Lassen Rural Bus has launched a hikers’ journal and helps promote tourism in Lassen County.
The idea for the journal came about when bus operator, Brittany Duran, had a conversation with a hiker from Austria who was traveling to the Pacific Crest Trailhead in Chester. Brittany realized the importance of documenting the stories of these hikers and has since encountered various individuals, including scientists, a couple who quit their jobs to explore, and a 66-year-old man on his last adventure. Hikers from countries like Belgium, Denmark, and Sweden have been using the bus line to reach the trailhead.
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a famous trail that spans the length of California from Mexico to Canada. However, due to a significant amount of snowfall during this intense winter, there has been an increase in PCT hikers using Lassen Rural Bus this spring and summer seasons as a way to continue their journey along the trail. Amanda Bauer, a representative from Lassen Rural Bus, says she also contributes to the increase in PCT riders to more people getting outdoors after the COVID-19 pandemic, with around 100 PCT travelers using the bus in the past two months. Amanda adds they plan to take pictures of each group of hikers they transport to the trailhead and share them along with journal entries on their social media pages.
The bus line operates three times a day on weekdays and twice a day on Saturdays, connecting travelers to the PCT in Chester. To access service to the PCT, individuals can call 530-252-7433. The on-demand service to the trail operates year-round. The ridership from the PCT hiking community has been instrumental in supporting the local communities and bus systems, according to Amanda with the bus line.
Overall, the hikers’ journal initiative and the collaboration between the bus service and PCT hikers have been beneficial for the rural transit system and local communities in Lassen County. Brittany Duran has found inspiration through her interactions with the hikers and hopes to one day take her own family on the Pacific Crest Trail.
You can follow along the journey by visiting Lassen Rural Bus on Facebook.
