Jack5455 - Pacific Crest Trail Journal - 2018

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Fall color is starting

More day hiking

I drove down the paved Blue Lakes Road for quite a few miles and turned left onto Tamarack Rd and then into the PCT parking lot. I first had to hike north to meet my turnaround point from yesterday. There was a short side trail to the PCT; a short uphill to cross the paved Blue Lakes Road and then a bunch more uphill through and around granite blocks and boulders. Then the climb continued in open terrain across the shoulder of The Nipple. Easy Street and his wife passed me; they were true south bounders. At the high point, I could look down both sides of the ridge to see some very nice lakes. Unfortunately, they were at least 800 vertical feet below me. Then there was a windy and winding descent to one of the lakes and the first crossing of the dirt Blue Lakes Road. The road had been used but probably only by big boy pick ups or ATV's. Then there was some more uphill and eventually crossed the part of the Blue Lakes Road I saw yesterday. I connected with the turn around point and headed back south.

It was much windier on the ascent back to the ridge and The Nipple. A few years ago, friends had been pinned down by hurricane force winds. I can believe that because I needed a chin strap for my hat and this was a nice day.

I returned back to the side trail to my car but I needed to do some more mileage south of this point. It was psychologically difficult to pass by a potential stopping point and continue south. Fortunately, there was not much up and down but there was enough to finish my legs off for the day. I did not quite make it to the crossing of Tamarack Road but I was close enough for today.

Back at the car, I drove the rough Tamarack Road to the PCT crossing and car camped in a one car pullout. Many cars rolled by and seemed upset that I had taken the primo spot.

Entry 23 of 23
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