From pctl at oakapple.net Fri Sep 2 23:19:25 2022 From: pctl at oakapple.net (David Hough reading PCT-L) Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2022 21:19:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [pct-l] so much for section Q Message-ID: <202209030419.2834JPWD025310@server-f.oakapple.net> It's awe-inspiring to notice a mushroom cloud as you approach Mt Shasta on your way to Etna Summit. Even more to see another smaller one on the OTHER side of the valley, in section P. These are called the Mill Fire and the Mountain Fire, and they were competing for resources today. The Mill Fire threatens the city of Weed and so gets most of the attention. A smoky future seems likely for sections P and Q, as if they haven't had enough already. Everybody in the Yreka Black Bear Diner seemed to be consulting their cell phones, trying to decide what to do. Every few minutes you heard the buzz-buzz-buzz of another evacuation warning from the sheriff. I beat a hasty retreat and will try to close some gaps in the Tahoe Rim Trail, which does not seem to be on fire at the moment. David Hough From gary at hbfun.org Sat Sep 3 10:08:22 2022 From: gary at hbfun.org (gary at hbfun.org) Date: Sat, 03 Sep 2022 08:08:22 -0700 Subject: [pct-l] so much for section Q In-Reply-To: <202209030419.2834JPWD025310@server-f.oakapple.net> References: <202209030419.2834JPWD025310@server-f.oakapple.net> Message-ID: They just closed the section from Holman Pass to the Canadian Border. Gary On 2022-09-02 21:19, David Hough reading PCT-L wrote: ... > > I beat a hasty retreat and will try to close some gaps in the Tahoe Rim > Trail, > which does not seem to be on fire at the moment. > > David Hough From pctl at oakapple.net Wed Sep 7 08:53:40 2022 From: pctl at oakapple.net (David Hough reading PCT-L) Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2022 06:53:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [pct-l] what to do if your PCT plans fall apart Message-ID: <202209071353.287Drev9002142@server-f.oakapple.net> I was scared off section Q over Labor Day by fires and smoke - and the Forest Service response was to re-open Q completely for anybody brave enough to try. I wonder if they will ever get the Cold Spring trailhead open to vehicles to make it easier to get to the middle. Meanwhile, I guessed right about the Tahoe Rim Trail and enjoyed spectacular pleasant weather finishing up the Mt Rose Wilderness between Martis Peak and Relay Peak, camping at Gray Lake. Despite being Labor Day weekend, and having half a dozen spacious campsites, there weren't any other campers at Gray Lake on Sunday and Monday nights. That's remarkable given the suburban-ness of most of the Tahoe basin. In the wilderness part of the trail, I saw maybe a dozen people on Sunday and Monday, and four on Tuesday. Of these, at most a third were equipped for overnight, and a third were runnning, carrying only a little water. So when you've finished the PCT, and the parts of the JMT that aren't on the PCT, you can finish the Tahoe Rim Trail, since you've already done a third, and maybe try to follow the Tahoe Yosemite Trail, using the guidebook published over 50 years ago. David Hough