Mile 1430 to 1455

I wake at 4:30, make coffee and eat a giant smashed cinnamon bun. I catch and filter water right before it trickles into a disgusting pool. Timing is everything.

Mount Shasta in the Morning

We hike about 4 miles to Clark Spring where we catch BLT, Klutz and Mountain Goat. They slept here last night and are now heading out. Senior Whiskers and I filter water and rest before pushing on to Moosehead Creek which is 11 miles ahead. It is too far to get to and avoid the mid day heat, but it is the next place with water. At Moosehead we try to sleep in the constantly moving shade, but the ants, flies and other critters have different ideas. Other than having water, it is a pretty miserable place.

We hike earlier than planned, from boredom as much as anything. Once out of the trees the wide open views remind me of the Blue Mountains. In the trees, however, it is the long green tunnel. We hike another 10 miles to get to Gold Creek, the next reliable water. It is after 10pm when I arrive. I drop my tarp and bag in the dark on what appears to be a combination gravel road, turn around and junk heap. I go to sleep hoping no one wants to do any of those three things on me tonight. The snorting sounds of deer trying to get by me to the water wakes me several times. Perhaps they are just miffed that I am sleeping next to the “No Trespassing” sign. I check again. It says nothing about sleeping, so I nod off well within my legal rights.

Similar to the Blue Mountains