Mile 1236.5 to 1251.5 – 15 miles total hiked on PCT

After a much needed rest and recuperation in Quincy with a beautiful cheese, I got a ride back to the trailhead and I started my hike north.

It started off as a normal hike through the forest, but eventually turned into a much more somber walk.

The living force slowly started to be replaced by a dead burned forest. Back in 2020 a huge mega fire ravaged this area.

Fortunately, some areas were spared. Even if I was expecting it the long afternoon hiking through the dead forest took its toll on me.

All right, I made it to 2000…

Oops… 2000 kilometers, that is. 😛

After that bit of levity, there was more signs of the fire that changed this area forever.

Unfortunately, most of the afternoon was spent hiking through this dead forest. And that meant very little shade.

And even though I was climbing down (which is usually the easier way), the lack of shade in the lower elevation. I was headed to really took its toll on me. Watching me I had water, but I went through a whole lot of it.

Amazingly, I almost skipped one of the few water sources in the area because I thought I had enough to make it to Feather River.

It was almost worse than the Mojave desert.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t just stop anywhere in camp. It’s dangerous to camp when there’s a lot of dead trees all around you.

You have to be wary of dead limbs falling from the trees onto your tent and entire trees can actually suddenly fall over in the wind.

That’s why I push myself to get to the feather river. Cause I knew there would be live trees and good camping sites there.

Oh, and a lot of water to drink and swim in. 😀

After a long afternoon, the feather river came into view finally.

And then the large pitch spanned the river!

I took my time and enjoyed the view from the bridge (and took a lot of pictures, of of course)

Once across the bridge, it was time to find a campsite.

Thanks to the FarOut app, I knew there were some good spots next to the river. I just had to find them.

Not really sure what this is. It was on the side of the trail down to the campsites I was looking for.

After I found the campsite I wanted to use, I didn’t set up my tent.

Why?

After a long hot afternoon, hiking through the dead forest, I had to jump into the river, of course!!

Ah…