Lionheart - Pacific Crest Trail Journal - 2013

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obsidian butterfly

Obsidian Butterfly

Red tail hawk soaring
Obsidian butterfly
Cedar fire cave


Woke up at 5 am and said no. Went back to sleep until 630 am and said yes. Came across a pretty awesome fire cave in an incense cedar. This ancient, beautiful tree was alive and well with its elaborate crown flourishing.

Found a flat spot without poison oak for lunch right in the middle of the trail. My guest during lunch was the pictured butterfly. It sat on my foot and then it sat on my shoulder. I was in a quiet spot away from the rushing river and I could hear its wings as it flew around me. Have you every heard a butterfly's wings flap? As I readied to leave, it landed on my backpack. I walked slowly down the trail and it didn't fly off for quite some time. I've never had such a personal experience with a butterfly. It was so unique that I can't help but wonder if it was some kind of sign.

I spent most of the day dodging poison oak which takes a little extra brain power. I'm grateful to be camped here tonight with no poison oak. About 5 pm I came down to the Squaw Valley Creek. Remember the eery, cloudy fog? Yeah, it's called smoke. The weird part is that it hasn't smelled like smoke. Upon arriving at the river, there was a notice alerting hikers about a fire on our approach to hwy 5 although the pct is not closed. It suggested taking an alternate route but did not provide one. Pct it is then. I've been forgetting to mention that since Burney Falls, the pct has taken a giant turn to the west. There weren't enough miles in California so they added some. Just kidding. I think it might have something to with water.

Decided to take a dip in Squaw Valley Creek but the water was cold so it was a short, yet refreshing one. As I was headed out for 5 more miles, section hiker Lance rolled in. The first hiker I'd seen all day. He is camped here tonight with me.

Entry 130 of 208
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