Page 13 of 29

Gimme the Good Earth III

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 2:18 pm
by Intrinsic
Looking back on who's sitting behind me.
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To the left a Ranger, so I thought. He heard me talking with the couple beside talking about my hike, among a bunch of other stuff. We were having a good time, they had hike the Tahoe Rim trail last year and some cool stories tell.

But the "ranger" proved to be just a cop, he came up to me as I was leaving he asked if I had a bear canister, I was on top of the world so I told the truth, nope; Hell last day in the park for me anyway so what. He radioed it in and started to follow me down the Trail. WTF!
Retrieve my pack, and said he was going hike me out to the park boundary (just half a mile from the trail head). As I said, it was last day in the park so whatever dude. :rolleyes:
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I engage him in conversation, tried to keep it light, no worries, he was fascinated by my hike, never heard of such a thing, I answered all his questions, even personal ones, And I wondered with the PCT going right through his park why he never once talked to a distance hiker before this??? Now he knows I hoped he doesn't start harassing the PCTers too. Most weren't using one same as me, unaware of the new bear cannister rule

The trail in front
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The shadow behind me.
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The Head dickwad discussing out of earshot how to turn a simple ticket, improper food storage, into a court appearance. Pissed they were doing this, knowing my rights, I demanded he arrest me so I can see the magistrate today or tomorrow, solve this right way, Whoa! He wouldn't do it. Balked. He was suppose to but just yelled at me to sit down and shut up. Fucking pig. Then wouldn't let me sign or read the ticket first, said I could read my copy after the fact. Wrong as he could be. Then to top it off they had my mailing address wrong also, and wouldn't correct it. WTf!! :facepalm:
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After I told the head dickwad he was a worthless as a Ranger and now proved to be a bad cop by not following current federal rules on arrest. He yelled at me from across the parking lot as I was walking away that I was banned from Lassen National Park. Fool, I know it takes a court order for that. Glad I got under his skin tho. :toker1:

Slipped away into the forest, still in Lassen Park, took a break till they left and smoked a bowl to center myself

Letting nature sooth me: Bleeding Heart.
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Looking back at Brokeoff Mountain
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Then continued on my route as planned, which was turned out to be another night in the Park anyway since I was delayed.

Gimme the Good Earth III

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 3:21 pm
by Intrinsic
Next day, still a little shook up from the ridiculous harassing from yesterday, which made me angry, which in turn cause me to pick-em-up-and-put-em-down, Sooo .. Damn good mileage today.

Passed Mill Creek Falls in the mourning.
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Looking back at Brokeoff Mt
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Left the trail for a short two mile cross country where I left finally Lassen Nation Park
Cool rock pinnacles and water cascades
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Came out to highway 36 and Childs meadow.
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4 miles of paved road walking to Mill creek lodge.
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Can't say enough about the good people here. They paid for my burger, just from listening to my stories. Then when the cook, when heard about my hassle from the rangers, set me up with a place to stay for the night and a much needed hot shower. Renewed my faith humanity, after being treated like derelict scum by the 'rangers'.

Next day more road walking into Mineral for my 3rd resupply. This area has these huge meadows, Consequently it is cattle country.
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Yer lucky the smell ain't part of the pic.

Gimme the Good Earth III

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 3:47 pm
by Intrinsic
Into Mineral,
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Took care of business; resupplied, mailed the kindle off, got hold of my brother and gave him the instructions for it. Had to mail off a change of address to the government for the right one from the dickwads mistake on the ticket. Used my bro's address and he'll just let me know when the summons arrives and the court date. Till then: Keep on truckin'

Leaving Mineral seeing the smoke from the first wildfire, of the season/trip. It was northwest of me, didn't affect me, and was out the next day.
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Finally end of road and the trailhead for Mill Creek, seldom visited.
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Most of this section is in the Mill And Dear creek state wildlife refuge and the Ishi Wilderness. The game refuge is mostly for the anadromous salmon and steelhead that run up Mill and Dear creek. The Chinook salmon run here are the most genetically pure that's left and Mill creek is the highest elevation spawning for 'em.
And here I was wishing for my fishing pole. :whistle:
Beautiful country, good to see it protected.

Who was Ishi? Who were the Yahi Yani people?
Not a pretty history, the Yahi Yani were hunted down by the US government for eradication of the "wild indians". Ishi was the last survivor, the tribe was able to stay hidden because this country's rough topography and harsh land to travel in, as I found out. Volcanic lava flows and lava tubes like the Subway were used as caves for living and storage.

From summitpost.org:
In prehistoric times, the Ishi Wilderness and the surrounding region was the home of the Yahi Yani Indians. They traveled in small bands and hunted and fished the area. When gold was discovered in 1848, prospectors poured into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The Cascade-Sierra foothills witnessed a similar phenomenon. Prospectors originally blazed the Lassen trail, which still exists as an unmaintained pathway in the heart of the Ishi. The Yahi Yani managed to remain unmolested by the encroaching Americans by retreating into remote regions of the canyons. Once the gold deposits played out, the presence of those searching for gold dissipated and the area was again left to the Yahi Yani. However, the surrounding regions became settled and the Yahi Yani were eventually reduced to a small band, still hiding in the canyons. One by one they died out, until in 1911 a lone Yahi Yani named Ishi was left. He was found hiding in barn in Oroville, south of the present day boundary of the wilderness area. A University of California anthropology professor, who later wrote a book titled "Ishi", took him in. The book detailed much of the Yahi Yani way of life, as recounted by Ishi himself. Ishi adapted to early 20th century life fairly easily and was content to remain in the Bay Area, never desiring to return to his homeland. His departure from the traditional home of the Yahi Yani marked the end of the aboriginal existence of Native Americans.

Gimme the Good Earth III

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 3:55 pm
by Intrinsic
Back on a trail and in the cool wilderness with all it's cool distractions. Loving it!
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A blue egg shell, fell from some bird's nest
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Delicious wild springs.
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No purification needed, just great tasting water. Oh Yeah!

Boring vid, ya can easly skip this one:

Gimme the Good Earth III

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 2:42 pm
by Intrinsic
Mill Creek. Didn't see much of the creek since the trail stayed high to avoid cliffs and gorges. What I saw looked real nice.
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Looking over one of the cliffs into the creek canyon.
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Looking across the canyon.
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Moss covered boulders lining the trail.
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Maple.
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Gimme the Good Earth III

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 2:54 pm
by Intrinsic
Poison Oak
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Western Redbud
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wild Grape.
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The grapes at first it was cool, hoping to find some ripe grapes or old raisins.
But the vines were taking over in places, climbing the highest trees, covering the trail in wall.
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And these vines are TOUGH! Could not break them with strength alone, I had to cut my way through. Slow going.

But dropping in elevation these thorny puppies replaced the grapes.
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Blackberries covering every little spring and seep. Great eating at first but I soon missed the grapevines as I got shredded while punching my way through literally acres of Blackberries vines. Whacking what I could with a stick in each hand. I stopped trying to take pics cause I was getting blood all over the camera.
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Last pic of the day, my leg from what I thought at the time was some nasty scratches. Boy was I wrong, those were the nice ones compared to what was to come. Late into camp at sunset with bloody arms, legs and neck. Washed up in the creek and crashed hard, no dinner.
Highs and Lows yanno.

Gimme the Good Earth III

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 11:15 pm
by Roots
Ranger Rick would have had to physically restrain me or follow me off trail into the middle of nowhere.

Gimme the Good Earth III

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 12:23 am
by Jesús Malverde
I never wear shorts in the backcountry. if it ain't the brush and brambles, it's the bugs. Not worth it in my opinion. Sorry to hear about the dickwad park cop. Should be a good chill beat you'd think right but the NPS I've heard will hand a badge and gun to anyone who has a connection so you see some real poorly trained up dregs out in the field.

Great updates anyway, thanks.

Gimme the Good Earth III

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 3:44 pm
by Intrinsic
Roots we think alike, I was about to do just that. take off cross country and leave him in nowhere without water or a map. But he said no ticket and only follow me to the boundary. No reason to change my route for that. He was polite enough on the trail, not pushing me when I stopped to take pictures or even by his suggestion filling up and washing up at a spring. Till we met his boss at the trailhead parking lot and his demure changed 180 degrees. Became a Pig for his boss. If I'd known the head dickwad was waiting there I would've jes taken off cross country just before the road.

Haysus, it is worse then that, All Park and Forest rangers have to attend the federal law enforcement school in Glynco Georgia, a 3 month program. Plus they have to have a four year degree.

So i'm Not letting the head dickhead off cause of lack of training. He is just a bad cop, and not at all a ranger.
For what is worth , the kid that walked me out was ranger Bo. The head dickwad was ranger John. Never heard any last names.

Gimme the Good Earth III

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 4:06 pm
by Intrinsic
Day 31, July 23

Mourning reveled I was only a mile from Blackrock, a volcanic plug. Some good came out of the late day yesterday.
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The grass has turned brown, everything is drier. I've dropped in elevation down to 2000 feet and less then 20 miles to California's Central Valley
One of the many dry potreros.
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Black rock up close
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Looking down on Mill and the road where I cross on a bridge.
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From there it is climb up on a dirt road to the Lassen trail.
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An unmarked memorial to Ishi on the side of the road.
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