Days 102
Start: Mount Shasta, CA
Finish: White Ridge
Daily Mileage: 28
PCT Mile: 1530.3
Honeybun and I grabbed some breakfast burritos and the first ride out of town we could arrange. Temperatures were supposed to soar today into the high 100s and we were starting at low elevation where it would be hottest. We wanted to get the 10 miles of low elevation out of the way and hit the big climb of the day before it got unbearable and dangerous.
Doc dropped us back at the trail and we set off through Castle Crags State Park. The trail was just forest with plentiful streams coming down from the peaks high above us, and we could see little else besides a bear dashing uphill away from us. Castle Crags is famous for its high rocky spires popular with climbers, but it was well into the day before we were first able to see them from below. However, when we finally caught sight, it was well worth it and they were quite striking.
We traversed below the crags and had to refill on water a couple times due to the building heat and humidity. And we weren’t even to the real climbing yet.
We tanked up at the bottom of the climb, and I grabbed the temperature from my inreach which was already at 96F. We started up the climb, and the tree cover we had went away leaving us under full sun exposure for most of it. In addition, we were climbing next to rock, which was reflecting the heat back at us. It was pretty oppressive, but all we could do was keep climbing to get it over with before it got even hotter.
After a long, slow uphill drinking much water, we got back into partial shade and were able to take a lunch break at a flowing stream to recuperate. The temperatures were definitely lower at elevation, and there was a periodic breeze. We still had some more elevation to gain but the worst of it was over, so we could cruise it out much easier. All told we had 4,500 feet of gain from the start to peak, plus undulations in between, so it was pretty demanding on the hottest day of the trip so far.
We had 13 miles to the next water source that was on trail, though there were more off-trail sources. Who wants the bonus miles though, so we planned on the 13 mile carry. I grabbed 3 liters, not sure if that would be enough. We cruised on at much better speed now that the temperatures were perhaps only 90 or so.
The trail was pretty nice at elevation, following a high ridge with views of the surrounding landscape and lakes below us that were unfortunately inaccessible to jump into. It was a great traverse, but the heat was definitely a factor for the entire day.
I was rationing my water throughout the traverse, and I definitely wanted to drink more. Nothing I could do about that though, and I was doing good enough that I wouldn’t get dehydrated. I tried to just stay distracted with the views.
I did find a bottle of water near a road crossing that I took a little from to help out, though I could have made it the couple more miles to the spring. It was fantastic to finally reach the spring which was flowing coldly and abundantly. A great source. We dropped the beers we had packed out in the flowing water for a quick chill while we treated our water before arriving shortly at our campsite.
A crowd turned up since this was the obvious place to camp near water, but the campsite is also on a high ridge with perfect views of Mt. Shasta. A beautiful spot.
We didn’t really have a plan going into today, but despite getting started late at 8am, we made good miles considering the heat and ended up with a very scenic day and a respectable 28 miles.
