Pacific Crest Trail - Days 141-142 - Hyatt Lake
Start: Mile 1733.5 - Backcountry Campsite
End: Mile 1769.6 - Backcountry Campsite
The 100+ degree heatwave in Southern Oregon had one more day before breaking. We did 12 or so miles into Hyatt Lake Campground and Resort before calling it a day to wait out the heat.
The Hyatt Lake campground had great showers and a walk-in campsite for PCT hikers. It was nice to be tucked in the forest away from the RVs in the main campground.
We watched a forest service worker stop to turn the arrow from high to extreme. :/
Graphic design is my passion.
We set up our tent at the PCT site and were the only ones there until well after dark when a dozen people pitched 10+ tents around us in the space.
Hikers assemble into groups called “Tramilies” (Trail families) and camp at the same place each night. Big groups can get pretty annoying as they can be very loud and self-absorbed, but also because campsites generally fit 3-5 tents and can be miles apart so hiking into the evening near big tramilies can become a gamble as they can easily take up all available campsites in a given stretch.
This small area burned earlier this summer. A trail crew had already done an amazing job clearing the fallen trees from the trail.
This was really the only vista from what was the flattest day on trail so far.
We were passed by a guy who caught up to us and chatted with him about how flat and pristine the trail had been all day.
“I know! It’s so boring!”
The South Brown Mountain Shelter.
Someone left a few copies of recent PCTA magazines on the table. One article mentioned tramilies of 40+! people, and recommended having a max of 20 so backcountry sites aren’t impacted by dozens of people piling into small camp sites.
It was relatable as we were effectively hiking all day amidst a tramily of the dozen people who packed in around us the night before, finding them at every water source, rest spot, etc.
On a day where we anticipated doing our first 30+ mile day the trail turned into red carpets of lava rock around mile 24. We decided not to push through it with tired feet and settled for 26 or so miles for the day. Not bad.
We heard Oregon was flat with easy grades on the climbs. So far it’s true and the only thing slowing us down (besides enjoying town zero days) is the heat.
Where the heck did these lava rocks come from?!