PCT: Hat Creek Rim

Mile 1380.2 to 1383.2

Trailhead: Hat Creek Rim Trailhead

Drove to the trail this afternoon.  If everything had aligned today it would have taken 5 hours to get to the trailhead. It did not align.  I implanted a screwdriver in my tire somewhere and had to find a tire shop, so it was 7 hours before we began our hike.   We caravanned our vehicles so we could be completely self contained (pandemic!).  One was left at the hiker friendly Burney Mountain Guest Ranch and the other at the trailhead.     If all goes well we will leap frog one of our cars in a couple days.  

 Seven pm is a great time to take off hiking when the days are long and the light golden.  It’s great to be back on this ribbon of brown called the PCT.   We hiked three miles  and are camped along the Hat Creek Rim.  Glorious views of Lassen and cloud shrouded Mount Shasta.  It’s very quiet and still.   The trail today was basically flat and rocky and covered in  brilliant wildflowers.  We saw a brightly colored Western Tanager and it was color coordinated with the flowers.   Beautiful start.  

Mount Lassen after the sunset.