I camped solo in some pine barrins before Old Town. Pine woods just seem like home to me, I guess it was all those years living just north of Houston, Texas. After 2014, I found out I had a gluten intolerance. Both my parents were children of wheat farmers, so that felt like a slap... If I get wheat I have gastric issues and loose stools for 3 to 5 days. I lose weight and have no energy for up to a week after that. It really stinks for on trail resupplying. I sent resupply boxes in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and that really helped. If I cut out sugar too, I have almost no inflammation and my aches and pains are minimal. I hope your stomach issues are not a gluten intolerance, or sugar. My sister has over 100 intolerances and dairy is one of her top intolerances. I love traveling with her because if I eat the way she does, I feel great. She eats really clean. I don't think I could be a vegetarian though... I am almost caught up with your videos now. I hope you are rested and getting back into your routine. Thank you for vlogging your journey. What incredible journeys you have had. Thank you again for taking us along.

[@TheHikingChick1]

I'm a huge fan of brimmed hats over caps. Might I suggest the Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat. It's gray under the brim and really cuts on the glare (I noticed your hat was white underneath). Once I started using this hat, I never went back to a cap for hiking. There's just not enough sun protection for me and so many more reasons. Of course it's a personal choice.😁 I'm kicking myself for not going for it this year and getting out in Nor-Cal. I would have loved to hike through this section with you (if I could've kept up 😂). I love the forest but agree... it feels a little more sketch. For me it's the bear potential. I'd probably take the weight penalty and carry a bear can throughout Nor-Cal just for peace of mind. Looking forward to each video. You're keeping me motivated. 😊🌻💛

[@sportsfan5872]

I know you’re using the bear vault for this campground but I was referring to every night on the trail so far😊

[@gaylewalker4239]

Working through the trail. It must be odd to be hiking in burned areas. You'll get used to the hat. I hope you share what foods you made and how you're doing with that. Keep trekking. 😊

[@atrailoforangeslices3506]

I know you have said before, but can you remind everyone what brand of umbrella you carry? You've convinced me of their usefulness! Thanks. 🍊

[@TikiBirdTracy]

This is Zpacks, they sell on their website 😁

[@tommckinney1489]

Hey, love the new hat! Tiger paw logo, too. Auburn fan? Clemson fan? or.....?

[@TikiBirdTracy]

I inherited this from my older son, not sure where he got it from 🤣

[@Icewing10]

The trees are so magical. Don't let Hollywood ruin your experience...unless you are afraid bears, which makes sense.

[@memathews]

Yes, finally North of the desert! I guess forest would be unnerving to someone used to the open desert, but you'll get used to it through Oregon and Washington. I grew up in the Cascade forests, so the desert openness is really unfamiliar for me. You mentioned the shift in trees and other bushes, but diff you notice the change in geology? You're in the Cascade Range now, they run from a little south of Chester all the way into BC, completely different from the Sierra Nevada Range Did you happen to run into Marmalade in the area? He was there around July 12-13, spent July 14 n Old Station.

[@MrJohn12041]

I'm sorry my reply has my husbands name on here, I just realized that! CL

[@Adlerleslie0624]

Can you give us a date when this was recorded and how long your break was

[@kimrobb1965]

I don’t believe she likes people to know her whereabouts after last year‘s issue😅