#scott mountain summit

[pcttrailsidereader]

Scott Mountain Summit

It is unfortunate that many PCT hikers have been numbed by the spectacular vistas of the High Sierra if they are NOBO and the North Cascades if they are SOBO . . . as may other places in the Lower 48, the Trinity Alps would elicit a real sense of ooohs and aaawhs. Part of the PCT's westward plunge across I-5 into the Klamath Knot, the section from Scott Mountain Summit (5,554') to Carter Meadows (6,100) is but 20 miles long . . . but it stays high throughout with abundant vistas.

I was with a trail crew working on nearby trails this past week and was reminded, once again. just how beautiful this area is.

Once the domain of the Shasta and the Wintu peoples, white settlers established the route over Scott Mountain Summit as a pack trail in 1851 and as a stage road by 1860. The route, now Hwy 3, was known as the Western California - Oregon Trail. With the completion of the railroad along the Sacramento River, this toll road fell into disuse by 1887.

[pcttrailsidereader]

Back in mid-May, we reported that Tacocat had made it into the High Sierra.  But, deterred by the snow pack, he took a little time off to re-evaluate his plan.  He eventually bounced north 500 miles to Belden where he re-started the trail on May 31st.  It was still no easy walk in the woods (bottom photo . . . climbing out of Belden) but by July 7th he had reached Siskiyou Summit (Callahans).  He reported an abundance of water and, now, heat . . . lots of 80s and 90s.

The top photo is beautiful Marble Mountain.  Center left of the Trinity Alps moving west from Scott Mountain Summit. And, as clear from the center right photo, there is still plenty of snow in the Klamath Mountains.

For more of Tacocat’s story, check out his blog:  www.palindrome2017.wordpress.com

[pcttrailsidereader]

The Trinity Alps and the Russian Peak Wilderness of Northern California is home to a lot more granite than most PCT hikers realize.  These stunning views, from the top of Thompson Peak, the highest point in the Trinity Alps at 9,002', look north toward the Marble Mountains. Although this peak is off the PCT, we passed youngsters from Camp Unalayee making the long traverse back toward the PCT west of Scott Mountain Summit (see the August 12th and August 15th posts). Photo credit: Zach Zwerdling

Note the smoke plume in the lower right hand photo that marked the first stages of the Salmon River and Butler Complex fires that kept much of the PCT blanketed in smoke through August, 2013.

[pcttrailsidereader]

"Place of Friends" - Part 1

Camp Unalayee (http://unalayee-summer-camp.com/) sits just yards off the PCT in the mountains of northern California more than six miles west of Scott Mountain summit. Originally established by the Quakers, in 1959 the camp moved from the Santa Cruz Mountains to its current location where it is surrounded by the Trinity Alps Wilderness.  Now it is nourished and staffed by a dedicated cadre of people who have often returned summer after summer after summer to offer three two-week sessions for kids aged 10 - 17.  One of the central themes of the camp is backpacking. 

It starts right from the beginning of the camp experience when campers walk with their gear from Scott Mountain summit.  All campers then spend at least half of their stay backpacking . . . with the more intrepid going out for incredibly rigorous twelve-day trips. This is like boot camp for PCT hikers.

Recently, I spent a couple of days with the staff and campers. I talked with them about the Pacific Crest Trail . . . both impressions, experiences, and trail stories.  I did some word association with some of the younger campers. The responses ranged from Gaelan's succinct "very long" to Ayden's more descriptive, "wilderness, wildlife, distance from technology, having a good time, and meeting new people".

Gaelan

Ayden

Zoe and Lauryn, who had been with their 'tribe' as they hiked back from Marshy Lake on the PCT the prior day, had stopped en route to take a break and play some cards on the trail.  When a hiker would come (the tail end of the pack of thru's was still in passing by), a tribe member would yell out, "Hiker!"  They were particularly struck by one thru who rounded the corner to see this group of kids.  Stunned to encounter this collection of youngsters in the middle of the wilderness, the hiker stammered, "Where are you from? Is there a town around here?"

Zoe and Lauryn were curious about him too.  "I love hiking and I am here to figure out my life," he told them.  He had just graduated college as was on the PCT "figuring out what to do next."  Zoe and Lauryn and the 'tribe' did a little trail angeling and introduced this thru to a Unalayee tradition, "Zing" (Koolaid with  extra sugar).  [They warned me about "Zap" . . . Koolaid without sugar.]

Staff had stories too.  Troll -- a doctor from Ashland who along with her husband, Steve, have volunteered at the Camp for years -- recounted the time a British hiker, well into his 70s, walked into Camp.  She adopted a British accent to complete the story. "The PCT guide says that Camp Unalayee was available in case of emergency," the bloke said. "I'm out of tea and that's an emergency."

"We can help with that," Troll told him. The chap stayed for dinner and tea.

More from my visit to Camp Unalayee on August 15th.