PCT: Day 107

Castle Crags

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 Screenshot

Guthook July 18

I started at mile 1501 and worked my way to 1520. Woof.

Castle Crags Wilderness

Castle Crags sign

I must admit though, I do like the Shasta-Trinity section. I’m hiking in a dense forest

Castle Crags Wilderness

Sunlight in the trees

and then “bam!” A breathtaking view. It’s just bloody glorious!

Castle Crags

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.

Castle Crags Wilderness

Noelle at Castle Crags

After Noelle headed back towards the van I began the serious ascent.

Castle Crags Wilderness

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 on the PCT

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.

PCT steep rocky trail

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.

PCT Views

Shasta Trinity Wilderness views

The views helped tremendously.

Clovers all over

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.

Castle Crags Wilderness

Wilderness beauty

Mt Shasta

Mt Shasta

It’s so much fun to be swinging around the western side of Mt. Shasta and see it from another perspective.

PCT Trailside dinner

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

Castle Crags Wilderness

6 Comments

  1. Anonymous

    Steve/Noelle, great pics except for the rattler-watch yer step.. 🖖 Mom n Dad:

    Reply
    • mcgarveysan

      The little rattler was on the side of the trail but I heard his little rattles shaking at me.

      Reply
  2. Colleen

    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!

    Reply
    • mcgarveysan

      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.

      Reply
  3. Anonymous

    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

    Reply
    • mcgarveysan

      The rattles do wake me up!

      Reply

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