[pct-l] dayhikes on the PCT

[Mike Flannigan]

Thanks for this trip report.
Nice to see these reports.


Mike


On 7/11/20 12:00 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> I have recently taken short dayhikes in sections J, P, Q, and R.
> I didn't notice any hikers that I would identify as through hikers, though
> some might have fooled me.
>
> The J started from the Tamarack trailhead parking area off Blue Lakes Road,
> in mid-June.     Going southbound, there were trees across the trail every
> half mile or so, some of which might have been problematic for stock.
> I was stopped by a tricky ice gully on the north side of Raymond Peak.
> Some younger people crossed it carefully even as I watched, but it was no place
> for wobbly elderly knees and ankles.     At least one person had either
> fallen or glissaded all the way to the bottom.
>
> Schaffer's book shows the former PCT route which dropped about 500' and
> then climbed back up, presumably to avoid that problem.    I wasn't looking
> carefully and didn't notice any sign of the former route.    There were also
> indications that some people had hiked up and over to avoid the problem,
> but it was a steep loose slope that was also unattractive to elderly ankles.
>
> The next day I went toward The Nipple and made it up to the ridge viewpoint
> just below it, around 8800'.   The wind was blowing significantly though
> and taking all the pleasure out of an otherwise clear sunny day.    No
> trees were down on this small part of the trail.
>
> The next hikes were over July 4 weekend.
>
> P started from Gumboot Trailhead and I went east (south) for about four
> miles.   No tree problems on the trail here.
>
> Q started from Etna Summit and went north for about four miles to a
> "campsite" in a saddle.   If one's only criterion were excellent views of
> sunrise and sunset, it's outstanding, but pretty uncomfortable from pretty
> much every other perspective.     There are better campsites in the woods
> earlier where the ridge briefly broadens after entering the wilderness,
> and again shortly thereafter by a register for comments.
> The parking area at Etna Summit was pretty full.
>
> While in the lot I overheard a conversation among hikers who had just completed
> Q north to Grider Creek.     Once off the ridge and in the Grider Creek
> drainage, the overgrown brush and
> down timber were formidable and the trail elusive.
> I remember the trail being overgrown normally
> when I did it southbound 15 years ago,
> but the current down timber reflects trail maintenance
> deferred, probably until next year.     That other time I ended up camping
> on an old logging road, halfway up the canyon.
>
> R encompassed the trail from Wards Fork Gap to about half a mile west of
> the road to Reeves Ranch Springs.     The trail here was in pretty good
> shape, but the signs on the Forest Service access roads were not.
> Considering it was July 4 weekend, there were very few other people out
> and about.     But plenty of cows in some places.    There was plenty of
> water near Bearground Springs.    The wildflowers were FANTASTIC.
> In a normal year, through hikers probably miss the peak of the season.
> In a normal year, there would be snow problems here and there in R,
> but I encountered none.
>
> There were lots of tourists from all over at Yreka, Weed, and Redding.
> Persons serving the public were properly masked, but the public... not so
> much.     I followed Bay Area rules and masked up indoors except while
> actually eating and drinking.     I enjoyed the Paystreak in Etna - the Etna
> Brewery seems to be closed for the duration - but most people were not masked.
>
> Ignore any websites that indicate the Etna Brewery or Paystreak having
> taprooms in Yreka.     Both have been closed for a while.
> But while dining at the Black Bear, I discovered Fall River Hexagenia from
> Redding, and made a point of visiting their taproom on my way home.