[pct-l] Memorable Campspots, Castella to Seiad

[Deems]

I'm going to be hiking this section of the trail this summer and wonder
what others who've hiked this remember about campspots.  Normally I
don't care, but as I won't be moving much more than six or eight hours a
day, this trip will be more camp-centered than trail centered.  Any
memories are welcome!

Jeff, just Jeff...
~~~~^^^^~~~^^^~~^^^~~~~
 I counted 35 of my campsites along this section of trail that I've stayed 
overnight in, and these are some of the better ones.  Starting at Castella 
you'll cross a couple creeks before the long climb that each have a 
campsite, but from there to White Ridge spring, it's a fairly dry hike. 
After the long climb up from Castle Crags, there are many great dry camps 
with grand views for miles along the ridgeline to White Ridge spring.  I 
camped in the Fawn creek valley between White Ridge and Bear Ridge due to a 
lightning storm that was pounding the trail.  Porcupine Lake has a nice 
secluded campsite on the westside of the lake on a rocky bench. Between Toad 
Lake and Deadfall lakes you will see the first foxtail pine trees along the 
PCT since Woods Creek in Kings Canyon NP, and the first whitebark pines 
since Desolation wilderness. There are some huge western white pines along 
the trail above Toad Lake to marvel at.  Camping at Upper Deadfall lake, a 
large lake basin, is very nice, even tho it's close to a trailhead.  In the 
Alps area there is a great place to camp, no lake, along the trail north and 
shortly after the access trail to East Boulder lake. This is where the trail 
goes into Section 27 and crosses the ridge. It's basically just a  small 
flat to the left and near the trail with springs nearby that cross the 
trail. Just watch for a place you could set up a tent. The view of the snow 
covered Alps to the south and Mt Shasta is great. 
http://www.pbase.com/losthiker/image/63974623  (Photo of the spot)  There 
are many foxtail pines along the trail from here to Eagle Peak, and the 
world's record largest foxtail pine is in this area.  When you get to the 
Russians, Bingham lake is a great place to get off the trail and camp. I've 
camped at Statue lake, which has basically no campsites since it's in a 
rockpile. Statue lake is worth a visit, follow the outlet creek up, and you 
can climb right up to the Statue. There is a good camp on the trail where 
Statue creek crosses it. Next is Paynes lake, and it's a large one worth 
camping at. I camped at Smith Lake once, but there are no real campsites in 
the rockpiles.  When you get into the Marbles, Fisher lake is real nice, and 
Man Eaten Lake is recommended as a stop or camp. Shadow lake is nice, and is 
probably cowless. Marble Valley has cattle, and is a nice lunch stop. 
Paradise Lake is pretty if you find a nice campsite. 
http://www.pbase.com/losthiker/image/55641166   There is a cold spring left 
of the trail on the south edge of Paradise lake.  One campsite that I liked 
is 200yds south of the lake on a bench that looks east. There's an old USFS 
fire pit there from the 1930s, but a large tree had fallen on it 3 years 
ago. Once you cross Big Ridge, Buckhorn spring is the last high camp area 
with water, and then you descend into beautiful Grider Creek with it's clear 
water. In Grider creek there are 4 bridges, and there are campsites at the 
second one, and after the 3rd one hiking north.. The 3rd bridge has a nice 
camp about 200yds downstream. http://www.pbase.com/losthiker/image/56560925 
Just follow the trail, and you'll see it below on the left beside the creek, 
and a trail leads to it from the PCT. There's one more camp 2 miles further 
down the creek, on the left.  The 4th bridge is at the Grider Creek car 
campground, and then you roadwalk into Seiad Valley.

If you were willing to hike a mile or two off the PCT, your wilderness 
variety in the Alps, Russians, and Marbles would be greatly increased.
www.pbase.com/losthiker