Dave’s PCT & Other Adventures: 08/18/23

Friday, August 18, 2023

Day 155 top 10 campsite

August 18

It was a warm at night last night. I slept outside of my liner until about midnight and did not pull my quilt over me until 3 AM. I woke up at my usual 5:00 with the stars still out, so I rolled over and rested for another 45 minutes slowly packed up. Today is uphill for most of the day. I’m kind of stalling on starting my walk, but it’s time. I’m heading out at 6:45. I start my scampering down the rocks next to some berry bushes and will walk across the destroyed bridge planks that are still over the water.

The California Sweetshrub has maroon colored flowers and is a large shrub. I am encountering it on the side of the Trail. The Pacific Astor, part of the sunflower family, has the small white petals with yellow center growing on longer red stocks with green leaves.

The trail climbs above and along Chips creek. As I ascend through the canyon the rushing water below has a calming effect.

The Cowboy Thistle has a white stock with pretty maroon flower, beginning to bud. It’s funny how many of these spectacular flowers are considered weeds at home.

I stopped at Rattlesnake Spring, which comes out of the ground right at the Trail, for a second breakfast

Shortly after Rattlesnake Spring, I come to this strangely unnamed spring that is much larger.

I’ve come to another much larger creek, super pretty as it cascades down the hillside. There is a log placed for crossing that’ll keep my feet dry.

The Velvety Goldenrod is a large shrub with a bushy yellow flowers that seem very popular with the bee.

I spent the morning Hiking up this Canyon with steep walls on both sides.

I reached another well flowing seasonal creek.

I’ve been following Chips creek all day and now I come to a fairly new bridge built in 2019 that crosses it. Prior to the bridge being built, I would have had to search for a place to cross probably the narrow section just to the right of the bridge.

Another refreshing stream to enjoy an orange Creamsicle smoothie and a short break.

Hello friend I’ve gotta get going, so I have to remove your perch.

I cross another stream. This one has a beautiful water Cascade, coming down the hill above it.

Common Yarrow is a plant familiar to me. It brings back great memories of my days attending and working at camp Tahquitz in the San Gabriel mountains. It’s one of the first plants I learned about from the nature lodge. The flowers can be rubbed together and used as a soap or eaten as a laxative. The leaves, if put along your gum line can act as a numbing agent for sore teeth.

On whose authority, and what criteria I do not know, but this is said to be the dividing line between the sierra mountain range and the cascade mountain range

I’m in the burn scar of the Dixie fire. The destruction is immense. As far as the eye can see there’s burnt trees.

Cold Springs is just a few hundred feet off trail the water lives up to its name. It was refreshingly cold. I took a short break drink some water and made my lunch. Two hours earlier. I stopped and ate my dinner left over from last night (I had the hamburger at Belden, so did not eat my dehydrated meal.)

As I got ready to go, I was hiking into the dark thunder clouds ahead. Curious if I will get rain.

I reached an area full of volcanic rock formations close to the area I was planning to camp.

I was looking for a tent site and almost stopped short of where I originally was planning, but decided to keep on. I am so glad I did. I think this will be one of my favorite tent sites. Mount Lassen is visible on the horizon And the sky tonight is beautiful. There was rain earlier today before I got to the area and down below me in the valley there is a light blanket of fog forming the beauty is indescribable and pictures don’t do it justice. As the sun went down, the clouds lit up orange, I cannot imagine what heaven will be like.