Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - June 25th
Day 70: Tuesday 25th June
Golden Lake – Raymond Meadows Creek
The trail was easy this morning, despite traversing east-facing slopes with plenty of
snow-patches. The landscape was dominated by high pasture, which would be grazed by
cows later in the summer, with volcanic outcrops adding interest to the views. I stopped
for a break at the cold spring-fed Asa Lake from which the trail gradually climbed up to
Sheffield Pass. From the pass the trail was again impossible to follow because of the
snow, so I dropped steeply down snowfields towards the small cattle polluted Noble Lake
above Noble canyon. The trail then switch-backed agonisingly gently down through
volcanic outcrops. After the sensibly graded paths of the High Sierra it was as if the trail
builders of Southern California had built the trail up here.
I stopped for lunch at the Noble Creek as the storm clouds were gathering. I was
surprised to meet a fisherman on the way up to the small Noble Lake with his young son
in tow, finding the climb very tough. I was just finishing lunch when a few drops of rain
started falling. Within a few minutes torrential rain and then hail was falling in a storm,
which lasted half an hour.
It was clear and sunny again when I stopped for dinner at Sherrold Lake with Mat,
from Sacramento. He was hiking from Sonora Pass to Belden this year, with a thought to
thru-hiking the PCT in a couple of year’s time. He had set out with a pack weighing
about 60lb and was learning the hard way the need for lightweight equipment. When I
had camped here 2 years ago I found a 12-pack of beer lying around the camping area,
presumably lost by a group of youngsters partying at the lake, which had road access.
Unfortunately no such luck this time.
I left Mat at about 6.45pm, with storm clouds gathering again and thunder rolling
around the mountains.
Fortunately the rain stayed elsewhere and I camped at Raymond Meadows Creek
where “Mags” was already setting up camp. “Mags”, from Colorado, another AT veteran,
started out from Campo on 26th April. He was typical of the young thru-hikers, just
carrying a tarp instead of a tent, which would give protection against the rain, but not
against the wind or against mosquitoes.
Day 70: 19.1 miles 8.54 hours Camp: Raymond Meadows Creek
Golden Lake – Raymond Meadows Creek
The trail was easy this morning, despite traversing east-facing slopes with plenty of
snow-patches. The landscape was dominated by high pasture, which would be grazed by
cows later in the summer, with volcanic outcrops adding interest to the views. I stopped
for a break at the cold spring-fed Asa Lake from which the trail gradually climbed up to
Sheffield Pass. From the pass the trail was again impossible to follow because of the
snow, so I dropped steeply down snowfields towards the small cattle polluted Noble Lake
above Noble canyon. The trail then switch-backed agonisingly gently down through
volcanic outcrops. After the sensibly graded paths of the High Sierra it was as if the trail
builders of Southern California had built the trail up here.
I stopped for lunch at the Noble Creek as the storm clouds were gathering. I was
surprised to meet a fisherman on the way up to the small Noble Lake with his young son
in tow, finding the climb very tough. I was just finishing lunch when a few drops of rain
started falling. Within a few minutes torrential rain and then hail was falling in a storm,
which lasted half an hour.
It was clear and sunny again when I stopped for dinner at Sherrold Lake with Mat,
from Sacramento. He was hiking from Sonora Pass to Belden this year, with a thought to
thru-hiking the PCT in a couple of year’s time. He had set out with a pack weighing
about 60lb and was learning the hard way the need for lightweight equipment. When I
had camped here 2 years ago I found a 12-pack of beer lying around the camping area,
presumably lost by a group of youngsters partying at the lake, which had road access.
Unfortunately no such luck this time.
I left Mat at about 6.45pm, with storm clouds gathering again and thunder rolling
around the mountains.
Fortunately the rain stayed elsewhere and I camped at Raymond Meadows Creek
where “Mags” was already setting up camp. “Mags”, from Colorado, another AT veteran,
started out from Campo on 26th April. He was typical of the young thru-hikers, just
carrying a tarp instead of a tent, which would give protection against the rain, but not
against the wind or against mosquitoes.
Day 70: 19.1 miles 8.54 hours Camp: Raymond Meadows Creek
Stanislaus Peak
Volcanic Butte
Asa Lake
Volcanic outcrops
above Noble Canyon
above Noble Canyon
Mat
Mags
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