Ellen S - Pacific Crest Trail Journal - 2011

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Follow the red lava trail

Lots of Lava

As the last light faded yesterday, one lone thru showed up at the shelter.
He quickly set up camp (outside the shelter, like us) and went to bag. He
left before we emerged from our tent this morning.
We rounded a few more hills this morning in deep forest, then emerged onto
boulder-strewn lava fields. Suddenly, Mt McLaughlin was right in front of
us!
The trail builders did a difficult and wonderful job thru the miles of lava
we crossed. From somewhere (and I envision 50 pound bags from Home Depot),
they filled the built up trail with red lava rock. It made an interesting
contrast with the dark gray boulders. Sometimes we'd see what looked like a
sink hole, maybe a collapsed lava tube? Pine trees took a root-hold where
ever a scrap of soil existed.
Anyway, it took a while to hike thru this. Such an interesting landscape
after days of forest!
We eventually reached a trail junction for Fish Lake Resort. I dropped my
pack and hiked the last 1/4 mile to Highway 140. Went back to where I
dropped the pack and we proceeded down the 2 mile trail to the resort. The
first mile was manicured bike/cross country ski trail, the best tread we've
seen. The last mile reverted to hiker tread and dropped to a PCT campsite
along the lakeshore.
We checked the campsite out, then headed to the resort cafe. Fish Lake
Resort is small, but the food and service was much appreciated.
After checking conditions further north, we decided to get off the trail
here. So the next challenge was trying to find a way to Klamath Falls to
catch a train south. We were so lucky. A couple of thrus arrived for lunch
(they had hitched from Crater Lake to pick up a car). They had planned to
drive up the east side of the Cascades back to Crater Lake, and offered us a
ride.
So here we are, cleaning up in KF, trying to figure what we want to do
next.

Entry 47 of 48
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