Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - July 12th
Day 87: Friday 12th July Flatiron Ridge – Hat Creek
The remnants of yesterday’s storm were still around in the morning and it was very
humid. This warm, cloudy windless weather was ideal for mosquitoes and they were
much in evidence again as I walked through the marshy meadows of Green Swale. I
passed the Twin Lakes before stopping for an early lunch at Soap Lake. By now the sky
had cleared and I stripped off and swam in the shallow sandy bottomed lake and washed
much of my clothing. The wash was much needed as the fine volcanic dust tended to get
everywhere. Spotted Sandpipers, small waders (shorebirds to the Americans) were
feeding around the lake.
The PCT had been following the Noble Trail, pioneered by William Nobles in 1851,
which replaced the Lassen Trail as the main route for settlers to Northern California.
In the afternoon the trail descended to Hat Creek through old clear-cut, which had
been taken over by chaparral. The USFS were attempting to reclaim the land and
Forestry plantations, similar to those you would find in the commercial forests of
England had been planted over the past 10 years. I stopped early when I reached Hat
Creek and camped beside the stream. With the dusty trail and the hot weather I already
needed another bath, so I stripped off and had a towel bath by the cold creek. There was
no need to put clothes back on until after the sun set. It was still over 90ºF at 8pm. I
had seen no one all day.
Hat Creek was named when William Nobles favourite hat was blown into the creek
and washed downstream. He kicked up such a fuss that his companions named it Hat
Creek.
Day 87: 18.4 miles 7.00 hours Camp: Hat Creek
The remnants of yesterday’s storm were still around in the morning and it was very
humid. This warm, cloudy windless weather was ideal for mosquitoes and they were
much in evidence again as I walked through the marshy meadows of Green Swale. I
passed the Twin Lakes before stopping for an early lunch at Soap Lake. By now the sky
had cleared and I stripped off and swam in the shallow sandy bottomed lake and washed
much of my clothing. The wash was much needed as the fine volcanic dust tended to get
everywhere. Spotted Sandpipers, small waders (shorebirds to the Americans) were
feeding around the lake.
The PCT had been following the Noble Trail, pioneered by William Nobles in 1851,
which replaced the Lassen Trail as the main route for settlers to Northern California.
In the afternoon the trail descended to Hat Creek through old clear-cut, which had
been taken over by chaparral. The USFS were attempting to reclaim the land and
Forestry plantations, similar to those you would find in the commercial forests of
England had been planted over the past 10 years. I stopped early when I reached Hat
Creek and camped beside the stream. With the dusty trail and the hot weather I already
needed another bath, so I stripped off and had a towel bath by the cold creek. There was
no need to put clothes back on until after the sun set. It was still over 90ºF at 8pm. I
had seen no one all day.
Hat Creek was named when William Nobles favourite hat was blown into the creek
and washed downstream. He kicked up such a fuss that his companions named it Hat
Creek.
Day 87: 18.4 miles 7.00 hours Camp: Hat Creek
Fire damage west
of Crater Butte
of Crater Butte
Soap Lake
Camp beside Hat Creek
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