[pct-l] Re: Lodging in Manning

[dc23 at nyu.edu (David Canty, PhD)]

I'm doing the same trip (arriving Manning Park on the bus night of July 9), and made
reservations at the lodge.  They were fine with a one-night stay.  Their phone is:
250-840-8822.  Most economical room is in the lodge, $124/night plus 15% tax.  There are
campsites about 3K away.  Discover Camping has info on them (800-689-9025).

Just curious: when is your trip?  Maybe we'll see you on the trail!  Enjoy -- David

pct-l-request@mailman.backcountry.net wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. RE: delurking, and snow conditions in southern Oregon
>       (Judson Brown)
>    2. Re: Horse Camp near Silver Lake - near Caribou Wilderness
>       (alex fullingim)
>    3. conditions report: Section O Reconsidered (long)
>       (David Plotnikoff)
>    4. time for Section O ? (pcnst2001@covad.net)
>    5. RE: conditions report: Section O Reconsidered (long)
>       (cmkudija@earthlink.net)
>    6. RE: conditions report: sonroa pass (Richard)
>    7. Lodging in Manning (Inaki Diaz de Etura)
>    8. PCT Oregon, Highway 140 -> Highway 62 (Alexander Statnikov)
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 10:06:17 -0700
> From: "Judson Brown" <judson@jeffnet.org>
> Subject: RE: [pct-l] delurking, and snow conditions in southern Oregon
> To: "'Comcast Mail'" <patrickmcjunkin@comcast.net>,
>         <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <000001c4587b$3b70b3c0$8f56f142@pounder>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="Windows-1252"
>
> Why, yes, I do! If you started at Callahan's/Siskiyou Summit/I-5, you'd be
> in for smooth sailing. There should be no snow all the way to Hwy. 140.
> North of there, you will find some patches. Central Oregon still has quite a
> bit of snow, but it's melting fast after an abnormally cool May and June.
>
> As for Seiad Valley to Ashland, it is quite possible you will encounter some
> drifts there, but not nearly as bad as last year. Mt. Ashland (7500') still
> has snow on it. The NW ridge of Observation Peak tends to have the worst
> spot. Some years it's a 15' high bank that stays until August; this year it
> is likely considerably less.
>
> If you'd like an easy warm up to your trip, start w/ OR's section B at I-5.
> The climb out of Seiad Valley is one of the toughest on the PCT. You'd also
> be avoiding any snow issues until the Sky Lakes Wilderness.
>
> As an Oregonian, you will no doubt already know that starting your trip in
> early July will expose you to the worst mosquitoes, especially in the Sky
> Lakes, Diamond Peak, and 3 Sisters Wildernesses. Just be prepared.
>
> Judson
> Ashland
> 91 degrees and sunny
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
> [mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net]On Behalf Of Comcast Mail
> Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2004 5:53 AM
> To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] delurking, and snow conditions in southern Oregon
>
> Hello all,
>
> My name is Patrick, and I've learned a tremendous amount the past few months
> from this list.  Soon, I plan to hike most of the Oregon PCT, starting in
> Seiad Valley or perhaps Ashland, and going north to Timberline Lodge.  As a
> fairly new Oregon resident, I'm not sure what to expect in terms of snow
> cover on the trail in southern Oregon; I'd like to start as early as
> possible in July w/o having to deal with too much deep snow.
>
> Does anyone have any information about what conditions are like there now?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Patrick
> Gresham, OR
> _______________________________________________
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 13:16:16 -0700 (PDT)
> From: alex fullingim <horse_fool@yahoo.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] Re: Horse Camp near Silver Lake - near Caribou
>         Wilderness
> To: PAM <horsecrazy@sbcglobal.net>
> Cc: PCT <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <20040622201616.34423.qmail@web52504.mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> I received a lot of wonderful information regarding
> the horse camp at Silver lake - which is actually near
> Caribou lake.
>
> I also called the ranger station and the gal there
> also told me there are corrals at:
>
> Cold Springs
> Cone Lake
> Hay Meadows
>
> You can call the ranger station @ 530-258-2141 and get
> a brochure about the horse camping in the general
> area.
>
> Most of these places are really staging areas for
> trips into the Caribou Wilderness.  what that means is
> that there aren't really any camping facilities at
> these sites other than corrals and near by running
> water.
>
> =====
> Alex Fullingim
> Circle A Ranch
> Red Bluff, CA
>
>
>
> __________________________________
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 14:27:19 -0700
> From: David Plotnikoff <david@emeraldlake.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] conditions report: Section O Reconsidered (long)
> To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> Cc: jglyons@sisqtel.net, jomike47@earthlink.net,
>         losthiker@sisqtel.net,  david@emeraldlake.com
> Message-ID: <v04011700bcfe521b7d73@[192.168.1.100]>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Greetings from a long-time list lurker and section hiker.
>
> These notes are from a four-day, three-night 68.8 mile northbound walk on
> the Pacific Crest Trail from Peavine Creek (northbound PCT mile 1431.6) to
> I-5 at Castle Crags State Park (mile 1500.4) on the week of 6/14/04. The
> conditions I encountered over four days hiking, just as the annual melt-off
> was finishing,  were sufficient to make me rethink Section O's
> overwhelmingly negative reputation for horrific trail conditions and sheer
> ugliness. I would recommend any section hiker doing O to try and schedule
> it as early in the season as snow will make feasible.
>
> Highs were around 80 and nighttime lows never dipped below 50. Snow at the
> highest points on the north side of the crest continues to melt rapidly and
> references below to snow may not apply for more than another week. I was
> not the first person through this season -- maybe the second. Many thanks
> for Deems for spot-on intelligence about navigation near Mushroom Rock.
>
> First two days of trip -- from Peavine Creek to Bartle Gap and from Bartle
> Gap to Grizzly Peak -- are a counterclockwise walk around the rim of a
> deep, wooded basin that drains into the Pit River. The trail stays
> diligently on or near the crest, affording many panoramic views including
> at least four spots where one can see Lassen to the south, Shasta to the
> north and Trinity Alps to the west. The second two days are a descent from
> Grizzly Peak into the McCloud River basin to Squaw Valley Creek and then a
> 2000-foot climb to Girard Ridge and a final drop to the Sacramento River at
> I-5.
>
> Note that it is possible to dayhike and/or slackpack the entirety of
> Section O. The 35N10/ 38N10 / 37N30 roads from Road 37 to Peavine Creek TH,
> the 39N05 route to the major four-way intersection just east of Bartle Gap,
> and the spur road from Road 11 to Squaw Valley Creek are all
> well-maintained and graded for passenger cars. Note that Grizzly Peak Road
> and the final approach to Bartle Gap itself are *not* accessible without
> 4WD. Overall, Road 11 from McCloud and Road 37 from Lake Britton are the
> major arterials.
>
> Water: Northbound hikers should leave Peavine Creek loaded for the day. The
> next guaranteed almost-on-trail water is 13.6 miles north, 200 yards north
> of the trail, on a descending road just below Bartle Gap in Section 35.
> Before Bartle Gap and just after the slide prone sections there is a new
> seasonal source at 41.10.160 x 121.46.973. The spring, on the right
> (upslope for northbounders) is not pump-able, but dripping steadily. There
> is year-round water at Stouts Meadow, if you're willing to venture 1/4 mile
> off-trail along 38N05 to get it -- from a junction at approximately
> 41.09.828 x 121.54.861. Just before Grizzly Peak there will be a strong
> seasonal creeklet in the cliff section of trail.
>
> Section hikers at Grizzly Peak road crossing may wish to consider camping
> either near the crossing or a few hundred yards down the road on a small
> spur under the power lines. The trail further north is quite steep all the
> way to I-5 and flat spots are extremely limited. Water is currently
> available from a seasonal spring a few hundred yards north of the Grizzly
> Peak road crossing. Deer Creek is running strong. The "refreshing creek''
> after Deer Creek and Butcherknife Creek are both wet, calf-deep fords at
> the moment. There is room for a single tent a few yards north of
> "refreshing creek" at mile 1463.1. After crossing Road 11 at Ash Camp,
> easiest water access to the McCloud River is from the north end of the
> bridge. Fitzhugh Gulch Creek (mile 1472) about midway between Grizzly Peak
> and Squaw Valley Creek is the only guaranteed year-round on-trail water
> until Trough Creek at mile 1480.3. Squaw Valley Creek itself is a
> full-blown river. Noted four large, obvious and over-used car camping sites
> between the bridge and the trailhead parking area. North of Squaw Creek,
> Fall Creek 10.6 miles later is the only certain on-trail water until I-5.
>
> Overall trail conditions are mixed. Some sections, most notably the sea of
> manzanita east of Grizzly Peak, have been brushed very recently and are in
> excellent shape. In other areas there is enough brush intruding on the
> trail to warrant long pants and long-sleeved  shirt -- but the bushwhacking
> is light and for mercifully brief interludes. Trail tread can be faint or
> non-existent for a couple hundred yards at a time, particularly adjacent to
> clearcuts. Watch the cairns and ribbon blazes. When in doubt, remember from
> Red Mountain to Grizzly Peak Road the trail is relentlessly true to the
> crest. "The Infamous Section O" 's fearsome reputation from years past
> continues to fade thanks to the heroic work of volunteer trail maintainers,
> primarily the Backcountry Horsemen.
>
> Peavine Creek to the first panoramic vista south of Red Mountain is in
> verdant cover and excellent shape. At Red Mountain major road intersection,
> look for a pair of large obvious rock cairns straight across the
> intersection, then follow the ribbon blazes through the clearcut. At the
> next minor road crossing (Section 30), do not ascend on the road more than
> a dozen yards before picking up the trail. Two small cairns I left may help
> you to pick up the trail directly across the road in the bulldozer cut.
>
> Aside from a marshy spot a half-mile after Red Mountain, the trail was dry
> the entire first day. Only noted three blowdowns between Peavine Creek and
> Grizzly Peak, all of them trivial walk-overs. There are no significant
> blowdowns between Grizzly Peak and I-5. The trail has been recently logged
> but not brushed. Those taking 38N10 as an alternate to the west of Bartle
> Gap will want to be prepared for a 1000-yard intense manzanita bushwhack as
> the road ascends from the saddle. The slide sections prior to Bartle Gap
> have been regraded very recently and are in excellent condition for both
> walkers and riders. On the other hand, the cliff sections of Grizzly Peak
> are very unstable scree and in three places erosion has narrowed the tread
> to about a foot. True agoraphobics may wish to take Grizzly Peak Road as an
> alternate.
>
> After Grizzly Peak Road, hikers will find a well-groomed, shaded tread to
> just past "refreshing creek" at 1461.1. After that, the trail dries out,
> enters oak scrub belt and contains frequent sections of loose scree that
> will make for some pretty nervy footwork. Equestrians in particular are
> going to find slow going here. The typical attractions of low-elevation
> river valleys apply to much of the trail from here through to the top of
> Girard Ridge: wicked steep slopes, faint to non-existent trail tread that
> looks like someone dragged a pulaski across an unstable scree cliff, very
> little water, rattlers, big-time poison oak and the near-ubiquitous swarms
> of tiny black flies. Think "Belden flashback" and you've got the picture.
>
> Poison oak is a non-factor from Peavine Creek to Grizzly Peak. From the
> road crossing to Ah-Di-Nah (mile 1472.4) to Squaw Valley Creek, expect to
> be thrashing through waist-deep poison oak. (Google "urushiol" and "Tecnu"
> for the answer.) From Squaw Valley Creek to the boundary to Castle Crags
> State Park poison oak is a non-factor. From there to I-5, it is a presence
> but well clear of the trail tread. The final 16.9 mile section from Squaw
> Valley Creek to I-5 features immaculately groomed trail, with perfect grade
> and no obstructions. After the moderate, 2000-foot climb from Squaw Valley
> Creek to the crossing of Girard Ridge Road, the trail runs dead-flat on the
> crest (there is a 25-yard manzanita thrash section just before the junction
> with Castle Crags trail, but it is little more than a momentary
> irritation). The trail then winds around Girard Ridge, with great views of
> Shasta and the Crags and drops on excellent grade to I-5. Most hikers will
> fly through this lush, shaded section like they were Brian Robinson.
>
> Overall, signage is non-existent. The only trail sign in the first two days
> -- at the former Alder Creek Trail (mile 1454.3) -- is obsolete. The road
> situation through the logging areas on the first half of section O can be
> vexing, but the ducks and plastic ribbon blazes are excellent. There are no
> particularly confusing trail points the first two days. Later, at Squaw
> Valley Creek bridge crossing, many journal writers have alluded to problems
> locating the continuation of the PCT. Make a left after crossing the bridge
> and walk several hundred yards, looking for the place on your right where
> the PCT doubles back upslope. Then, at the clearing where many roads
> converge, you need to walk *across* the clearing before you will see the
> two blazes to the right. The best advice on these two potentially confusing
> points is to disregard journal entries and trust the Forest Service Web PDF
> map at
>
> http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/documents/st-main/maps/rogs/mccloud/squaw-
> v.pdf
>
> Wildflowers are in high season everywhere. The flora in sections 6 and 31,
> after the slide sections and during the final mile before the major road
> crossing near Bartle Gap are particularly profuse.
>
> Bear activity is intense for the entire section except the final segment
> from Squaw Valley Creek to I-5. Bear scat and prints are everywhere on the
> roads and trails While scouting the roads in the logging section, my
> support person nearly creamed one at the clearcut near Bartle Gap. (They
> don't call it Walking Bear Camp for nothing.) And I had a near nose-to-nose
> encounter with a southbound bear coming around a blind corner immediately
> after Butchknife Creek.
>
> The rattlers are a presence from Stouts Meadow north as the trail descends.
> The biting black flies are a constant irritation from Grizzly Peak through
> to I-5. Surprisingly, just two weeks after melt-off in some sections, very
> few mosquitos in evidence.
>
> Snow was still a big problem in the five mile area around Mushroom Rock. Be
> prepared to improvise and to move back and forth between the trail and
> 38N10 for this section. 38N10 is considered an alternate in high snow
> years, but it also had 10-15 feet of snow and some near-vertical
> snow-slopes on the north brow of the crest. Passable without gaiters and
> ice ax, but very nervy semi-technical climbing, snow-slope traverses and
> cross-country improvisation -- not just at Mushroom Rock but for a
> surprising distance after it. Expect that any time 38N10 is on the north
> side of the ridge it can be impeded to the same degree as the trail itself,
> which is often just a dozen yards downslope. I alternated between the
> trail, 38N10 and cross-country for 3 hours around Mushroom Rock and found
> it to be very slow going.
>
> Only footprints noted from Peavine Creek to Grizzly Peak were deer and
> bear. Saw just one person in 4 days/68.8 miles, a dayhiker just south of
> the Ash Camp trailhead.
>
> For your planning purposes, all but the first few miles of Section O is is
> in the McCloud Ranger District of Shasta-Trinity NF. See
> www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity
> or call 530 964-2184 to reach a staffer in McCloud. When I called to check
> conditions prior to this trip they were unable to offer any information and
> explained they had no staff go through these areas yet. If anyone has
> specific questions, e-mail me off-list at david@emeraldlake.com
>
> Thank you to the trail maintainers for three years of heroic work to
> reclaim the "infamous" section O.
>
> Respectfully submitted,
>
> DP
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 17:48:36 -0400
> From: <pcnst2001@covad.net>
> Subject: [pct-l] time for Section O ?
> To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <200406222148.i5MLmaKP009733@webmail4.megamailservers.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain
>
> This excellent trip report confirms my intent to tackle section O, 82 miles, in about
> five days during the week July 4-10.     My plan is to leave a car at Burney
> Falls, get
> to Castle Crags, and walk southbound in order to meet any through hikers that
> have gotten
> a couple of weeks ahead of the wave.    If any other section hikers need this
> notch in their
> belts at this time, let me know and perhaps we can coordinate.
>
> And I'd like to hear opinions from any local folks who have advice on safe places
> to park a car
> for a week at either end of section O.
>
> My recent activities are at
>  http://pcnst.oakapple.net/recent
> and future plans are at
>  http://pcnst.oakapple.net/future
> though the list of proposed campsites is subject to revision after I study the
> very detailed
> instructions below.
>
> David Hough
>
> On Tue, 22 Jun 2004 14:27 , David Plotnikoff <david@emeraldlake.com> sent:
>
> >
> >Greetings from a long-time list lurker and section hiker.
> >
> >These notes are from a four-day, three-night 68.8 mile northbound walk on
> >the Pacific Crest Trail from Peavine Creek (northbound PCT mile 1431.6) to
> >I-5 at Castle Crags State Park (mile 1500.4) on the week of 6/14/04. The
> >conditions I encountered over four days hiking, just as the annual melt-off
> >was finishing,  were sufficient to make me rethink Section O's
> >overwhelmingly negative reputation for horrific trail conditions and sheer
> >ugliness. I would recommend any section hiker doing O to try and schedule
> >it as early in the season as snow will make feasible.
> >
> >Highs were around 80 and nighttime lows never dipped below 50. Snow at the
> >highest points on the north side of the crest continues to melt rapidly and
> >references below to snow may not apply for more than another week. I was
> >not the first person through this season -- maybe the second. Many thanks
> >for Deems for spot-on intelligence about navigation near Mushroom Rock.
> >
> >First two days of trip -- from Peavine Creek to Bartle Gap and from Bartle
> >Gap to Grizzly Peak -- are a counterclockwise walk around the rim of a
> >deep, wooded basin that drains into the Pit River. The trail stays
> >diligently on or near the crest, affording many panoramic views including
> >at least four spots where one can see Lassen to the south, Shasta to the
> >north and Trinity Alps to the west. The second two days are a descent from
> >Grizzly Peak into the McCloud River basin to Squaw Valley Creek and then a
> >2000-foot climb to Girard Ridge and a final drop to the Sacramento River at
> >I-5.
> >
> >Note that it is possible to dayhike and/or slackpack the entirety of
> >Section O. The 35N10/ 38N10 / 37N30 roads from Road 37 to Peavine Creek TH,
> >the 39N05 route to the major four-way intersection just east of Bartle Gap,
> >and the spur road from Road 11 to Squaw Valley Creek are all
> >well-maintained and graded for passenger cars. Note that Grizzly Peak Road
> >and the final approach to Bartle Gap itself are *not* accessible without
> >4WD. Overall, Road 11 from McCloud and Road 37 from Lake Britton are the
> >major arterials.
> >
> >Water: Northbound hikers should leave Peavine Creek loaded for the day. The
> >next guaranteed almost-on-trail water is 13.6 miles north, 200 yards north
> >of the trail, on a descending road just below Bartle Gap in Section 35.
> >Before Bartle Gap and just after the slide prone sections there is a new
> >seasonal source at 41.10.160 x 121.46.973. The spring, on the right
> >(upslope for northbounders) is not pump-able, but dripping steadily. There
> >is year-round water at Stouts Meadow, if you're willing to venture 1/4 mile
> >off-trail along 38N05 to get it -- from a junction at approximately
> >41.09.828 x 121.54.861. Just before Grizzly Peak there will be a strong
> >seasonal creeklet in the cliff section of trail.
> >
> >Section hikers at Grizzly Peak road crossing may wish to consider camping
> >either near the crossing or a few hundred yards down the road on a small
> >spur under the power lines. The trail further north is quite steep all the
> >way to I-5 and flat spots are extremely limited. Water is currently
> >available from a seasonal spring a few hundred yards north of the Grizzly
> >Peak road crossing. Deer Creek is running strong. The "refreshing creek''
> >after Deer Creek and Butcherknife Creek are both wet, calf-deep fords at
> >the moment. There is room for a single tent a few yards north of
> >"refreshing creek" at mile 1463.1. After crossing Road 11 at Ash Camp,
> >easiest water access to the McCloud River is from the north end of the
> >bridge. Fitzhugh Gulch Creek (mile 1472) about midway between Grizzly Peak
> >and Squaw Valley Creek is the only guaranteed year-round on-trail water
> >until Trough Creek at mile 1480.3. Squaw Valley Creek itself is a
> >full-blown river. Noted four large, obvious and over-used car camping sites
> >between the bridge and the trailhead parking area. North of Squaw Creek,
> >Fall Creek 10.6 miles later is the only certain on-trail water until I-5.
> >
> >Overall trail conditions are mixed. Some sections, most notably the sea of
> >manzanita east of Grizzly Peak, have been brushed very recently and are in
> >excellent shape. In other areas there is enough brush intruding on the
> >trail to warrant long pants and long-sleeved  shirt -- but the bushwhacking
> >is light and for mercifully brief interludes. Trail tread can be faint or
> >non-existent for a couple hundred yards at a time, particularly adjacent to
> >clearcuts. Watch the cairns and ribbon blazes. When in doubt, remember from
> >Red Mountain to Grizzly Peak Road the trail is relentlessly true to the
> >crest. "The Infamous Section O" 's fearsome reputation from years past
> >continues to fade thanks to the heroic work of volunteer trail maintainers,
> >primarily the Backcountry Horsemen.
> >
> >Peavine Creek to the first panoramic vista south of Red Mountain is in
> >verdant cover and excellent shape. At Red Mountain major road intersection,
> >look for a pair of large obvious rock cairns straight across the
> >intersection, then follow the ribbon blazes through the clearcut. At the
> >next minor road crossing (Section 30), do not ascend on the road more than
> >a dozen yards before picking up the trail. Two small cairns I left may help
> >you to pick up the trail directly across the road in the bulldozer cut.
> >
> >Aside from a marshy spot a half-mile after Red Mountain, the trail was dry
> >the entire first day. Only noted three blowdowns between Peavine Creek and
> >Grizzly Peak, all of them trivial walk-overs. There are no significant
> >blowdowns between Grizzly Peak and I-5. The trail has been recently logged
> >but not brushed. Those taking 38N10 as an alternate to the west of Bartle
> >Gap will want to be prepared for a 1000-yard intense manzanita bushwhack as
> >the road ascends from the saddle. The slide sections prior to Bartle Gap
> >have been regraded very recently and are in excellent condition for both
> >walkers and riders. On the other hand, the cliff sections of Grizzly Peak
> >are very unstable scree and in three places erosion has narrowed the tread
> >to about a foot. True agoraphobics may wish to take Grizzly Peak Road as an
> >alternate.
> >
> >After Grizzly Peak Road, hikers will find a well-groomed, shaded tread to
> >just past "refreshing creek" at 1461.1. After that, the trail dries out,
> >enters oak scrub belt and contains frequent sections of loose scree that
> >will make for some pretty nervy footwork. Equestrians in particular are
> >going to find slow going here. The typical attractions of low-elevation
> >river valleys apply to much of the trail from here through to the top of
> >Girard Ridge: wicked steep slopes, faint to non-existent trail tread that
> >looks like someone dragged a pulaski across an unstable scree cliff, very
> >little water, rattlers, big-time poison oak and the near-ubiquitous swarms
> >of tiny black flies. Think "Belden flashback" and you've got the picture.
> >
> >Poison oak is a non-factor from Peavine Creek to Grizzly Peak. From the
> >road crossing to Ah-Di-Nah (mile 1472.4) to Squaw Valley Creek, expect to
> >be thrashing through waist-deep poison oak. (Google "urushiol" and "Tecnu"
> >for the answer.) From Squaw Valley Creek to the boundary to Castle Crags
> >State Park poison oak is a non-factor. From there to I-5, it is a presence
> >but well clear of the trail tread. The final 16.9 mile section from Squaw
> >Valley Creek to I-5 features immaculately groomed trail, with perfect grade
> >and no obstructions. After the moderate, 2000-foot climb from Squaw Valley
> >Creek to the crossing of Girard Ridge Road, the trail runs dead-flat on the
> >crest (there is a 25-yard manzanita thrash section just before the junction
> >with Castle Crags trail, but it is little more than a momentary
> >irritation). The trail then winds around Girard Ridge, with great views of
> >Shasta and the Crags and drops on excellent grade to I-5. Most hikers will
> >fly through this lush, shaded section like they were Brian Robinson.
> >
> >Overall, signage is non-existent. The only trail sign in the first two days
> >-- at the former Alder Creek Trail (mile 1454.3) -- is obsolete. The road
> >situation through the logging areas on the first half of section O can be
> >vexing, but the ducks and plastic ribbon blazes are excellent. There are no
> >particularly confusing trail points the first two days. Later, at Squaw
> >Valley Creek bridge crossing, many journal writers have alluded to problems
> >locating the continuation of the PCT. Make a left after crossing the bridge
> >and walk several hundred yards, looking for the place on your right where
> >the PCT doubles back upslope. Then, at the clearing where many roads
> >converge, you need to walk *across* the clearing before you will see the
> >two blazes to the right. The best advice on these two potentially confusing
> >points is to disregard journal entries and trust the Forest Service Web PDF
> >map at
> >
> >http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/documents/st-main/maps/rogs/mccloud/squaw-
> >v.pdf
> >
> >
> >Wildflowers are in high season everywhere. The flora in sections 6 and 31,
> >after the slide sections and during the final mile before the major road
> >crossing near Bartle Gap are particularly profuse.
> >
> >Bear activity is intense for the entire section except the final segment
> >from Squaw Valley Creek to I-5. Bear scat and prints are everywhere on the
> >roads and trails While scouting the roads in the logging section, my
> >support person nearly creamed one at the clearcut near Bartle Gap. (They
> >don't call it Walking Bear Camp for nothing.) And I had a near nose-to-nose
> >encounter with a southbound bear coming around a blind corner immediately
> >after Butchknife Creek.
> >
> >The rattlers are a presence from Stouts Meadow north as the trail descends.
> >The biting black flies are a constant irritation from Grizzly Peak through
> >to I-5. Surprisingly, just two weeks after melt-off in some sections, very
> >few mosquitos in evidence.
> >
> >Snow was still a big problem in the five mile area around Mushroom Rock. Be
> >prepared to improvise and to move back and forth between the trail and
> >38N10 for this section. 38N10 is considered an alternate in high snow
> >years, but it also had 10-15 feet of snow and some near-vertical
> >snow-slopes on the north brow of the crest. Passable without gaiters and
> >ice ax, but very nervy semi-technical climbing, snow-slope traverses and
> >cross-country improvisation -- not just at Mushroom Rock but for a
> >surprising distance after it. Expect that any time 38N10 is on the north
> >side of the ridge it can be impeded to the same degree as the trail itself,
> >which is often just a dozen yards downslope. I alternated between the
> >trail, 38N10 and cross-country for 3 hours around Mushroom Rock and found
> >it to be very slow going.
> >
> >Only footprints noted from Peavine Creek to Grizzly Peak were deer and
> >bear. Saw just one person in 4 days/68.8 miles, a dayhiker just south of
> >the Ash Camp trailhead.
> >
> >For your planning purposes, all but the first few miles of Section O is is
> >in the McCloud Ranger District of Shasta-Trinity NF. See
> >www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity
> >or call 530 964-2184 to reach a staffer in McCloud. When I called to check
> >conditions prior to this trip they were unable to offer any information and
> >explained they had no staff go through these areas yet. If anyone has
> >specific questions, e-mail me off-list at david@emeraldlake.com
> >
> >Thank you to the trail maintainers for three years of heroic work to
> >reclaim the "infamous" section O.
> >
> >Respectfully submitted,
> >
> >DP
> >_______________________________________________
> >pct-l mailing list
> >pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> >unsubscribe or change options:
> >http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 15:07:29 -0700
> From: <cmkudija@earthlink.net>
> Subject: RE: [pct-l] conditions report: Section O Reconsidered (long)
> To: "David Plotnikoff" <david@emeraldlake.com>,
>         <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Cc: jglyons@sisqtel.net, jomike47@earthlink.net, losthiker@sisqtel.net
> Message-ID: <IGEMKAANJGIIEFEHCJLNEEFPCGAA.cmkudija@earthlink.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="us-ascii"
>
> David, what an awesome report.  Did you take any photos of the wildflowers?
> (that you could share?)
>
> Christine "Ceanothus" Kudija
> PCT partially '94
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 19:54:25 -0700
> From: Richard <calliger@infolane.com>
> Subject: RE: [pct-l] conditions report: sonroa pass
> To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <2.2.32.20040623025425.00e63680@postal.infolane.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> 6-66-2004 Sonora Pass: RJC
>
> Trail is clear at 9600 feet...patchy spots near 10,000... but avoidable.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 14:21:01 +0200
> From: Inaki Diaz de Etura <inaki.diazdeetura@madrid.sema.slb.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] Lodging in Manning
> To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <40D975AD.90D7063B@madrid.sema.slb.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Let's say I arrive in Manning in the evening Greyhound from Vancouver.
> Which are my options for spending the night there (I'd start walking
> south bound the next morning)? I've checked the Manning resort's website
> and what they offer doesn't look suitable for two hikers if only because
> they require a minimum 2 night stay, at least during the weekends, if I
> remember right... we'd be there on a sunday.
> I think the Greyhound goes all the way to the Lodge within the park,
> please confirm this if anybody knows for sure. I've also read somewhere
> there's a Greyhound stop on the east entrance (like meaning you can take
> the bus up to there and no further) but that makes no sense to me,
> particularly when the bus we're taking comes from the west...
> So any ideas on what I could do? previous experiences? I remember a
> comment from another person from the list telling me he just camped in
> the forest after jumping off the bus... that'd be fine with me (that's
> what I'm doing everyday for the following weeks after all) but I guess
> that'll not be legal within the park... is there any walk-in campsite or
> similar in Manning?
> Inaki
>
> .
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 07:26:31 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Alexander Statnikov <statnikov@yahoo.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] PCT Oregon, Highway 140 -> Highway 62
> To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
> Cc: arman.s.kussainov@vanderbilt.edu
> Message-ID: <20040623142631.20987.qmail@web41111.mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Hello,
>
> We are planning to hike Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon
> from Highway 140 to Highway 62 (~50 miles, sections
> C1-C9) in mid August. I have several questions:
>
> 1. Are there any springs along the trail where we can
> resupply our water? Or do you suggest to carry water
> for the entire 50 mile hike?
>
> 2. Is it feasible to plan this 50 mile hike for 4
> days? How difficult is the terrain? Is it easier to
> hike from Highway 140 to Highway 62 or vice versa?
>
> 3. Can you suggest how to arrange a shuttle to drive
> us from Highway 140 to Highway 62 or vice versa?
>
> Thank you very much,
> Alexander
>
>
> __________________________________
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> ------------------------------
>
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> End of pct-l Digest, Vol 14, Issue 25
> *************************************

--

David J Canty, PhD
Medical and Nutrition Communications
Additional Affiliation:
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Dept of Nutrition and Food Studies
New York University
Email: david.canty@nyu.edu
Ph:   212-879-2787
Fax: 212-452-0875