PCT: California Section L

 “In every walk in nature one receives far more than he seeks.”  - John Muir

Donner Summit to Just Past Basin Creek Spring:

PCT trail mile 1156 to 1162.4

Woke up late to bird song at our little hideaway in the woods.  During the night a car came by, I suppose looking for a clandestine camp spot like we were.   Driving down the forest road we see  two other clandestine campers.  Forest service land is the hobo way to camp and we like it. 

Truckee is a cute town along the Truckee River and we stop at an almost empty coffee shop that has outside dining.   We each have a huge omelette  and two cups of coffee.  The waitress is kind and encourages us to linger.  The early morning sun's rays shine on us and we really are grateful to be here right now.  Even in a pandemic.  Especially during a pandemic.  We tip well, as these are tough times for wait staff.  We buy one of their cool coffee mugs too.  

Then on to get our truck parked by Summit Haus on Highway 40 and old Donner Summit.  Only problem is the road is closed!  After a map search we realize we can possibly drive Highway 80 to Soda Springs and then back to the truck on another road.   It works and we are on our way to the trailhead near Sierra City.  It takes about an hour to get there and then we clean out our packs, get some clean socks and shirts and pack our already made food bags for this section.  

We are really glad we made up our food ahead of time as it has made resupply simple and quick.   I was a little worried about leaving food in the car in bear country, so everything was packed in smelly proof bags and then double bagged with a huge turkey oven bag.   All the bags were then put into a rubber made type box and hidden away under the hatch cover in our Subaru.  So far, it’s worked.

We leave the car at the trailhead and drive back to Donner in our truck, as we want to walk this section northbound.  

After a  hamburger purchased at the nearby ski resort,  we hit the trail around four o'clock and enjoy a leisurely and quiet walk up the mountain.  It’s pretty country.     There is granite and the strange igneous type rocks we’ve seen since Sonora Pass.   The huge meadows are full of wildflowers and the trail is soft dirt.  We both feel  the tension of the car move ebb away very quickly.   This section seems to have a lot less hikers than our last section above Lake Tahoe,  and we like that too.  We pass the Peter Grub hut, that is not a hut at all, but a really cool cabin that folks can use.  In the winter you need to reserve it for twenty bucks a night, but right now it seems to be fair game.  We  hike on a bit further and find a spot with a sunset view.  

Now we sit drinking wine and watching the sun set.   Doesn’t get much better than this.  Although we are both a little stiff from our ‘winged’ walk yesterday through Desolation Wilderness! 

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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 is plenty and  lie 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 today is  about half a forest walk that has 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. 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 slowly by my grandma.  I was always mesmerized by how she made one long snaking coil out of the peel.  

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

We passed 16 people.  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.   Come join us!

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!’ 

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Jackson Reservoir to Sierra City:

PCT trail Mile  1183.5 to 1194.5

Lazy morning walk today through forest with a slight elevation gain.  Eventually we come to what we call a rocky goat trail that switch backs down, down, down to Milton Creek and into lowland oak scrub.  We keep our eyes peeled for rattlesnakes, but don’t  see any.    I think we cross two or three bridges over this creek that keeps gaining water as we descend.  

Then there they are.  The Sierra Buttes.  Yesterday these Buttes were in our view most of the day and we knew we were hiking to them because we had our car parked at their base.   Top photo is today and bottom photo is from yesterday. 

It always blows our minds how far feet can carry you.  Not just us, but you too, dear reader.  Even after all the miles we have hiked, we are still amazed when we visually see the distance we cover with just our feet.   If you haven't tried it, you should.

This little guy was our highlight for the day. 

This ant quickly finds a seed Hawkeye drops and takes off with it.  We sit and watch in wonder as he scales granite rocks and then crosses a log over the creek.  A few times he falls and we hold our breaths thinking that all is lost, but the little guy persists.  Often  in nature persistence is what separates life from death.  We hope he makes it home and the queen is pleased.  

After our break, being inspired by the ant,  we hike on swiftly to the Yuba River.  Here we swim.  It is very cold water, even for me, and a little scary  too, as there is a waterfall out of our  swimming hole.  

The hole we swim in.  

The bigger swimming hole below ours that has people swimming.

When we get to our car we drive the couple miles to Sierra City and have a wonderful outside lunch at The Red Moose Cafe.  

We then retrieve our truck at Donner Summit and drive to a small, almost empty campground north  on Highway 89.  It is easier than trying to find some wide spot on a forest road, as we are both feeling very tired tonight.  

Will we be like the ant and continue on our hiking adventure or will we stop?  The answer is unknown right now, as neither one of us feels like going on.  We are pooped out.  Not literally, of course.  Ha ha!  You know, just super tired.  All tuckered out.  Bushed.  Knackered. Drained. Exhausted.