Miles: 19.3 + 1 water/lake side trails

Total Trail Miles: 1535.2 

Ascent/Descent: 3335/1597 ft 

Start Time: 06:21 

End Time: 17:38 

Temperature: 25°C (77°F)

I don’t rush this morning knowing I just want to make 18 miles today. I pack up my tent as the Sun is rising. Brooke has already left as I hike out of the trees. I look back and see the morning late, casting beautiful colours over Castle crags the jagged rocks The moon is still shining bright everything feels calm and still and so do I. I stop at the first stream to fill up water and I stretch you even though I haven’t been walking for long. The next water is in 7 miles so I fill up both bottles. The morning light is super beautiful. I keep looking back to catch glances at Castle crags and then before long mount Shasta also comes into view the top covered by clouds. My shin feels pretty good no worse than it was when I left town every time it starts to hurts a little bit more I pause for a break or do my stretches. Each water carry is about 7 miles so I fill up both bottles each time it makes for a nice break. I feel pretty good today although the pain is still there in my shin feeling positive. I’m just happy to be out hiking again in mid afternoon, I pass a turn off the porcupine lake, which beer slide is recommended for a swim. And I hike the small 0.2 mile detour up to the lake and it really is stunning. I go for a swim in the water is warm just like Jackson Meadows reservoir. First I go in with my hiking top on just to give it a rinse, and then I go for a proper swim while it dries in a tree nearby. I could’ve stayed there for hours, but I knew that I still had three or four more miles to hike before camp so I put back on my damp top that would keep you cool and continued on. I found a lovely little camp spot out on some rocks, just below the trail with a amazing view of Mount Shasta, the wind picked up a little bit and there were some clouds in the sky, so I decided to put my rain flight on, but I kept the doorway open, so I could appreciate the view of Mount Shasta. I ate dinner outside and sorted my things for tomorrow before turning in for bed.