August 31 & September 1, days 154-155
PCT kilometers: 4,269; kilometers hiked: 2,562
On August 31, precisely 5 months after our PCT start in Campo, we flew from Vancouver to Bakersfield, with a short layover in San Francisco that left us just enough time to catch the connecting flight. The issue of visas – reentry into the USA after a few days abroad and a visa extension – unfortunately could not be clarified by the US immigrations officer at the airport in Vancouver. Nevertheless, we were allowed back in. The officer was unable to extend the valid visa date (beyond September), although we had left the USA for 3 days, reentering from Canada, and our 10-year multiple visa permits us to repeatedly reenter the country for 6 months at a time over the next 10 years (B2-Visum). He stamped our passports, next to the stamp we'd gotten in San Diego, and jotted down our entry date of August 31, 2019, with a pen; the exit date, as noted in the stamp from San Diego, as 26.9.2019. Along the edge of the stamp it says Customs and Border Protection. Our questions elicited a referral to the US Citizenship and Immigration Service; however, our written inquiries over the last weeks had remained unanswered. US Traveldocs, responsible for the visas and whom we'd written to earlier, had referred us to CBP, who in turn had referred us to the CIS, who in turn referred us to their website, which left our queries equally unanswered. Interestingly, only the United employee at the check-in desk seemed to care about our return flight ticket, which of course we don't yet have: She told us we need one or a permission of another kind. We showed her our scruffy black and white photocopies of the permit from the PCT Association. This didn't satisfy her. We wonder if airline employees are now responsible for border protection? Back to the US immigrations officer at Vancouver airport: we surmise that a still valid visa cannot be extended in advance, i.e. before it has expired. It is probably only possible through an official extension process, involving considerable effort (calling on the responsible authorities on a specified date, at a specified place, for an interview – which procedure Patience from Estonia faces shortly in Seattle) plus fees of up to $500 per person. But the conditions listed for such an extensions are: emergencies (medical reasons and natural disasters). Which of course doesn't apply to us – and difficult because it's Labor Day weekend and we're loathe to lose any more valuable time. Besides which the extension request may be declined – and you still have to pay.
Just after midnight, Franziska picked us up from the airport. Fantastic moment to see her after such a long time (see Blog 84!). We spent the night at Franziska and her friend Quincy's house. Next day, it was hot, we breakfasted in their garden. After careful consideration and discussion with Franziska, we decided to apply for ESTA just in case, and received approval shortly thereafter, at $14 each. ??? Basically, ESTA gives us the possibility to remain in the USA for another 3 months from now – which is ample time to finish our hike. And since we entered the US from Canada yesterday, with new, dated, reentry stamps in our passports, we will now be able to stay for the 3 months regardless. It remains to be seen if this helps, once we ultimately leave the US. The fact is, we will be staying longer than the B2 visa permits. Worst case scenario: we won't be able to reenter the United States for several years. ;-)
Franziska has agreed to drive us to Walker Pass (a 90-minute drive), because there's no bus either on Friday or on Sunday and we wouldn't be able to depart before Tuesday or Wednesday. Simply great – and a bit of a challenge! On the serpentine road through the canyon, falling rocks and cows are to be expected. We'll resupply in Bakersfield first, have a coffee at Dagny's Cafe, where we first met Franziska months ago, and Michael, the cafe's barista (who has German relatives), who absolutely wanted us to meet Franziska. He had already sent his greetings via our hostess.
At Walker Pass we'll begin the PCT section of the Sierras, about 650 km, which we hope to accomplish by the end of September, early October at the latest, as winter normally sets in there at this time.
Therefore, time is of the essence and we plan to increase our daily mileage. For this reason, and in the absence of internet reception, we'll refrain from blogging and hope you, dear readers, will be patient with us until such time as we can regale you with our stories. From time to time we'll post a peep ad hoc, with our current position data!
Photos: Link