PCT day 74 - mile 1607 to mile 1634

Today felt like hiking through a 'budget' version of Sierra Nevada. Sharp ascents, baren landscape with little vegetation, snow patches, plenty of little water streams dripping from the mountains. It felt almost nostalgic, on the other hand a lot of today's walk was through a burned area with a lot of fallen trees, many of which were directly on the trail so everyone were playing a game of 'how to manoeuvre around the tree efficiently'.

In the afternoon I met Taffy, I already saw her in Lake Tahoe area, she decided like many others to skip hundred miles of Dixie fire area, even though it's not considered dangerous to hike through it anymore, it's still 'not advisable' so many people decides not to do it. Personally I think it was worth it to go through this area, first of all to see the damage fire causes but also how nature deals with it. I had some of the most interesting animal encounters in this area of the trail (tree full of bats, angry swooping falcon) and went through the volcanic Lassen Park, where I saw an inactive volcano and a geyser. I would decide to do this section again if I had a chance.

Trail led us next to Fischer Lake today in which salamanders live, they are such a cute clumsy creatures, they sort of drift underneath the water slowly going down until something prompts them to move. Their eyesight is poor, I was placing my camera really close before any reaction from their side, resulting in fairly decent pictures.

In the afternoon few miles before the campsite I met an older section hiker Ron, he didn't feel well and complained about his belly hurting so I gave him the constipation tablets I got way back in Idlewild from a pharmacist, I also topped up his water and advised him to stay in the closer campsite as he was definitely not in the shape to walk any further. Hopefully he will get better tomorrow.

None of the people from my bubble managed to catch up to me today, although I still expect Fomo to roll into the camp at the last moment, this guy can definitely hike! He did 42 miles two days ago, not too bad for a Canadian vegan! Campsite I'm staying at tonight is very pretty and almost serene, I set up the tent underneath a big old tree, the only problem might be the deer who were already walking around like they owned the place while I was having my dinner, I can hear them now huffing and puffing all around the campsite. Hopefully they will respect the nighttime etiquette and tone their behaviour after dark.

Oh I also seen my second black bear of the trail today? Saw might be a bit of an overstatement as I actually only spotted it's curled back and furry butt running away in cloud of dust as soon as he spotted me, well it's still counts as a bear encounter :)

Tomorrow is town day in Seiad Valley, I will possibly stay there overnight as next to allegedly best lunches on the trail so far and affordable resupply it is the last stop in California! The road leading to it is mostly downhill, so it shouldn't take long to get there. Overall it has been quite satisfying and quiet day.

Salamanders living in Fischer Lake:

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