Miles today: 19.9
Trail miles sum: 846
Trail location: 1521.1
Elevation: 6496
Spinning on the turntable: Coldplay: Parachutes
Over 4000ft elevation gain today. Let me say that again….4000ft….up…
Guthook July 18
I started at mile 1501 and worked my way to 1520. Woof.
Castle Crags sign
I must admit though, I do like the Shasta-Trinity section. I’m hiking in a dense forest
Sunlight in the trees
and then “bam!” A breathtaking view. It’s just bloody glorious!
Castle Crags
The climbing though, well, ouch. Up is up, eh?
Noelle joined me for the first six miles and it was great to chat as we began the days hike.
Noelle at Castle Crags
After Noelle headed back towards the van I began the serious ascent.
Castle Crags in the afternoon
I had to remind myself to keep climbing many, many times. I was gasping for breath and ogling the sights.
I did run into this little fella.
Small rattle snake
The rattle snake was only about two feet long. It did shake his rattles at me. They were tiny little rattles. I heard that the young rattle snakes can be unpredictable so I gave it a wide berth.
Steep rocky trail
The trail was super steep and full of loose rocks. I was traveling from shade spot to shade spot. The temp was quite moderate but the rocks reflected the heat right back up at me. If I was a biscuit I would have been browned both top and bottom.
Shasta Trinity Wilderness views
The views helped tremendously.
Clovers all over
I’m enjoying a “second spring” as the flowers are blooming. As I’m climbing in elevation I’m hiking in sections of the trail that were covered in snow just a week or two ago.
Wilderness beauty
Mt Shasta
It’s so much fun to be swinging around the western side of Mt. Shasta and see it from another perspective.
Trailside dinner
I called it a day after twelve hours of hiking and cooked my dinner on the side of the trail.
Castle Crags Wilderness
Steve/Noelle, great pics except for the rattler-watch yer step.. 🖖 Mom n Dad:
The little rattler was on the side of the trail but I heard his little rattles shaking at me.
Steve, I’m sure you’re not the only one that’s glad you’re not a biscuit!!! I’m glad you’re not a biscuit! 🙂 Beautiful pictures. I would probably be constantly walking off the trail because of uncontrollable ogling. To both of you – Be Well!
I’m constantly taking pictures. The scenery is beyond amazing! I’ve leaned to stop, focus and take the image. Or even to just stop and look. Too much looking “up” and not paying attention to the trail has left me falling face forward on the trail when I trip on a root or rock.
Awesome 👏 hike Steve! Love your photos. Would not like seeing a rattler. Bob and I saw a baby rattler about 6 inches long on our walk along the Central Pacific Coast Montana de Oro, and that put me on edge for the rest of my walk that day.
Take care😊 Blessings, Liz from Fresno Retro
The rattles do wake me up!