Today was an exciting day because we had some scenic hiking, beers, and a reunion.
We got up early at our beautiful stream campsite and packed our gear. We only had 10 miles into Belden and it was supposed to be mostly downhill.
On the way down we passed many cold streams and watery crossings. It was the first time in a while that we needed to cross logs to keep from getting wet since the Seirra. The descent often seemed to be more uphill than downhill. The elevation profile didn’t really capture the nuances that really felt like they added up. In spite of the varied terrain it was very enjoyable and interesting.
We descended into Belden and were struck by how charming and quaint it was. It was, at the moment, this sleepy little town with only a few buildings and power station on the edge of a river.
It had an inn, a saloon, an old garage, and a general store. I was at a loss at first as to how to behave but soon a few hikers came out of the saloon and started milling about and we got the gist. Sherpa tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to a hiker that just came out and instantly I recognized him. It was Crash! Our friend crush from way back in Idylwild.
It was so good to see him and we all went inside the saloon for food and drinks. Inside I noticed a couple drinking a Bloody Mary and I had to have one! Crash said he had never had one before so I ordered him one two. They were delicious, especially with some hot sauce.
We chatted and laughed for a few hours and then decided it was time to start the climb out of here and say goodbye. Both of us had hard climbs ahead of us but ours was going to be straight up and it was HOT outside! We said our goodbyes and were on our way. We will miss our friend.
The climb was difficult but rewarding. The views were stunning and we headed to a campsite that was very exposed and had a terrific view of the sunset and lakes below.
We made dinner at sunset and then turned in. Durring the night I noticed the moon rise and it was only a sliver of a waning crescent. It was so perfect and almost artificial hanging on the edge of the horizon. I closed my eyes and we slept like little hiker babies.