Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - July 26th
Day 101: Friday 26th July
Kidder Creek saddle – E. ridge Black Mountain
I made an early start after watching the sunrise from my tent. After a couple of
miles I heard a large animal, which I assume was a bear, about 10 yards above me in the
brush. Shortly afterwards I almost stumbled upon a rattlesnake on the trail, but by now
I was getting expert at kicking up dust to discourage them. Just after the Shelley Lake
outlet I smelt smoke and then came across the deserted encampment of the California
Conservation Corps. There was evidence of their handiwork further up the trail with
brush and fallen trees newly cleared and fresh drainage work having been done.
I arrived at Fisher Lake about 11am. Again there was a deserted campsite with gear
scattered around, but no sign of the occupants. This was a small, deep corrie lake and
although facing NE the water was quite warm. There was a lovely spot among the rocks,
beside the lake, with rocks for diving off so I decided to take a very early lunch. After
swimming I lounged about in the sun completing my book, RF Delderfield’s “To Serve
them all my days”, a superb storey of life in a minor public school from 1918-1940. An
Alsatian appeared and sat about 3 yards away from me, panting away in the heat. I
expected the owner to be following up, but there was no sign of anyone.
The PCT has now been rerouted to avoid a steep section of trail, which often has
snow patches to the end of July. The new lower route was both longer and had more
climb than the old route as well as being less picturesque. I climbed steeply up the old
route through flower rich alpine meadow and took a break at the top of the ridge, where
I lit a fire to burn my rubbish and finished book. There were snow patches, which would
have been impassable to horses, so it is understandable that they had rerouted the trail.
I now entered the Marble Mountain Wilderness and a long high traverse until the
trail dropped down to Little Marble Valley. Here outcrops of marble dominated the area.
In the Triassic Period about 200 million years ago, this area was under a warm shallow
sea and coral reefs gradually built up a layer of limestone, which was metamorphosed
into a layer of marble 600ft thick by later volcanic activity. Water had percolated
through this marble forming fissures and caves and interesting rock structures. After
having dinner in Little Marble Valley I climbed up towards Black Mountain, with its dark
volcanic cap protecting the marble from erosion and camped, as it was getting dark, at
the foot of the vertical marble buttress on the east ridge of the mountain.
Day 101: 17.8 miles 9.05 hours Camp: E. ridge, Black Mountain
Kidder Creek saddle – E. ridge Black Mountain
I made an early start after watching the sunrise from my tent. After a couple of
miles I heard a large animal, which I assume was a bear, about 10 yards above me in the
brush. Shortly afterwards I almost stumbled upon a rattlesnake on the trail, but by now
I was getting expert at kicking up dust to discourage them. Just after the Shelley Lake
outlet I smelt smoke and then came across the deserted encampment of the California
Conservation Corps. There was evidence of their handiwork further up the trail with
brush and fallen trees newly cleared and fresh drainage work having been done.
I arrived at Fisher Lake about 11am. Again there was a deserted campsite with gear
scattered around, but no sign of the occupants. This was a small, deep corrie lake and
although facing NE the water was quite warm. There was a lovely spot among the rocks,
beside the lake, with rocks for diving off so I decided to take a very early lunch. After
swimming I lounged about in the sun completing my book, RF Delderfield’s “To Serve
them all my days”, a superb storey of life in a minor public school from 1918-1940. An
Alsatian appeared and sat about 3 yards away from me, panting away in the heat. I
expected the owner to be following up, but there was no sign of anyone.
The PCT has now been rerouted to avoid a steep section of trail, which often has
snow patches to the end of July. The new lower route was both longer and had more
climb than the old route as well as being less picturesque. I climbed steeply up the old
route through flower rich alpine meadow and took a break at the top of the ridge, where
I lit a fire to burn my rubbish and finished book. There were snow patches, which would
have been impassable to horses, so it is understandable that they had rerouted the trail.
I now entered the Marble Mountain Wilderness and a long high traverse until the
trail dropped down to Little Marble Valley. Here outcrops of marble dominated the area.
In the Triassic Period about 200 million years ago, this area was under a warm shallow
sea and coral reefs gradually built up a layer of limestone, which was metamorphosed
into a layer of marble 600ft thick by later volcanic activity. Water had percolated
through this marble forming fissures and caves and interesting rock structures. After
having dinner in Little Marble Valley I climbed up towards Black Mountain, with its dark
volcanic cap protecting the marble from erosion and camped, as it was getting dark, at
the foot of the vertical marble buttress on the east ridge of the mountain.
Day 101: 17.8 miles 9.05 hours Camp: E. ridge, Black Mountain
Alsation at Fisher Lake
Ancient Brit at
Fisher Lake
Fisher Lake
Queen's Cup
Fisher Lake
Flowers
Approaching Peak 7550
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