Day 44. August 10
From Buckhorn Spring to amazing campsite overlooking valley past Man Eaten Lake.
Normal people probably react to a bad night’s sleep by sleeping in. I’m not normal so I don’t. Perversely, I react by getting up early.
It was just a little chilly as I broke camp, walked past the other hikers slumbering, and searched for any deer I might easily kill.
It was blustery as the sun came up, but it was obviously going to be another hot day. A few ups and downs early and then I entered the Marble Wilderness area featuring the cleverly named White Marble Mountain and Black Marble Mountain. I met a few hikers and passed a back country ranger cabin (unoccupied). Water was scarce in sections, but when it was found, it was gloriously clear and cold from springs. For example, Cold Spring lived up to its name, but it was a thirsty effort to return to the trail from the spring about a 1/4 mile away.
It was a long day. The sky was getting a little darker with smoke. I wanted to push on. Motivation for me was to see a body of water called Man Eaten Lake. What a glorious name! Was an entire man eaten at this lake? Just part of a man? By what or whom? Any relation to the Donner Party? Late in the day, I passed above it. Pretty lake. No half eaten carcasses that I could see. No way in hell I was going to camp there.
I crested a ridge and descended past a small lake with a lovely outlet stream. There were some tent sites nearby. Three of them were standard issue. One, however, was truly outstanding. It was at the top of a ridge that overlooked a valley. Looking down the valley one could see Mt. Shasta. Perfect. I had seen bear scat on the way down so I hung my food and backpack. I filtered water from the stream and rinsed the sweat and dirt off my clothes.
Just as it was getting dark a young lady cruised by heading toward the way I had hiked. I was going to suggest that she think about camping nearby as the next two miles for her had no tent sites just rocky slope and it was getting dark. I realized that might sound creepy, so I just said “Hi.” And I hoped she had a good water filter in case my sock washing hadn’t completely washed downstream.
I watched the alpenglow off the mountains as the sunset and got into my perfect tent. There was the customary evening breeze, like the mountain yawning, and then it was clear and quiet and beautiful.
backpacking over the hill 