into oak woodlands,
to "No-See-Em Camp" - a small flat spot along Cook and Green Creek about 4 mi from the TH.
After crossing both Cook and Green and Bear Gulch Creeks, the trail starts climbing (easily - there's nothing steep about this trail) through forests of fir,
across an open area sporting clumps of manzanita,
and then on to its end at Cook and Green Pass and its a junction with the PCT and FR 1055.
After a quick snack at the pass, I headed SW on the PCT,
savoring the expansive views it offered (Mt. Shasta on the horizon),
and its rocky, open character.
Soon the Red Buttes came into view,
with their very depleted snow pack. That I was able to do this hike in January wearing just trail runners speaks to the 18% of "normal" snow level we're currently experiencing.
The PCT - Horse Camp trail (which leads to Echo Lake) junction is on the saddle just E of the Red Buttes.
The Horse Camp trail is much steeper than the Cook and Green trail - it gains (or loses) 3500' in just 4 mi, while the Cook and Green - PCT combination takes almost 11 mi to make that gain. It is also less used and less maintained. I could see Echo Lake from the saddle,
but had to negotiate a few patches of icy snow and some faint trail to actually reach the lake, with its thin coating of ice.
The trail became very faint below the lake,
and some navigation was needed to reacquire it at about 4700'. When I later matched my actual track to the "mapped" trail alignment, it became obvious that the mapped alignment was fanciful, at best, in a few places. But from 4700' on, the trail was easy to follow and took me through several stands of ancient cedars and firs - my hiking stick is 5' long -
as it worked its way down through more than a few switchbacks to the Horse Camp TH. A great loop hike (15 mi RT, 3500') with views, creeks, lakes, and ancient forests.
Pablo had commented on one of my earlier TRs in this area (Collings Mtn) that he'd worked on the roads around Applegate Reservoir back in 1978 and that some trees that had been left standing as raptor perches. Well, they're still there, but it may be too early yet for raptors.
The Corps starts filling the reservoir today and since that relies on rainfall (which we're finally predicted to receive in the coming days
) and not snow, there's a good chance it'll look more like a lake by summer. Fingers crossed on that happening...
).
