Aug 8th - Burney Falls

Stopped at Burney Falls State Park this morning and got a shower, checked the hiker box, and got a loaf of fresh bread at the store along with a sandwich, chips and ice cream.  Left the herd of hikers and hiked the waterfall loop trail.  Cool how the river runs underground then bleeds out of the rocks  at the falls. 

A nice hike over Britton dam, then up the rim of Burney Canyon.  Rock creek water fall was also neat but to early to camp.  Plus I wanted to get away from the PCT crowd.  Hiked a while with Flagman and dry camped on an open ridge with a view of Mt. Shasta and a nice sunset.  Oh, and lots of blackberries. 

Burney Falls

Britton Dam

Aug 7th - Trail Magic Day

Flat terrain along Hat creek Rim of the Plateau.  Passed the 1400 mile mark.  Dropping off the rim we crossed a line of lava veins that were interesting; then a view of Mt Shasta free of smoke from the fire today.  Trail magic of soda and ICE!  Lots of hikers bunching up around the magic. 

Next stop the Crystal Lake Fish Hatchery with a nice picnic area for a lunch break.  Along the river after the hatchery there were lots of Ospreys.  Passed a single bottle of hard cider with a note for Burney Falls ahead.  Then some fuel and trail magic left for another hiker by name.  Passed it bye but those cookies sure looked good.  Then, a half mile ahead, I found a bag of chips just sitting on the ground.  I did take those!  Then came to a picnic table with beer, soda, and chocolate.  A camera to take a photo and request to pen or carve your name in the picnic table.  And last of all a great PCT Trail Camp with tables, fire pits, bathroom, and water.  Only Janet and I were camping but after dark came Scooter, Spins, Baboon, and five others.  Felt like an AT campsite.  Bear scat seen but the camp had wooden food lockers.  I doubt they would stop a bear but I used them anyway.

Lava Flows by Hat Rim

Osprey flying over river

Burney trail magic

More Trail Magic

Aug 6th - The Subway Lave Cave and Hat Creek Rim

Hiked into the Hat Creek Campground store near Old Station Post Office but the store was disappointing.  Back on the PCT I took a side trip on the self-guided two mile loop - the "Splatter Cones Trail".  Very interesting with lava tubes, flows, views, and splatter cones.  Then stopped into JJ's Cafe!  The mini mart was very hiker friendly  with a register and they took PCT hiker photos for the wall.  Glad I didn't waste money at the campground store.  There was a sign at the store about beware of Mojave Red rattlesnakes on the move down the mountain because of the fire.

Next stop, the Subway Cave.  Great lava tube and nice and cool air inside.  Even some hiker trash sleeping in the cool air.  Finally left at 3:40pm to hike the Hat Creek Rim Lava Plateau with Baboon and Spins.  Lots of smoke and ash fell like snow from the fires.  Nice views from the rim.  Got to the old lookout at sunset then hiked to the water cache in the dark and made camp. 

One of the features on the Splatter Cone Trail

Subway Cave - Lava Tube

Cave Hiker Trash

Baboon enjoying Sunset on Hat Rim
 

Hat Rim Water Cache

 

Aug 5th - Lassen Volcanic National Park

Great breakfast at Drakesbad then back to the trail around 11am.  After an initial climb the trail climbed onto the Lava Plateau.  I took a six and a half mile loop off the PCT to Rainbow Lake and over to the Cinder Cone that Flagman had recommended.  Ground was very loose gravelly cinders for most of the trail.  Like walking on shifting beach sand.  Climbed up, over, around, and down the Cinder Cone with great views of the Painted Dunes, Fantastic Lava Beds, Snag Lake, and Butte Lake.  I difficult climb with a full backpack but great fun.  Could see the Chips Fire and another fire burning right behind me.  While watching I saw a helicopter drop water on another small fire in front of that one.  (I would later learn that they closed the trail from Belden all the way through Lassen behind us)

Sunny but with lots of wind on the top of the Cinder Cone.  You could look down into the cone to the very bottom.  I passed up the opportunity to climb down which looked like it just had a pile of rocks at the base and then you would have to climb all the way back out that soft cinder sand.  Very nice side hike.

After rejoining the PCT it was very flat and I made good time.  Ran into the Drakesbad PCT hiker group but it was getting dark so I speeded up to make it to water before dark.  Camped near Baboon and Spins and Snowhite and Mr. C.  Lots of views of Lassen Peak as we entered the southern end of the Cascade Range - the chain of volcanoes we will follow north.   

Cinder Cone

Painted Dunes in forground, Fantastic Lava Beds in Background

Top Rim of Cinder Cone

Looking into the belly of the Cinder Cone

Aug 4th - Drakesbad

Fairly easy hike into Lassen Volcanic National Park.  Terminal Geyser was an interesting side hike to a steam vent and hot stream with mineral deposits.  Strong rotten egg smell.  Then a very cool side hike around the Boiling Lake with bubbling mud and a bright blue mineral water.

Drakesbad had tons of PCT hikers - some just leaving others just arriving.  Got in around 1:30pm but was able to get a lunch despite being closed.  A few beers, shower, laundry and hanging out with hikers till dinner.  The hot spring fed swimming pool was crowded during the hot afternoon but after dark it made for nice swim in the cool air.  I can't believe how friendly the staff at Drakesbad is to us hiker trash.  I had planned to quietly camp at the trailhead but found a tent city of hikers already there.  Ended up sliding under a picnic table when we had a brief rain shower. 

Terminal Geyser

Boiling Lake

Drakesbad

Aug 3rd - Getting around the Chips Fire

Flagman and Scooter showed up this morning while I was waiting for the store to open for breakfast.  No way around the fire.  I talked with the trail angel and Sybille and it's getting much worse.  They are evacuating parts of Belden.  I hiked east on Rt 70 for two miles to the checkpoint for the controlled fire closure road access.  Then it took over two hours to get a ride to the interstate.  Then another two hours to get a ride to Greenville.  Rumors are that a bus would stop at the interstate on-ramp to pick up stranded hikers but the bus wasn't scheduled for another hour and I wasn't sure it would actually stop.

In Greenville I got a sandwich and bread and meat for the trail.  Finally caught the bus to Chester at 2:08pm.  There were a dozen other hikers from Quincy on the bus all going to Chester to get around the Chips Fire.  I got veggitables, fruit, and a ride to the trailhead in Chester.  I turned down an offer in Chester to drop me off at Drakesbad which would have cut another 20 miles from my hike.  At the trailhead there was trail magic with bananas, apples and soda.  Ended up spending half an hour with the large  group of hikers hanging out at the trailhead.  Lots of jellous comments about my two foot long sourdough baggette strapped to the top of my pack.   There were a lots of bees so I moved on after a while. 

I hiked into the dark thinking I would be safe from the bugs and so didn't set up my tent at first.  Then one or two ants came by.  Then a few nats. Lots of flies, more ants, nats, and then bees.  To hell with this - Up goes my tent.  Well, at least there were not any mosquitoes.  lol  Very disappointed about missing the PCT half-way-point and this section of trail.  There was just no reasonable alternative because all the roads anywhere near the trail were also closed.  At least I got to hike into Belden.  Most of the hikers had to make an even longer detour. 

Trail Magic at Chester Trailhead

Why am I eating this pinecone when I have a nice loaf of bread?

Aug 2nd - Belden and the Chips Fire

Tuesday I hiked with Neon and On-the-Move in the morning.  Talked about their off-grid house and hiking in Ecuador.  Several nice springs but the last two were half mile off trail.  Figured dry camping away from water would be bug free - NOT. 

Wednesday, August 1st, and lots of nice springs again today.  Quiet on the trail.  I met I'm Fine at the middle fork of the Feather River at lunchtime.  He was just getting started.  While he packed his camp I had lunch and went swimming in the fantastic potholes below the bridge.  We hiked together till I found my camping spot for the night.  I'm Fine pushed on to get to Quincy for his mail drop in the morning.  Great views from a rock lookout; but a plume of fire between us and the 1/2 way point is getting worse.  Hope we can hike through in the morning.  Smell of smoke and haze in the sky.  The last spring had these neat large green slugs.

Thursday I hiked the long ridge and down the many switchbacks into Belden.  Smelled smoke all night.  Hiked past I'm Fine's tent at the road to Quincy were I left him and came to the PCT closed at Rt 70 signs.  I hiked on to Belden assuming the trail angel could help me get around the fire.  As  broke out of the woods at Granite Gap I had fantastic views of Silver Lake and Spanish Peak - despite the heavy fire smoke.  Nice open ridge views past the gap with several great springs.  Then a deep drop with lots of switch backs to Belden. 

Lots of fire fighter helicopter activity as I hiked into town.    That's when people said I should be here.  They are closing the trail south because the are closing the road and you can't get out of Belden.  Had a great burger and three beers.  Very friendly staff at the resort.  Stayed at a free campground by the water with lots of black berries and a nice swim in the river.  I'll get breakfast in the morning and see if I can get a ride to Chester.  The trail is expected to stay closed for at least two more weeks because of the fire.  Really hate to miss the mid-point but no other options. 

Neon in a field of wildflowers

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Sharing the spring with the slugs

Swimming hole below bridge over Feather River

Lookout Rock

Fire closure at Belden

Helicopter Water Drops near Belden