Pacific Crest Trail - Day 130 - Big Cliff Fire closure and Callahan, CA

Start: Mile 1538.2 - Deadfall Lakes
End: Mile 1561.8 - Highway 3 / Callahan, CA

We ran into the omnipresent Trail Angel OutsideJay at a trailhead a few miles into the day. We reminded him that he was the spark that kickstarted this adventure and he teared up a bit. He posted our story to his YouTube: A trail provides moment at mile 1541 .

Jay let us know that the fire we saw in the distance yesterday was growing rapidly and had shut down the trail ~40 miles ahead of us between Carter Summit and Etna Summit.

Shit. Our outside hopes of the previous evening’s rain storm quenching the fire were quashed.

Jay was at the trailhead supporting Peg Leg who is attempting an insane border-to-border calendar year triple crown - that’s the Appalachian Trail (including Florida all the way down the Keys, and Maine to the Canadian border), the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail in one year. Insane.

She is blogging about her adventure if you’re interested.

Trinity Alps in the distance. Unfortunately we missed this section dodging the fire closure. We’ll be back someday.

California Pitcher Plants. They’re carnivorous.

Haven‘t seen a color gradient like this since the beach towns north of San Diego the day before we set out on this hike.

The Big Cliff Fire above Etna in the distance.

Pretty standard PCT sign ’round these parts.

OutsideJay gave us a lift from the summit into Callahan, CA. We could have gone 20 more miles towards the closure but hopped on the opportunity to get down from a remote trailhead with burgers and beers below.

We met OutsideJay and Peg Leg at the Callahan Emporium for burgers and $2 Coors Lights.

This couple saw us attempting to hitch into Etna across the street from the Callahan Emporium and waved us over and said “Come on, let’s go, get in the car” as they were leaving the bar. Awesome.