PCT: Basin Creek Spring to Jackson Reservoir

PCT Nobo trail mile 1162.2 to 1183.5

A 21 mile day with a climb of 3104 and a descent of 5230.  It was all pretty gradual and along a really soft trail so we made the miles in 9 hours.  Pretty darn good for us.  

We leave  our sweet little sunset view camp  at 8 am and 9 hours later are at Jackson reservoir swimming.  We get all the trail dust off, of which there was plenty and  lay in the sun on the rocky shore until we are dry.    We are now camped in a for pay campground eating civilized at a picnic table.   If you know Hawkeye then you know he loves a picnic table like I love to swim.   

The trail was about half a forest walk that had me slipping into memory lane.  When I was a kid I spent my summers with my grandparents in the Sierra Mountains and we often went out cutting wood for the day on forest service roads and the look of today’s forest and the smells were very familiar and comforting.   The only thing missing was the sound of a chainsaw and an apple being peeled by my grandma.  I was always mesmerized by how she made one long snaking coil out of the peel.  

  The second half of the day was mostly along ridges with a delightfully cool breeze and long views that kept us refreshed. 

We passed 16 people today.  We thought this section of trail would be less crowded, but it appears everyone is out enjoying the great outdoors during the pandemic.   And why not? It’s great out here.   

A highlight of our day was Snowbank Spring. 

It had some of the coldest and best tasting water we’ve ever had.  We kid you not.  We didn’t even filter it as it was bubbling right out of the ground.   ‘On a scale of one to ten it is an eleven!’