Was going to take a zero and rest up in Chester. However, the hiker hostel had no A/C (which would have been difficult during a very hot day), and after a few cold beers and hot pizza at the Pizza factory decided to wake early, hitch to the trail and see if I could get to the Lassen National park boundary in 14 miles. I didn’t want to carry the required beer can (2 pounds) if you want to camp in the 19 miles of the park, so decided to cover it in 1 day.
The Pfauhaus hiker hostel 1/2 mile away from main street Chester. Probably 15 hikers slept on the front lawn July 4. Many of them drank heavily on the 4th and took the 5th off, as none of them caught up to me in the next 3 days of heat.
My trail Angel “Lodgepole” picked me up hitching in Chester at 5:52 am and got me to the trailhead at 6:08. Really nice guy who backpacked a ton until he had to do a Gervaise and replace his knee and hip this year.
I was thrilled to be able to hike by about 6 a.m considering the 1/2 mile walk to town and a 7 mile hitch. Today had a bunch of medium climbs and huge expected heat (but really good water sources, thank gosh).
Early sunrise in the burnt area from the Dixie fire. Very sad.
I thought this stretch looked really cool.
Small but helpful 1st water spot a few miles in. Very mossy main pool, but the water flowing was clear. Nice steady gradual uphill in the 1st couple hours.
Some few non burned areas. Very very welcome!
Lassen creeping closer.
2nd water spot about 7 miles in. It’s getting hot and the shade and break felt great!
Another nice small stream to filter water from. Very nice. I hardly ever had to carry more than 2 liters of water (only when setting up for a dry camp).
Another pic of the small stream that I filled up on water at before I dry camped .2 north. I was so hot after the steady climb, I spent 1.5 hours here in the shade and just refreshed myself.
Made it to the boundary. 14 miles in, and feeling ok, with just a couple blisters and friction rash to deal with.
Ok camp spot close to the boundary. Will wake at 4:30 am to help avoid the heat on the required 21 mile hike tomorrow.
Finally started to cool down close to 8 pm. That was a long day, but very happy I made it to the boundary.
Hiking at 5:25 am. Nice and cool. Slept great for 4 to 5 hours (great for me on trail).
The sun joins me 1.5 hours later. A few medium climbs in the morning while it’s cool. They were gradual and pretty easy. Thank god that after 11:00 the remaining 11 miles were essentially flat or slightly downhill, and the trail was very nice. But it was so exposed, there was no shade at all, and sadly not a cloud in the sky.
Boiling springs lake
The National park did a great job of signing this section.
Boiling springs lake in the Park. Rose, myself, and Tommy did this 10 mile hike 29 years ago (we carried tommy)
A luxury resort, Drakesbad, is around here. Popular with the steam and Geyser crowd. Would have stayed there, but no room at the Inn.
Marshy area
Constant burn area.
At mile I1 you reach the Twin Lakes, a semi warm water source popular with nudist and day hikers (which made the needed water collection awkward and less desirable.
After this point (sorry, no pic, just to tired at this point), although there were 2 water spots in the next 9 miles, the 1st was completely exposed and completely unfit for camp.
Had to walk across this water as no bridge or rock jumps were possible. There was a nearby “log bridge” with a scramble back to the trail, but it was beyond my comfort level.
This is the Lower Twin lakes. Lovely spot 11 miles in.
At the water spot 4 miles from the boundary, a very friendly deer spent 1.5 hours with me at the 1st shaded spot in 8 miles. Very nice.
Video of the deer.
Lassen getting closer.
Made it to the boundary. 1.5 miles to the 1st acceptable camp(dry). Very happy!
Camp spot after 21 semi easy miles (except for the heat and exposure and dead stuff). Surprisingly, 7 people ended up camping here that night, and almost all were hiking by 4:30 am.
Slept great again, probably because I was tired, Even though I only have 6 miles tomorrow before I reach Old Station and van (Dora) I plan on hiking by 5:30 am to avoid the heat.
Early am hiking.
Sunrise peaks thru the trees. Nice easy path and cool temps. Lovely. And some green areas have returned!
Hat Creek camp area. I should have photo’d the rushing water, but forgot and didn’t want to walk back .1 of a mile.
With a friendly 3 mile hitch from a resort worker (hat creek resort) where I should have parked the van, I got to Dora before 8:30. I grabbed a Dora portable shower, changed clothes, and had a great breakfast at JJ cafe. I gave a fellow hiker (Sunshine) a ride to his resort (Rock something) then I headed back to Chester to retrieve my not needed resupply, then headed home.
JJ’s cafe. Kinda well known, but not as good as the last time I ate here.
This was a challenging but worthwhile adventure. About 110 miles in 8 days, with lots of hard and medium ups and downs, and some crazy heat and sad dead areas. Fortunately, the water situation was excellent, and the trail itself was nice and well maintained.
The Etna fire will change my upcoming plans, as that part of the trail will likely be closed.
I probably will attempt the Mammoth to Tuolumne Meadows section, or visa versa. 1st I rest for a week and heal up.
Tom hikes the PCT 
Thanks for the armchair adventure Tom!
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