July 24th
We continue our long detour/march/general trend to the west, as we skirt the crest line of hills to the south of Mt Shasta. Mt Shasta stands alone as a solitary sentinel surveying all of very northern California, defining all the landforms around it. A majestic peak whose top elevation of 12,000 feet is surpassed by many in the Sierras, but whose height, rising from near sea level is surpassed by few.
This stretch of walking is still mostly either a battle with overgrown chaparral or a walk in the deep woods with few views. We see no other hikers, only a CCC youth crew out clearing trail, badly needed.
In many places where the understory is getting thick with shrubs, ferns, Alders and Vine Maples – more deciduous leaves than we have seen anywhere on this trip so far. In direct sunlight they seem to float somewhere above the forest floor but below the top canopy. The climate here is wetter than before, not today, but over the course of the year it is more influenced by the coast.
Clouds gathered early in the morning and helped to hold down the heat. But the rain they promise never materializes. In the afternoon the clouds part leaving behind higher humidity and bringing back the sun and hotter temps. Oppressive combination, Heat and humidity. The haze is heavy with humidity and some smog creeping in. On a few occasions we are able to see the now distant Mt Lassen.
We drop into Deer Creek canyon, a couple of miles later coming across our first water source for over 15 miles. This section of the PCT, the “notorious” section O lives up to its reputation as difficult and trying, tough mentally as much as physically.
We continue down the canyon, steep and heavily wooded walls lining the creek, high above the water and find a makeshift but bearable camp.
