PCT mile 1190, on Milton Creek

@39.54358,-120.57253

Up with the red crescent moon that preceded the dawn, breakfasted and packed efficiently and was on my way.

The smoke has lessened a bit with the wind now coming from the east; it is probably blowing yesterday’s smoke back from Nevada.

I hike quickly over the round ridges covered with drying Mules Ears. Sierra Butte, a volcanic remnant 20 miles away is visible, or rather its outline is. It dominates the skyline despite barely breaking 8000 feet.

I’ve left the High Sierras for good, each ridge a little lower than the preceding one, each valley much deeper. There are still plenty of big climbs ahead, they will just be conducted at lower altitudes and higher temperatures.

Cedars and oaks have appeared, a sign of a warmer climate zone. The hike was hot today, the water sources more widely spaced. My camp on Milton Creek is barely at 5000 feet, probably the lowest point in the PCT since Walker Pass at the southern tip of the Sierra, some 550 trail miles distant.

The trees are big down in this gorge and little sun reaches the fern-filled valley floor.

I arrived early enough to dunk my dusty sweaty self into the cold crystalline water, clothes and all. It felt delightful.

It’s only another 4 miles down into Sierra City and I could have kept walking- I’d be there now if I had, drinking a cold beer. But I like it here better, town can wait.