Saddle above Robbers Meadow - saddle south of Scott Mountain
Mile 1547 - 1571
Total 24 miles
I wake up at dawn in a mountain saddle and in the mountain meadow down below the cows have also woken up, their bells ringing. A few hundred feet from the saddle flows a spring with fresh cold water. Next to the spring grows beargrass, cobra lily, and various kinds of ferns.
The first rays of the sun have appeared, but today morning they are shining on my left hand side. The map shows that for most of today the PCT is going to lead me south. It is a little bit like in the path of life: sometimes it illogically leads you south, but eventually it will ascend on a ridge with more trees and water sources and head again north.
The morning sunlight illuminates red colored rock faces of the Scott Mountains. The PCT is following the crest of the Klamath mountain chain, part of the California Coastal Ranges. The names of mountain ridges ahead are Trinity Alps, Russian Mountains, and Marble Mountains. Similar to the central Sierra Nevada, these ridges are largely built up from granite and metamorphic rock and were carved by glacier action into their present form.
Delicious raspberries grow along the trail as it descends to a paved highway at Scott Summit.
At the summit, signs remind all hikers about the Leave No Trace rules. Every hiker including me should take time and review if they are always practicing the "Leave No Trace" way of life. These rules include "respect wildlife!" meaning you can only observe from a distance, and you shouldn't disturb the wild animals by trying to take a very close picture. Respecting wildlife also means never feeding them!
In old growth forest the trail enters the Trinity Alps wilderness and starts a long climb uphill. Mount Shasta can be seen again through openings in the trees.
Halfway through the climb a cold spring flows just below the trail with carnivorous cobra Lily growing in the surrounding wetland.
Higher up in steep rocky slopes are alpine meadows full of colorful flowers and views of rugged ridges and glacial lakes. The mountain landscape indeed resembles some parts of the European Alps.
The air is cool and clear and the visibility is excellent. The PCT winds its way on west and then east side of the ridge, crossing it in narrow mountain saddles. In flatter areas there is shady forest, but on most of the high ridge alpine meadows prevail. Just like the Alps in Europe, this area of wilderness is sometimes grazed by cows and the low bushes and cow poop are evidence of the cows' recent presence.
As I take a break for supper, I meat the hiker Bluecheese from Germany. I remember how I scared her one time in Southern California. It's nice to see she's still on trail and going strong. And also the hikers Moonshine and Handsome, who have hiked here all the way from Mexico with their dog, pass me. It is time to start looking for a camping spot. As clouds on the horizon start changing their colors, I find one spot in forest and watch the sunset before crawling inside my tent and quickly falling asleep.
Mile 1547 - 1571
Total 24 miles
I wake up at dawn in a mountain saddle and in the mountain meadow down below the cows have also woken up, their bells ringing. A few hundred feet from the saddle flows a spring with fresh cold water. Next to the spring grows beargrass, cobra lily, and various kinds of ferns.
The first rays of the sun have appeared, but today morning they are shining on my left hand side. The map shows that for most of today the PCT is going to lead me south. It is a little bit like in the path of life: sometimes it illogically leads you south, but eventually it will ascend on a ridge with more trees and water sources and head again north.
The morning sunlight illuminates red colored rock faces of the Scott Mountains. The PCT is following the crest of the Klamath mountain chain, part of the California Coastal Ranges. The names of mountain ridges ahead are Trinity Alps, Russian Mountains, and Marble Mountains. Similar to the central Sierra Nevada, these ridges are largely built up from granite and metamorphic rock and were carved by glacier action into their present form.
Delicious raspberries grow along the trail as it descends to a paved highway at Scott Summit.
At the summit, signs remind all hikers about the Leave No Trace rules. Every hiker including me should take time and review if they are always practicing the "Leave No Trace" way of life. These rules include "respect wildlife!" meaning you can only observe from a distance, and you shouldn't disturb the wild animals by trying to take a very close picture. Respecting wildlife also means never feeding them!
In old growth forest the trail enters the Trinity Alps wilderness and starts a long climb uphill. Mount Shasta can be seen again through openings in the trees.
Halfway through the climb a cold spring flows just below the trail with carnivorous cobra Lily growing in the surrounding wetland.
Higher up in steep rocky slopes are alpine meadows full of colorful flowers and views of rugged ridges and glacial lakes. The mountain landscape indeed resembles some parts of the European Alps.
The air is cool and clear and the visibility is excellent. The PCT winds its way on west and then east side of the ridge, crossing it in narrow mountain saddles. In flatter areas there is shady forest, but on most of the high ridge alpine meadows prevail. Just like the Alps in Europe, this area of wilderness is sometimes grazed by cows and the low bushes and cow poop are evidence of the cows' recent presence.
As I take a break for supper, I meat the hiker Bluecheese from Germany. I remember how I scared her one time in Southern California. It's nice to see she's still on trail and going strong. And also the hikers Moonshine and Handsome, who have hiked here all the way from Mexico with their dog, pass me. It is time to start looking for a camping spot. As clouds on the horizon start changing their colors, I find one spot in forest and watch the sunset before crawling inside my tent and quickly falling asleep.
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