Central California
Starting: Section M4 - Saddle-McRae Ridge
Ending:  Section M7 - Middle Fork Feather River

The Middle Fork Feather River, this beautiful river epitomizes the ups & downs of life on the PCT. The Middle Fork is the kind of place most people hike to as a destination, rather then hike through, just another piece of scenery on a longer journey.

I got to the river by 7 pm after traveling almost 30 miles. Too late in the day & too tired for a swim, I soaked my feet for 10 minutes before continuing on to find a campsite. This is life on the PCT: the drive to head north, to reach Canada before winter, makes it difficult to stop & enjoy the sites along the way.

Saw my 2nd bear today up on the ridge above the river. Small, black, roughly 150 pounds, he was tearing open an old log 20 yards above the trail. I pulled out my camera & tried to get closer but he heard me and ran for cover as fast as his legs could carry him. So I guess not all bears are 500 pound, fearless, pack-and-everything-in-it-eating machines.

I am going to finish this journal entry, eat some dinner, then crawl into my bivy & fall asleep to the distant sound of the flowing river and dream of swimming in its cool waters...