July 28th, 2016
Miles Hiked: 20
Start Location: Mile 1499
End Location: Mile 1519
End Location GPS: 41.18856, -122.45357
It was hard leaving town as it always is after a zero day. Carolyn went to a yoga class during our break and the instructor asked if she needed a ride back to the trail. Cat, the yoga teacher, graciously picked us up from the Travel Inn at 7 AM and we were so thankful for the ride. Hitching out of Shasta would have been pretty hard since it is an interstate hitch back to the trail.
Today was hot again. The trail had a very steep ascent up to Castle Crag, which in itself was hard due to 4 miles of 600 foot elevation gain per mile. It was like walking up a down escalator. The sweat dripped fierce as we walked from one shady spot to another on the mostly exposed ascent.
Once at the top we got a full view of Castle Crag. A magnificent rock formation on the top of a mountain. It’s scraggly peaks stuck out like birthday candles jammed into a cake by a drunk artist.
It’s amazing how much cooler it is 5k feet above were we started. It’s a welcome relief being up higher in elevation. Sleep will be easier tonight.
