Getting back on the trail was hard. There was so much to miss about my time in Ashland. And, I’d oversupplied, so putting my pack on weighed down on me a lot more than usual.
The trail was mostly dry and grassy today, with out-of-season thimbleberry plants lining many sections.
There were several noteworthy rocks along the trail too, but I had trouble identifying them. Pilot Rock, Little Pilot Rock, and Joe’s Rock are all candidates for the rocks I saw below.
Later in the day, I approached Hyatt Lake, and the nearby valley.
Hyatt Lake had a nice campground with electricity, flush toilets, and garbage service, so I stopped there for the night, and chatted with other PCT hikers until late.
I think you came across a non-venomous racer snake. Hey big was it? Adults or 3 1/2 to 6 feet long. It looked like about 100 feet long to me.
It was definitely on the smaller side, about 3 feet. I assumed it was non-venomous because the head is flush with the body rather than wider. The color was so unassuming I almost stepped on it.
Of course, later in the day I jumped back in shock from almost stepping on a 7-foot piece of rope.