PCT 73 – Lassen Volcanic National Park

Daily miles : 20
Total miles : 1367

Our campsite near Drakesbad and the nearby river was very cool last night. In the AM,  we both started with our down coats and wind pants and wind shirts on.   The moisture trapped cool air of being in a river valley was apparent.  

Our warm clothes didn’t stay on for too long as we had a hike out of the valley pretty immediately,  and by the top,  we were back in our normal hiking clothes of t shirt and shorts.

Few hikers around us for the whole day, and we only saw a couple at the beginning of the day.  We have heard that a lot of hikers have dropped out since Lake Tahoe,  but don’t really know for sure.   We only know of a couple personally.   However with so many hikers on the trail this year,  it is believable that many are dropping out after the Sierra, and that we wouldn’t know the people directly.  One trail angel,  Copper tone, who has been traveling up the trail at our speed,  had mentioned that the number of hikers passing through at the road crossings where he has been at  is around 25 percent of what it had been earlier on the trail.

The walking was quite easy today with much of the land being flat or having only modest climbs or descents.   We were able to take a fair number of lengthy breaks and still roll into camp by 6pm.  We walked with a view of Mt Lassen for nearly the entire day as it was to the west of the trail and much of what we were walking through was fire damaged,  giving us clear views.

Lunch had an interesting sighting: hundreds of baby frogs! We had lunch near a pond there hundreds, if not thousands of baby frogs.   All well under an inch long.   Some were hopping about,  others in small holes piled on top of each other.   Most were tan with an orang-ish tinge to them,  others were bright green.   It was a really neat thing to see.

Tonight we are camped next to a stream again,  though not in a river valley like last night.  It is much warmer here and the mosquitoes are plentiful. Several other hikers (8) have rolled in since we have settled in.