Daily Miles: 27.4, Total Miles: 1300.5 I enjoyed a beautiful sunrise and headed up the trail. Only a short climb to near the summit of Spanish Peak and then followed a ridge west. Next was the long, long descent to Belden and the Feather River at 2,251 ft elevation. On the way, I saw a pair of sandhill cranes strutting around in a meadow. I stopped at Belden Town which has a small store, saloon, restaurant. RV sites and cabins…
Daily Miles: 26.7, Total Miles: 1273.1 I did it again. Last night I went through the routine of quickly jumping into the tent, zipping up, and killing all the skeeters that came in with me. Got settled into my sleeping bag and then remembered I had left my SPOT device outside on a rock. Had to get out, retrieve it and go through the whole re-entry process again. I lost a lot of blood. First up was a steady descent…
Daily Miles: 30,1, Total Miles: 1246.4 I passed high above a few more lakes in the morning and dropped down to A Tree Spring to get water. I then entered a deep forest of predominantly Douglas fir and climbed to another ridge. Lassen Peak is definitely on the horizon. Today’s hike had the most logs fallen cross the trail of any day so far – some required detours. I got water at Fowler Creek and camped about a mile later…
Daily Miles: 18.8, Total Miles: 1216.3 I just found out the crash that cancelled Mrs. Haze’s flight to San Francisco was serious but could have been much worse. I did sleep in a bit this morning but had strange hiker dreams so not very restful. Maybe the food I am eating? Picked up my re-supply box at 10am and got back on the trail by 11am. A nearly 3,000 ft vertical climb around Sierra Buttes on a warm day –…
Daily Miles: 15.5, Total Miles: 1197.5 Mostly a downhill cruise today all the way to Sierra City, a short detour from the PCT. The creek near town looked pretty inviting on a hot day. I stopped by the Red Moose Lodge to talk to some other hikers and then found a room on the end of town. I spent considerable time in the general store and two good meals at Mountain Creek restaurant. Population less than 300 but they get…
Daily Miles: 23.0, Total Miles: 1182.0 Mrs. Haze had to get to Reno for a flight but had to get me back to Donner Pass first. Minor crisis when a tire pressure warning light went on in the rental car. Only a slightly low tire so just kept an eye on it. I was on the trail by 8:45am feeling a little rusty and sluggish. But after a few hours, everything fine except an aching ankle. I crossed under the…
Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 1159.0 What a wonderful break we had a for a few days at the Fireside Lodge! Consumed massive calories, had a few beers and glasses of wine, bike rides along Lake Tahoe, hikes at nearby bays and waterfalls, tandem kayak paddle on the lake, and 4th of July on the lake for fireworks. Even had time for a little shopping, replacing my burnt, torn, holey and baggy pants! Also time to replace my 2nd pair…
Daily Miles: 14.7, Total Miles: 1159.0 I left the Tahoe views and cruised down and then up to Tinker Knob. The prominent peak was covered with fields of broad-leafed yellow flowers on it’s flanks. I saw another bear on the way up, this one I assumed a big male, walking up towards the trail. He was swinging his head side to side grazing on the yellow flowers as he was walking. I snapped a few pics but gave him the…
Daily Miles: 30.0, Total Miles: 1144.3 After a long walk through a deep forest, I climbed to Barber Pass where the PCT joins the Tahoe Rim Trail. I had a rest and lunch with Lint and Brooks. Just prior to Barker Pass, I had my second encounter with a bear. She was climbing up the side of a hill and was going to intersect with the trail right in front of me. I yelled “Hey Bear” and she stopped and…
Daily Miles: 21.4, Total Miles: 1114.3 After a McDonalds breakfast in South Lake Tahoe, I hitched back to the TH past Echo Summit. A quick hike to Echo Lake and the General Store – I highly recommend the mango and banana milkshake. I said goodbye to James and Claire who are skipping up to Ashland to hike through Oregon. All the best! I hiked along the length of Echo Lake and entered Desolation Wilderness. Lake Aloha was strikingly beautiful so…
