Low ridge under Castle Crags - cowboy camp next to fallen pine tree on ridge north of Picayune Spring
Mile 1504 - 1525
Total 21 miles
Strengthened by a good night's sleep, I wake up and quickly get out of tent in the shadow of the jagged Castle Crags rocks. Similar to rock towers and domes in the Yosemite, the Castle Crags are made of granite, exposed and eroded by glaciation.
The sun is still hidden behind the rocks as the trail starts a 4000 feet climb uphill. The shade of rocks and trees make the uphill climb much easier. And in many places along trail there are deliciously sweet wild cherries.
On its way up my path crosses numerous streams. Most of them are dry, but a few of the streams are flowing and so it is not necessary to carry heavy loads of water.
Along the streams and on north facing slopes grows shady forest with many kinds of oak; on rocky ridges, there are manzanitas with their black, red and yellow berries.
Hundreds of lizards are running across the trail and basking in the morning sun on the rocks.
Higher up the uphill becomes less steep and pine trees are growing among the manzanita bushes.
Then the path crosses a little stream; an important source of water ahead of an exposed ten mile dry stretch. Strange looking plants with tubular leaves are growing in the wetland along the stream. A hiker who is also filling up water tells me this is the Cobra Lily (darlingtonia californica), a carnivorous plant that gets its nitrogen from bodies of insects that fall inside a small opening in the closed pitcher-like leaves. The inside of the leaves is slippery and partially filled with water and there are many false exits, confusing the insect on its attempt to get out.
On top of the uphill high on the ridge, 4500 feet above the Sacramento river valleys, there are more wild cherries. However, the red colored cherries ("chokecherries") have a sour and bitter taste. But the sour taste in my mouth does not last long, as I find a bush full of sweet serviceberries a few steps behind.
Fluffy cumulus clouds have started growing in the sky, hiding the summit of Mount Shasta and also sometimes hiding the scorching sun, making today an exceptional hiking day. There have only been a few cloudy days like today during the last three months of my hike. The visibility is excellent and on the southern horizon I can also see Lassen Peak that I first saw from the trail more than 300 miles back.
The path continues along rocky ridges with colourful wildflowers and under clouds with a silver lining.
There are more views of Shasta from the ridge as I take a long break to eat supper and write some updates in my trail blog.
A couple of hikers pass me as I take the long break. It is also time for me to walk on to find a good spot to sleep as the sky starts changing its colors.
In a small saddle next to the trail there is an old fallen pine tree. And behind the tree log is a flat bare spot. It looks like a perfect place for cowboy camp under the stars. I eat one more snack and slowly get inside my sleeping bag. As it gets dark, there are lots of noises in the grass around and something is pulling on my hat and crawling over my sleeping bag and under my backpack. As soon as I turn my head it is away; and soon it is back again. At first it seems like there are mice. But probably it is ground squirrels who live here and who want to taste the delicious nuts inside the backpack of their nightly guest. Fortunately my backpack is strong enough to resist the teeth of the tiny squirrels. Finally after long time and waking up several times, I manage to fall asleep. Next time I'll make sure I don't camp in the home of ground squirrels!
Mile 1504 - 1525
Total 21 miles
Strengthened by a good night's sleep, I wake up and quickly get out of tent in the shadow of the jagged Castle Crags rocks. Similar to rock towers and domes in the Yosemite, the Castle Crags are made of granite, exposed and eroded by glaciation.
The sun is still hidden behind the rocks as the trail starts a 4000 feet climb uphill. The shade of rocks and trees make the uphill climb much easier. And in many places along trail there are deliciously sweet wild cherries.
On its way up my path crosses numerous streams. Most of them are dry, but a few of the streams are flowing and so it is not necessary to carry heavy loads of water.
Along the streams and on north facing slopes grows shady forest with many kinds of oak; on rocky ridges, there are manzanitas with their black, red and yellow berries.
Hundreds of lizards are running across the trail and basking in the morning sun on the rocks.
Higher up the uphill becomes less steep and pine trees are growing among the manzanita bushes.
Then the path crosses a little stream; an important source of water ahead of an exposed ten mile dry stretch. Strange looking plants with tubular leaves are growing in the wetland along the stream. A hiker who is also filling up water tells me this is the Cobra Lily (darlingtonia californica), a carnivorous plant that gets its nitrogen from bodies of insects that fall inside a small opening in the closed pitcher-like leaves. The inside of the leaves is slippery and partially filled with water and there are many false exits, confusing the insect on its attempt to get out.
On top of the uphill high on the ridge, 4500 feet above the Sacramento river valleys, there are more wild cherries. However, the red colored cherries ("chokecherries") have a sour and bitter taste. But the sour taste in my mouth does not last long, as I find a bush full of sweet serviceberries a few steps behind.
Fluffy cumulus clouds have started growing in the sky, hiding the summit of Mount Shasta and also sometimes hiding the scorching sun, making today an exceptional hiking day. There have only been a few cloudy days like today during the last three months of my hike. The visibility is excellent and on the southern horizon I can also see Lassen Peak that I first saw from the trail more than 300 miles back.
The path continues along rocky ridges with colourful wildflowers and under clouds with a silver lining.
There are more views of Shasta from the ridge as I take a long break to eat supper and write some updates in my trail blog.
A couple of hikers pass me as I take the long break. It is also time for me to walk on to find a good spot to sleep as the sky starts changing its colors.
In a small saddle next to the trail there is an old fallen pine tree. And behind the tree log is a flat bare spot. It looks like a perfect place for cowboy camp under the stars. I eat one more snack and slowly get inside my sleeping bag. As it gets dark, there are lots of noises in the grass around and something is pulling on my hat and crawling over my sleeping bag and under my backpack. As soon as I turn my head it is away; and soon it is back again. At first it seems like there are mice. But probably it is ground squirrels who live here and who want to taste the delicious nuts inside the backpack of their nightly guest. Fortunately my backpack is strong enough to resist the teeth of the tiny squirrels. Finally after long time and waking up several times, I manage to fall asleep. Next time I'll make sure I don't camp in the home of ground squirrels!
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