From the moment I first heard about the Foothills Trail, I knew I wanted to hike it all the way through. But at the time I had absolutely NO experience backpacking. I was just a day hiker. There was no way I could spend a night in the woods let alone a week. The longer that guidebook sat collecting dust on the shelf, the more it started to feel like hiking the trail was just wishful thinking... But wishful thinking doesn’t get you anywhere. If I was really serious, sooner or later I would have to go for it.
Music featured in the video: “Lazy Pirouettes” provided by teknoaxe.com
Trail Journal
October 12th 2020
Oconee to Pigpen & Licklog Falls
8.1 miles
"You must be Jessica. I'm Taz!"
The shuttle driver held out a small can and business card with his number.
"If you don’t have the fuel for it, probably best to put it in your car until you get back. One less thing to keep up with."
It was a beer can repurposed as an alcohol stove. I’d heard of punching holes around the side of an empty tuna can before, but this was different. This had more craftsmanship to it. I followed the suggestion and put it in the trunk of the car for safe keeping.
Next came everything I needed to know. Recent happenings with bears at the usual food drop and cache spots, where the trail picked up at road crossings, and best of all how to find the best kept secret near Pinnacle Mt. A guided tour AND welcome gift?! Things were off to a great start.
Halfway to my destination a call came through. A lady he dropped off a day or two before was injured and calling off her thru-hike.
"So, about how many of these rides you do are rescues?" I asked. Like the answer would somehow increase my own chance of making it all the way?
"I’d say 20%. Not that I'm complaining. People just over estimate their abilities."
Getting out of the truck it hit me. I was past the point of “Wait! On second thought maybe I'll just...” Nope. Only thing to do now was start walking.
76 miles.
That's like 3 marathons back to back.
In a way, I got trail magic my first night of camp. I was having a ridiculous time trying to set up my new trekking pole tent. The stakes that came with it were fine for staking out the corners, but not the main guy line in the front. Every time I tried to get enough tension on it, the line popped off, the stake went go flying, and the whole tent collapsed. Over and over. It was stupid. I felt stupid. I needed a minute to walk off the failure. While pacing the camp site, I saw something shiny between the leaves. A long silver gopher stake! Perfect for holding the front line of the tent!
I usually use a small gas stove, but this time I thought I'd try something new. A wood burning stove. It'll be great! There's fuel literally everywhere on the trail. To my disappointment, my first camp was still wet from rain days before. Not a single dry twig! I couldn't get a flame to hold for the life of me, and ended up burning through over half my supply of "emergency" fuel tablets just to get the water warm.
Note to self: Collect sticks throughout the day from now on. Do not let this happen again!
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