Pacific Crest Trail - Day 69 - nice

Start: Mile 710.7 - Backcountry campsite
End: Mile 729.1 - Backcountry campsite

Scraggliest tree on trail.

What the heck happened here?!

Really interesting weathering pattern on this dead tree. Grey and tan vertical split.

First marmot sighting! We named him Marmalade.

Concentric circles on a topo map equate to a cone (or inverted cone). Monache and Templeton Mountains are about as close to geological … perfection? monotony? normality? as you’ll find anywhere.

This plant reminded me of the retro stardust motif on top of the Gold ‘n Silver Inn sign on Fourth Street in Reno. So many late night breakfasts had there in my spryer younger days.

We camped at 9,100’ after going up and over a 10,500’ pass - the highest point on trail so far. We’ll need all the acclimation we can get for the days ahead. The sunset was about to explode, but we tucked into the tent after being swarmed by mosquitos that apparently flew a quarter mile uphill from the nearest creek. The blood sucking efficiency of those flying bastards is something to behold. They’d make excellent congresspeople.