Tuesday, July 12, 2022
Start: campsite on a cliff with a view of Mt Shasta
End: Burney
Miles: 23.9
Elevation gain/loss: 1909’/4154′
I was up at 5:10, and out by 5:45am. Earlier in the morning, I met ROYGBIV and Kangaroo at Rock Creek as I filtered water. Just a bit later, I met Professor Carl on his CYTC! We had a lovely conversation, took a picture, and then went our separate ways.
The trail crosses a dam where Lake Britton turns into Pit River. Contractors were busy with construction, refreshing the concrete structure. I had to be escorted across the work area, and received a lovely bridge tour by Rod. He told me all about the dam: it was built between 1920-1925; the tigers’ teeth to protect the bottom of the dam; the 2 pairs of nesting eagles and nearby ospreys; Lassen was the last volcano eruption in the lower 48 before Mt St Helen, in 1917; and it took a team of 10 men five weeks to assemble the scaffolding they’re using to repair the dam.
I made it to Burney Falls by 11:30am and took a 30-minute break to eat ice cream and drink some iced tea and root beer (and enjoy the park wifi). The hordes of tourists stared at me, but it was 100% worth it. It was another very hot day, in the mid-90s again.
I made it to the road by 2:25pm, and had the quickest 2-minute/2nd car hitch I’ve ever had. I was into town by 2:35pm with a ride from Daniel, who lives nearby. I went directly to the grocery store and then checked into my motel. Unfortunately, I suspect they give the hikers the worst rooms, because my room’s sink didn’t drain properly and my sink (and shower) only made cold water. But it was nice to get clean and do laundry.
Transcending Mountains 