Interstate Highway 5 to Several small campsites with views of Castle Crags and Mount Shasta
As usual, I hate waking up and getting out of bed when we stay in a hotel, but today's hike has a pretty good climb so we have to get to the trail at a decent time.
The alarm went off at 6:00 AM then I took a shower. I didn't really need one, but it is there so I will take one. We were supposed to leave at 7:10 AM but wound up leaving closer to 7:30 AM. The drive to the trailhead was quick and easy and we were ready to hike just after 8:00 AM.
The alarm went off at 6:00 AM then I took a shower. I didn't really need one, but it is there so I will take one. We were supposed to leave at 7:10 AM but wound up leaving closer to 7:30 AM. The drive to the trailhead was quick and easy and we were ready to hike just after 8:00 AM.
Ready to hike
I wanted Tim to join us for a couple of miles but he was eager to get back to the hotel with time before checkout to relax and pack. That's OK. We will see him in a couple of days when he meets us for a resupply.
As soon as we got on trail we entered Castle Crags State Park:
As soon as we got on trail we entered Castle Crags State Park:
Castle Crags State Park sign
It was already pretty warm when we states hiking, so we were glad that most of the morning was under the cover of a pine forest:
Our morning view.
1.3 miles after starting out today we hit a big milestone...1.500 miles!
Proof I'm standing at PCT mile 1,500
My 1,500 mile pose
From Castle Crags State Park to Castle Crags Wilderness:
Castle Crags Wilderness sign
The trail was buggy today so Share Bear and I put on our bug nets. Brad decided to accessorize his hat with a hanging thingy to try to scare the bugs away:
Brad's bug scare tactic
Around 1:00 PM we stopped for lunch. Here I am relaxing after eating:
Self-Portrait "Lunch break"
Hello mister rattlesnake
After that encounter I continued hiking and was glad to pop out of the trees to this great view of the crags:
Self-portrait "Castle Crags"
A half mile from the top of the climb was a campsite where I decided to wait for Share Bear and Brad. As I sat there I saw a deer approaching on the trail. It stopped to look at me and then a fawn appeared...so cool!
The mother actual continued on the trail towards me before changing her mind and headed back. The dawn just stood there stating at me for a while before follows its mother back into the woods:
The curious fawn
Brad and Share Bear finally showed up and wanted a break of their own, so we hung out there for a while longer. We then got back on trail for the 1.37 mile hike to our next water source. We have to stop here for water since the next water is in 10 miles and our planned campsite is dry. Right by the water were these really cool plants that we guess are carnivorous:
Cool carnivorous plant
As we were hiking to our campsite, Share Bear turned around and exclaimed that Mount Shasta was right behind us. We never tire of looking at that mountain.
Share Bear & Brad admire Mount Shasta.
Right next to Mount Shasta was the Castle Crags lit up by the sunset:
The Castle Crags
After hiking a bit more Mount Shasta became lit up as well:
Sunset on Mount Shasta
Finally, just before 8:00 PM we came to our planned campsite for the night. What an incredible site with a view of the Crags and Mount Shasta! Usually when we see campsites like this we lament that we never come across these kinds of campsites when we are ready to stop for the night. Tonight is our night...check it out:
Our incredible campsite.
Of course nothing is perfect. As we were setting up our tents multiple mice started running around our bags. I HATE mice and now I am going to have to deal with them all night. While cooking and eating dinner they kept coming into our area and I kept yelling and tossing rocks in their direction. I quadruple packed my food tonight, I hope they don't try to nibble through my bag though. I guess we will see tomorrow. Until then...
My beautiful, though mouse-infested home for the night.
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