Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - June 21st
Day 66:Friday 21st June Wilson Creek – Stubbleford Canyon
I had only just started up the hill towards Benson Pass when I was passed by
“Happy Joe”, who was intending to do a 30-mile day; A long way in this difficult terrain.
I met National Park Ranger, Naomi, by Smedburg Lake. I had actually met her two
years ago a little further up the trail. She asked whether I was carrying a bear canister,
but the Rangers understand that most thru-hikers sleep on their food rather than obey
the legal requirements. John Brennan, “Cupcake”, from Santa Cruz, California, came
through and I walked with him for a bit. He was keeping up a journal on the Internet
throughout his hike. When we stopped for second breakfast I was pleased to find that
the mosquitoes were attacking him ferociously and ignoring me.
I stripped off to cross Piute Creek, which was just as well because the water came
up to my waist, but the water was slow moving with a gravel bottom and wasn’t
dangerous. I didn’t visit Benson Lake, about 5 minutes off the trail, on this trip. Later
in the summer the lake would have a broad, sandy beach, but in June the beach was
flooded. The climb over Seavey Pass was steep but easy, but the traverse along the
steep north-facing slope of Kerrick Canyon was far from easy. The trail was banked
with icy snow and progress along it was very slow and tiring. The ford across Kerrick
Canyon Creek was the most difficult of the hike. Fast-moving water was flowing over a
bouldery creek bed with holes behind the boulders. I stripped off again and found the
water coming up to my waist. I had dinner while I dried off after the crossing. Once
more the threatened storm hadn’t materialised and it was a lovely evening. After
dinner I climbed the 1000ft ridge separating Kerrick Canyon from Stubblefield Canyon
and dropped steeply down the other side. There was another waist deep ford to cross,
but fortunately this was slow flowing with a sandy bottom. I put up my tent as it was
getting dark.
This was the longest day of the year and also my longest day at 9½ hours, but I had
only covered 17 miles because of the steepness of the terrain. I had also completed
1000 miles today!
Day 66: 16.9 miles 9.28 hours Camp: Stubbleford Canyon
I had only just started up the hill towards Benson Pass when I was passed by
“Happy Joe”, who was intending to do a 30-mile day; A long way in this difficult terrain.
I met National Park Ranger, Naomi, by Smedburg Lake. I had actually met her two
years ago a little further up the trail. She asked whether I was carrying a bear canister,
but the Rangers understand that most thru-hikers sleep on their food rather than obey
the legal requirements. John Brennan, “Cupcake”, from Santa Cruz, California, came
through and I walked with him for a bit. He was keeping up a journal on the Internet
throughout his hike. When we stopped for second breakfast I was pleased to find that
the mosquitoes were attacking him ferociously and ignoring me.
I stripped off to cross Piute Creek, which was just as well because the water came
up to my waist, but the water was slow moving with a gravel bottom and wasn’t
dangerous. I didn’t visit Benson Lake, about 5 minutes off the trail, on this trip. Later
in the summer the lake would have a broad, sandy beach, but in June the beach was
flooded. The climb over Seavey Pass was steep but easy, but the traverse along the
steep north-facing slope of Kerrick Canyon was far from easy. The trail was banked
with icy snow and progress along it was very slow and tiring. The ford across Kerrick
Canyon Creek was the most difficult of the hike. Fast-moving water was flowing over a
bouldery creek bed with holes behind the boulders. I stripped off again and found the
water coming up to my waist. I had dinner while I dried off after the crossing. Once
more the threatened storm hadn’t materialised and it was a lovely evening. After
dinner I climbed the 1000ft ridge separating Kerrick Canyon from Stubblefield Canyon
and dropped steeply down the other side. There was another waist deep ford to cross,
but fortunately this was slow flowing with a sandy bottom. I put up my tent as it was
getting dark.
This was the longest day of the year and also my longest day at 9½ hours, but I had
only covered 17 miles because of the steepness of the terrain. I had also completed
1000 miles today!
Day 66: 16.9 miles 9.28 hours Camp: Stubbleford Canyon
Volunteer Peak
from Benson Pass
from Benson Pass
Pettit Peak
Cupcake and Naomi
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