Seiad Valley to Canyon Creek

A group of ultramarathoners orchestrated a 120 mile section-hike of the Bigfoot Trail that involved a car shuttle and key-swap. Suzanna Bon and Sean hiked from Seiad Valley to Canyon Creek while Lucas Horan hiked the opposite direction. While they executed this epic trip in only four days, the approach exemplifies the endless possibilities that car shuttles offer to section and day hikers.

Suzanna and Sean

Thursday 7/30 – 6 miles

Started from Grider Creek Campground at about 11:30 PM.  Camped along Cold Spring Creek

Friday 7/31 – 39.50 miles

• Stunning wildflowers along the PCT through the Marble Mountains.
• Admired the huge Shasta firs on the ridge above Big Meadow and saw some beautiful silver firs before it got dark.  
• Had some challenges getting through the Wooley Creek area.
• Camped along Bug Gulch Trail above Upper Fork Creek. 

Saturday 8/1 – 43.65 miles + 5 miles road 

• Enjoyed seeing Fish Lake where I used to camp as a kid, 40+ years ago.  However, lots of cattle on both sides of the ridge.  
• As it got dark we again had some challenges getting through the high meadow above Lady Gulch Lake and the descent down to Coffee Creek Road.  
• We skipped Packer Peak (this time) Camped at Big Flat Campground.

Sunday 8/2 – 26.70 miles

• Finished at the Canyon Creek Trailhead

From Lucas

Started at the Canyon Creek trailhead in the Trinity Alps. Made it into the Russian Wilderness before climbing through the Marble Mountains and finished by taking the PCT down into Seiad Valley

A couple weeks ago I wrote Sean Ranney (of Euchre Bar Massacre fame) about logistics of some Sierra routes. He responded that he and Suzanna Bon were planning to do a 120 mile section of the Bigfoot trail (“…no permits and no bear bins and no people.”) and asked if I wanted to do a car swap. I think my response was, “The longer it takes me to say No, means the answer is more likely Yes.” After spending a couple of days without cell phone reception on the JMT with the Glaser-Cain clan I came back to the virtual world and finalized “plans” with Sean on Tuesday… “Meet Thursday evening in Redding, CA and swap cars?”, “Sounds great!!! Will you send me your GPS track?”.

I made it to the Chipotle parking lot about 7pm. They took my car and drove to Seiad Valley. I had some work meetings the next day so stayed the night and got to the trailhead at the Southern end of the route a little before 6pm on Friday.

I love point to points. When stuck, lost, or exhausted the only thing that really matters is finding some way to move forward. Three sunrises, three books, mountains that go on forever, a playful bear cub, fighting desperation and bushes in Wooley Canyon, cliff jumps into the Salmon River, more trail stories that I will forget than I will ever remember.