August 2
Still punching out 25's hiking with Hobbles towards Lassen National Park. Good conversation and good hiking.
A sweeping climb up from the North Fork of the Feather River (and the hospitality of the Braatens) 5000 vertical into a carved river canyon. Much of the trail densely overgrown with sharp thickets of manzanita and other shrubs, forcing me to do battle with chest high limbs attempting to consume me. It reminded me of when Vietnam vets talk about elephant grass, slicing their hands and reducing their vision down to a few feet. I am fortunate that there is no one trying to kill me on this trail.
We have officially entered the Cascades, with northward views of Lassen Peak, rising up out of the unbroken timber layer, its summit still snowbound even in August. We have been spending more and more time under tree cover, traveling across rolling mountains whose summits are punctuated with chunky spires of lava.
I feel strong. Movement is automatic. The land rises to meet my footstep.
Still punching out 25's hiking with Hobbles towards Lassen National Park. Good conversation and good hiking.
A sweeping climb up from the North Fork of the Feather River (and the hospitality of the Braatens) 5000 vertical into a carved river canyon. Much of the trail densely overgrown with sharp thickets of manzanita and other shrubs, forcing me to do battle with chest high limbs attempting to consume me. It reminded me of when Vietnam vets talk about elephant grass, slicing their hands and reducing their vision down to a few feet. I am fortunate that there is no one trying to kill me on this trail.
We have officially entered the Cascades, with northward views of Lassen Peak, rising up out of the unbroken timber layer, its summit still snowbound even in August. We have been spending more and more time under tree cover, traveling across rolling mountains whose summits are punctuated with chunky spires of lava.
I feel strong. Movement is automatic. The land rises to meet my footstep.
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