PCT 2018 Day 57, June 18, Monday.
Start at second crossing of Milton Creek, mile 1191.5
End mile 1206.2, flat spot
Miles walked: 14.7
After a brief walk, the small town of Sierra City appears. 
I meet BoyscoutsWheelChair and SunriseChardonnay, southbound, at the small church that provides free camping. They say I am done with snow!
Later I meet Saunter, northbound, at the general store. The store has free wifi, and I get my supply box and buy supplemental food there, and get lunch from their grill, and leave town in the early afternoon.
From 4.6k elevation at the highway, I climb on controlled-slope switchbacks all afternoon to 7.4k, bloated from town food and with a pack heavy with food supplies I find long skinny pine cones, not the huge Coulter Pine variety, but something different. 
After several hours of dense forest cover, suddenly the trail gets above trees for a few miles. 
The trail gains a broad ridge with views, and follows for a few miles. 
As I climb, rain turns to pellet snow and covers the path. 
Later I climb down lower in altitude, and rain showers resume. With no sun for most of the day, the temperature is cold, and I must wear down vest, windbreaker, raincoat, and gloves for warmth, though keeping walking all day is the main way to keep warm. 
Toward the end of the day many switchbacks bring me down to 5k elevation, and I camp just a few miles from town, with rain against the tent until I fall asleep.
Then the path goes atop a high exposed ridge for several miles in brisk wind, higher than any nearby peaks so that you feel touching the ceiling of the world. 
I meet a few flip-floppers during the day, and they believe their group is huge, often starting from the town of Dunsmuir. Approaching historic Donner Pass, I meet many many day hikers, as we descend on rock switchbacks. 
Donner Snow Ranch offers shower and laundry to hikers at a low price. Real nice people. 
I stop for a couple of hours and enjoy their food and wifi. 
Afterwards I meet Mantis and Oats, northbounders like me, and tell them about the pie a la mode, so they head that direction.
The cabin itself is also built with second story access in case of snow. 
The lower floor is a dining area, with sleeping quarters above. 
I am the only tenant this night. The upper story is naturally warm and cozy, so I only need my sleeping bag liner. The cabin shuts out the frog croaking of the flooded meadow outside, and all other animal sounds, leaving a profound quiet inside.