Mill Creek Picnic Area to Messenger Flats Campground
Last night was one of the warmer nights so far. It wasn't hot, but it was warm enough to not sleep with a hat on.
I awoke at 7:15 AM with the sun starting to beat down on my tent. I decided to pack up and head back up to the fire station to use the outhouse and to refill my water. By 8:15 AM I was ready to go.
I awoke at 7:15 AM with the sun starting to beat down on my tent. I decided to pack up and head back up to the fire station to use the outhouse and to refill my water. By 8:15 AM I was ready to go.
Ready to walk the 5 minutes back to the fire station.
When I arrived, there were about 6 other hikers at the picnic tables. One had gotten a ride into town last night and had some extra beer left over. When offered one I had to be kind and say yes. And here is my self-portrait for the day:
Self-portrait "Beer for breakfast"
Somehow I managed to hang out there until 9:45 AM. It took that long to drink the beer, eat breakfast, use the facility, and fill my water bottles. There is no water for the next 18 miles. I plan on stopping at the 12 mile point, so I have a dry camp tonight so I need to take 5 liters of water with me...11 pounds worth. At least my food has gotten significantly lighter the past 4 days.
Finally leaving the picnic area.
The hike today is predominantly climbing until the last mile down to the campground where I plan to stay. Oh...I guess in yesterday's blog I said that I might try to make it the 17.5 miles to the next water...well, by the morning I had talked myself out of it.
The first part of the climb was just under 3 miles with about 800 feet of climbing. Not too steep, but a constant climb. Here is the view as I got higher out of the valley I stayed in last night:
The first part of the climb was just under 3 miles with about 800 feet of climbing. Not too steep, but a constant climb. Here is the view as I got higher out of the valley I stayed in last night:
Climbing out of the valley.
Today, like yesterday, poodle dog was everywhere. Here is a nice picture of some actually bloomed with their pretty, purple flowers.
Poodle dog bush, pretty but poisonous
An interesting story about poodle dog bush...I saw a local day hiker today walking thorough poodle dog bushes with shorts on not caring at all. I asked him about it and he said that all us PCT hikers are crazy...the bush isn't bad. He was telling me this as he kicked it around with his bare leg. I told him what we were told and that some years the trail actually detours in a road so hikers can avoid the bush. He told me that him and his friends used to pick the flowers and bring them home. Hum...have we all been told a lie? Is this whole poodle dog bush a folklore of the PCT? Maybe a hiker touched poison oak and the reaction was from that and not poodle dog. Anyway, I asked him to kick a bush over that was near the trail so I didn't have to worry. He looked at me like I was crazy and kicked the bush down with his bare leg. Even after this, I still dodged and snuck by the poodle dog all day long.
Besides poodle dog there were lots of beautiful wildflowers all day long.
Besides poodle dog there were lots of beautiful wildflowers all day long.
Beautiful wildflowers.
I thought this was a cool view of mountains in the far distance.
Cool mountain view.
This area I'm hiking today had a huge wildfire about 5 years ago. According to the same local that laughed at poodle dog, this area was a large pine forest and the trail was totally covered with large pine trees. All day there were remnants of these trees.
Burned pines with mountains.
PCT sign of the day with burned trees.
Trail lined with wildflowers.
The strong pine trees that survived.
Pine tree skeletons.
After 11 miles of climbing, the trail crossed a saddle and there appeared a new mountain view. This also marked my 1 mile to go to the campground.
A new view.
Finally, at 4:15 PM, I arrived at Messenger Flats Campground.
My home for the night.
I was done setting up camp by 5:00 PM and was just sitting on the picnic bench watching woodpeckers and hummingbirds circling around thinking of the nice quiet night I was about to have. Then another hiker appeared, "Neon Butt Cheeks"...I have no idea. He is 57 and from Denver. Him and his brother own a landscaping company and he convinced his brother to deal with it for the summer so he could hike. We had a nice dinner and then the other hikers began to show up.
Before I got in my tent I counted 14 other hikers here. And as I lie here in my tent blogging at 9:30 PM, 2 more hikers showed up.
I have a feeling it is going to be a loud morning with no sleeping in I guess I better try to get to sleep now.
Before I got in my tent I counted 14 other hikers here. And as I lie here in my tent blogging at 9:30 PM, 2 more hikers showed up.
I have a feeling it is going to be a loud morning with no sleeping in I guess I better try to get to sleep now.
My lonely campsite before the crowd arrived.
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