Day 10 Goodbye Yeti Hello Pastures

 Day 10 

Starting on the Trail at 10:30 this morning. First, we said goodbye to the yeti, it is Montezuma Valley markets mascot and sits right out front on the highway.

Today is a fairly easy up and down. We started in a cow pasture wound our way up a Hill. We’re encountering a lot of weekend hiking groups today. In this picture we have just dropped down into a beautiful meadow. 

We have been seeing plenty of evidence of cows in the Meadows, and just dropped down into a third one where we see the actual cows themselves at the far end.

It’s neat to come across the occasional PCT signs and posts; this one, right alongside a calming  stream

There is a neat looking rock formation nestled in between some trees just above the stream.

We ascended a fairly steady grade up a decomposed granite trail which opened up to a view of an open field with some random rock formations.

 Water on the trail can sometimes be a challenge. For this water fill our source is a cattle trough fed by the water tank in the background. No, we don’t need to take it directly from the trough which is good since the water is green, but there is a float that when pushed down lets water come out of a  spigot from the tank. We can get our water bladders under that spigot and get fresh clean water.

Eaglerock is one of the things I was looking forward to on the trail. I had seen it in lots of pictures and videos in person now it is really cool. 

I saw the first California poppy today. I’m sure there will be many more as we go forward.

360° around us are mountains. we’re in a gigantic valley bowl with gorgeous mountain ranges all around.

The trail lead up to an area with huge oak trees that have large spreading branches, heading out in all directions

 

I also came across what almost appears to be an oak boneyard

Look another pipe gate!

We came across this Cal Fire, San Diego County fire station right adjacent to the trail. One of the few places help could be readily available

The trail continues on with the magnificent and far reaching views A crossed another large meadow spanning before me

What do you know another pipe gate? 

Beautiful field of yellow wildflowers 

Time to cross another water crossing where I change from my hiking shoes to my water shoes just to keep the feet and socks dry and then I’ll change back on the other side 

After another River crossing, we’re headed back uphill with a great view of the valley we just walked through 

We had two final River crossings before making our camp, which sits right along the river in a beautiful clearing dinner time, then bed.

Today’s miles 13.7 total trail miles 114.9