We packed up and left our camp about 10 minutes earlier than we had planned. We started walking at 10 minutes until six. The sun is just starting to poke through the trees. It’s a beautiful section of trail. Mount Shasta, in the foreground with the sun, illuminating it, wildflowers along the trail and pine trees as shown in the video.
Down below us is a beautiful meadow with a Lake right in the center surrounded by dark rich green on the forest floor.
As the sun reaches over the hill and lights part of the landscape, I notice the color contrast something I find pretty.
I liked how all three colors are growing together in this bunch of wildflowers
Today’s trail has been good so far, fairly level with minor uphill. This 360 video gives you an idea of some of the views from the top of this knob.
Down below us are more beautiful views of the valley and it’s Meadows
In one of my much earlier posts during the desert section I had talked about how you know you are high when you’re at the same level as communications towers like this one.
This lupine is called a Silvery Lupine. The white flower is the Hayfield Tarweed. This Parsnipflower Buckwheat starts with a red bud that turns white when fully opened.
The One thing that has been noticeably absent on the trail is butterflies. I see the occasional one, but not nearly as often as I would have thought especially with all of the flower super blooms. I did catch these three remaining still long enough for a photo although it did not come out very clear..
This plant is part of the mountain Dandyline family. Specifically it is known as the Bigflower Agoseris.
I’ve spoken of Trail angel‘s and the water caches previously. This water cache is in the middle of a stretch trail that is 20 miles between water sources. If you feel like thanking somebody who helps hikers, you can give a small donation to the gentleman who maintains this tank out of his own pocket. It is known cache 22 because it sits on Fire Service Rd., #22. The Venmo donation address is shown in the sign pictured below
Looking again down into the beautiful Valley below us with my shadow in the foreground.
I have finally reached one of the minor goals I had wanted to achieve. A 10 x 10. That is 10 miles by 10 a.m. I found a nice shady spot with a beautiful view and took a break for a second breakfast
The trail is taking me downhill across some impressive lava fields.
I found another plant new to me. It is the Heart-leaf Milkweed. The California Yorba Santa is another sub species of a plant we have seen before.
Once again, we are being blessed by a Trail angel. They left 3 gallons of water. There was also a cooler that had some sodas, but they had all been drank. They also had an inspirational note. Soon after we came to this road where somebody with a good sense of humor painted foot prints across the road. We then came to one more water cache.
We walked through these wide, open fields, peppered with pine trees
PG&E has a power station at the river inlet.
When I reached the highway there was one other hiker trying to get a ride into town. We were both picked up within about 10 minutes by a gentleman named Saber. He is a class act and even gave us his phone number in case we have any Trail emergencies while in the area.
The Word of Life Church in Burney is very PCT hiker friendly. They allow hikers to sleep in the gymnasium. They also provide showers with loaner towels and a kitchen if you wish to cook.
Today’s PCT miles hiked 24.8
Total PCT Miles hiked to date 868.5.
PCT mile marker 1411.3
(Flipped over 542.8 miles)
