Rim

PCT 2018 Day 65, June 26, Tuesday.

Start mile 1374.8, visitor’s center

End mile 1407.3, then off-trail 0.4 miles to Burney Mountain Guest Ranch.

Miles walked: 32.5

The trail rises to Hat Creek Rim, overlooking lava flow below, and follows this narrow flat ridge for many miles, most of the day really, with fine views. Is this the old rim of an immense volcano, or the edge of a vast lava flow? Wifey and I pass each other a few times today, and meet a few south-bound hikers. In the distant Mount Shasta seems to float in the air. We will be able to see this peak for several weeks of hiking. Most of the lava rock on the rim seems old, weathered, and oxidized, but the path descends into jagged lava flow that more resembles what I am used to in New Mexico. Past the lava, the trail goes by meadow and park at 3k elevation, with grass full of seed heads. This is like suddenly shooting forward in the growing season. The path goes by a fish hatchery, covered with netting to prevent bird predation. The last several miles I zoom down to get to Burney Mountain Guest Ranch by 7PM, in time for shower and laundry and pitching tent and updating wifi. A package deal for PCT hikers offers all these amenities at a reasonable price, breakfast included.

Finished audiobook Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Written By Himself, by Frederick Douglass.

Author: Jim, Sagebrush

Jim (trail-name Sagebrush) codes audio software for Windows, Linux, Android, and embedded systems. When not working at sagebrush.com, he enjoys backpacking, which this blog is about.