Day 64 - PCT 2024
Trail miles hiked: 7.7
Ascent: 1,249.3 ft.
Descent: 1,178.5 ft.
Waking up to a view of Mount Shasta was marvellous. Just the view I needed to kick start my day! Can’t go wrong with a campsite with a view on the first day back on trail. I didn’t sleep well though. My hips felt sore. I brought my Gossamer Gear Thinlight foam pad instead of my Therm-a-rest Z Lite foam pad and I instantly regretted that decision when everything stuck to the pad. It’s also so thin that it offers no additional support under my sleeping pad. I wanted to shave the weight but I should have stuck to the tried and true.
We didn’t rush getting out of camp. Since we’re starting with lower mileage days to allow some of the snow to melt further north, we wanted to eat breakfast while enjoying the view.
Oregon is much different than Southern California. I’m out of the desert now and in the trees. It’s nice having shade from the trees rather than being exposed constantly. But the mosquitoes are coming. None yet but we know we’ll encounter them soon.
Today’s hike was good. I’m convinced the grade is steeper here with less switch backs. At least this section. It’s not nearly as tough as SoCal though. The climbs are shorter and less elevation change while we find our trail legs. We haven’t encountered many blowdowns yet but we’ve been made aware that they’re coming. Thankfully trail maintenance crews are already out cutting up trees that have blocked the trail.
We scared a rather large animal hiding in a bush. It took off running and Krista and I both jumped. We wanted to convince ourselves it was a deer but we’re almost certain it was a mountain lion. I only caught a shadowy glimpse.
We stopped for lunch at a piped spring and watched little birds dip down and bathe in the stream. Their chirping kept us entertained.
We passed another interesting water source where we stopped to grab 5 litres each as we were set to dry camp this evening. It was a concrete cistern that was bone dry but had a pipe that was gushing with clear, refreshing water. I wonder where that water was coming from. The snow has long melted in this section. There’s few water sources meaning longer carries. The site had cute campsites in the trees and we debated stopping early for the night but decided to press on another two miles.
Under a mile to our campsite, we crossed a dirt road and trailhead for Hobart Bluff. There was a pristine privy stocked with toilet paper! And there was a garbage can! What luxury! We disposed of our garbage, used the facilities and hiked the short distance to our camp.
Arriving at camp we were confused as to where the actual tent sites were. We knew it would be a tight fit based on previous FarOut comments but the entire field was overgrown and lumpy. I walked toward the bluff and trees and found the little area for tents. Thankfully our tents fit, albeit intimately close together but we tucked ourselves in for the evening.
We just tried to hang out in the lumpy field but we quickly became uncomfortable and determined it would be nicer to lay in our tents. Ate a Mountain House chicken and potato dinner which was lovely and filling and now we’re both laying in our tents with our vestibules open, enjoying the evening cool air.
