August 18

Distance: 27.0 miles | Ascent: 2720′ | Descent: 4200′

Mile marker: 903.9

Lunch: J&A – mac n cheese with pulled pork (A, A)

Dinner: J – unstuffed peppers (C+), A – taco (B+)

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We were expecting to wake up to a wet tent from the condensation near the pond. Pleasantly, the tent and our things were dry. The first few miles were easy – all downhill, nice soft pine duff, minimal blowdowns.

Then we hit the lava rocks around Brown Mountain. Fortunately, the trail crews who manage this section are amazing. The trail was cleared of large stones and a layer of finer rock laid overtop to make it easy stepping.

As we head further south, the plants are changing. We hit a new pine today with massive pine cones!

Our next water source was a pump well at a forest service shelter. We ate lunch and grabbed the water we needed for the next stretch.

Some northbound hikers told us about some magic up ahead. We were greeted with a cooler full of snacks and drinks from the Grays family. It was a wonderful treat!

We crossed 900 miles just before our campsite. And, we got our first glimpse of Mt. Shasta.

We settled for a campsite along a dirt road. Not the most idyllic, but not every site will be. We shared it with two other northbound hikers. We were planning on an early start and gave them fair warning that we’d be up before dawn. They were unbothered. 

We also saw a cow.