Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - July 5th
Day 80: Friday 5th July Ridge above Jamison Lake – Saddle 6,510
A Mule Deer visited the pool early in the morning and wandered around within 10
yards of my tent feeding. When it saw me it was startled at first, but then continued
eating just keeping a wary eye on me. Shortly after setting off, I disturbed a Mountain
Quail. It ran down the trail ahead of me, kicking up dust with its wings, before ducking
into some bushes. I imagine this exhibition was designed to attract me away from a nest
site. A 20ft tree stump at a focal point of 5 roads was signed “The A Tree” I haven’t any
idea why!
In mid morning I met Nona. She was a “Trail Angel” from Vancouver, married to a
Scot, who opened her home to thru-hikers when they complete the PCT in Canada and
need a few days to arrange transport home. She was section hiking the PCT north to
south from Old Station to Echo Lake. She was near to completing the PCT and was
considering starting on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). She had had 12 operations on
her feet and legs and was lucky to be walking rather than being in a wheelchair. Before
lunch I crossed the McRae ridge and got a close-up view of Gibraltar, a giant buttress
named after the Rock of Gibraltar in the Mediterranean and distant views of Lassen and
Mount Shasta, the first of the giant volcanoes of the Cascade Range that runs all the
way to the Canadian border. The next section had more climb and descent than
necessary, because of a landowner who had refused permission for the trail to cross his
land. There was a long drop down to Nelson Creek, where I picked up 5 litres of water,
and a tortuous climb in and out of the gullies on the slopes of Stafford Mountain and
Mount Etna. Stafford Mountain and Mount Etna were volcanic plugs from two big
volcanoes, which had been the source of lava flows that covered much of the area. The
volcanic plugs were very hard and had not been eroded away as easily as the lava flows
and now towered above the surroundings.
I dropped down for a late lunch to a small lake on the slopes of Bunker Hill. The
water didn’t look too good for drinking but I managed a swim and did some washing, and
got everything out to dry or air, as well as lighting a fire to burn my rubbish.
I camped at 7.30pm further along the ridge.
Day 80: 20.3 miles 8.33 hours Camp: Saddle 6,510
A Mule Deer visited the pool early in the morning and wandered around within 10
yards of my tent feeding. When it saw me it was startled at first, but then continued
eating just keeping a wary eye on me. Shortly after setting off, I disturbed a Mountain
Quail. It ran down the trail ahead of me, kicking up dust with its wings, before ducking
into some bushes. I imagine this exhibition was designed to attract me away from a nest
site. A 20ft tree stump at a focal point of 5 roads was signed “The A Tree” I haven’t any
idea why!
In mid morning I met Nona. She was a “Trail Angel” from Vancouver, married to a
Scot, who opened her home to thru-hikers when they complete the PCT in Canada and
need a few days to arrange transport home. She was section hiking the PCT north to
south from Old Station to Echo Lake. She was near to completing the PCT and was
considering starting on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). She had had 12 operations on
her feet and legs and was lucky to be walking rather than being in a wheelchair. Before
lunch I crossed the McRae ridge and got a close-up view of Gibraltar, a giant buttress
named after the Rock of Gibraltar in the Mediterranean and distant views of Lassen and
Mount Shasta, the first of the giant volcanoes of the Cascade Range that runs all the
way to the Canadian border. The next section had more climb and descent than
necessary, because of a landowner who had refused permission for the trail to cross his
land. There was a long drop down to Nelson Creek, where I picked up 5 litres of water,
and a tortuous climb in and out of the gullies on the slopes of Stafford Mountain and
Mount Etna. Stafford Mountain and Mount Etna were volcanic plugs from two big
volcanoes, which had been the source of lava flows that covered much of the area. The
volcanic plugs were very hard and had not been eroded away as easily as the lava flows
and now towered above the surroundings.
I dropped down for a late lunch to a small lake on the slopes of Bunker Hill. The
water didn’t look too good for drinking but I managed a swim and did some washing, and
got everything out to dry or air, as well as lighting a fire to burn my rubbish.
I camped at 7.30pm further along the ridge.
Day 80: 20.3 miles 8.33 hours Camp: Saddle 6,510
Gibralter
Lake below Bunker Hill
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Camp