Belden mile 1287 to Chester mile 1332

The Belden start

Perfect view of the power plant. Excellent noise to sleep to. 5 people camped here, all were hiking before I started at 5:40. There were smarter than I. It got hot!

Off I go

Bridge shot 2 miles in. No real climbing yet. Lots of green which is nice

Up up up this canyon for 14 miles. So far nicely graded and little poisen oak, and not much overgrowth.

Gotta get water from rattlesnake spring

No rattlers present

The 1st of many cool waterfalls. I’m not posting them all, because frankly the camera blurs when I am gasping for breath.

Next water spot

This might be the new bridge they put in after burn down. Crazy nice views (before they kill you with the rest of the climb)

I hope this is the 2 waterfalls video.

Yes, I had to walk across this. Looks easy, but since it was early I took my socks off.

Green does show up in the middle of the burn down

Waterfalls

Signs

Not sure what this shows.

The unofficial 1300 mile marker northbound.

I get to the top of the 5k climb by about 5. Some live trees, but no shade and sadly bug swarms if you settle.

That was a hard ass day. A couple irritating friction rashes, that really hurt at times, but not while hiking. Might be residual poisen oak from earlier trips

My exposed view. Super hard ground so no stakes, but no wind so it was ok.

Sunset shot

Now we get the sunrise shot at about 5:45. I was awake anyway, but it’s sick to get started while it’s cool. Even at 7k feet, it’s not cold at night.

Frogs spring. Very near my camp. My 1st water and break is Cold Springs 4 miles away, mostly downhill.

The burn areas are brutal. Saps your soul. It’s like traveling across southern Texas

I take these pics for a reason. I have no clue on this one .

Cold spring. PCT set up this perfect water spot 100 feet off trail. Gotta love it!

Signs

This is my woodland fair possible winner in the photo contest. I call it life from death. It’s incredible how hard nature works after these fires. It’s awesome

Meadows and flowers on the middle of death. Wow.

7100

Might be the 1st Lassen view. Unless I said there was an earlier one. Don’t make me misquote myself

Ok. That the better Lassen view.

Sign

Better sign

Crap, another sign! Can’t you find flowers or butterflies or something interesting!

Come on

I liked this one

This was a 1/3 mile hike to get to the water. Loaded up then took a break. Love the name. My 1st plan was to camp here, but I hoped to get a couple miles up

Made it to the preferred more up the climb spot. 6 hikers here and a gentle .3 to water. Comments suggested no bugs, but sadly not true. Easy stakes for the tent, but so dusty and burnt your stuff was coated in seconds. But I’m happy I got here. Potentially Chester tomorrow!

The water option.

Nightfall

Snow. But off trail. Seems so odd when it’s pretty warm

Butterflies?

The very unofficial 1/2 way spot on the PCT. The actual route is 12 miles longer now, and changes, but still kinda cool. And really close to my personal 1/2 way mark.

The marker

Butterflies?

I make it to highway 36 to Chester at 1. Didn’t get 10 miles by 10 o’clock, but did almost get 9. Did get 12 by 12 on a semi easy day.

Got a 5 minute hitch from a guy that remembered not picking up hikers 2 weeks earlier. I was his karma. I was thrilled

He took me to the “Hiker Hostel” in Chester. I was hoping for a A/c room with a bed and a shower.

Nope. Me and 15 other camp on the front lawn. They have 2 showers (5 bucks) and the lawn is 15. They have rooms upstairs , but with no a/c, no one uses them this time of year. frankly , I’m thrilled. 5 minute walk to Chester’s downtown, and I’m at the pizza factory with Wi-Fi, charging, pizza, A/C and beer.

The next 50 miles seem ok. No crazy climbs, and no issues.

The downhill 5k into Belden and the 5k out were very hard. But the last 2 days was as fun as it get get on the PCT. Just the sad burnt aspect.