Sedum Point via the PCT 03-July-2011
Posted: July 3rd, 2011, 4:59 pm
After our planned July 4th trip to Mt. Lassen cratered due to closed roads, 8’ of snow at the TH, and a summit climb that would have involved mostly snow climbing, we decided to lower our carbon footprint and stay in town for the holiday weekend. Lassen is supposed to be open again for 1 weekend in August and we’ll give it another try then. Although there’s plenty of stuff to do in town, a short hike seemed in order. Looking for something different, we hit on taking the PCT to Sedum Point, just SE of Mowich Butte. From the Trout Ck TH N of Carson off the Wind River Road, we took the gently graded, and well forested, PCT up to the ridge NW of Sedum Point.
Along the way, we caught a glimpse of the canopy crane which lifts researchers into the ecology of the upper parts of the forest. Oregon Field Guide did a show on it in the last year or so.
We could also see Mowich Butte (arrow) across the valley, which is an alternative destination for a slightly longer hike (the views are also better on Mowich than on Sedum).
Where the PCT crosses the now abandoned section of Road 41, we turned left for the short hike down the road to a scramble up to Sedum Point. Along the way, we surprised a mother grouse and several chicks – seeing the parents is a rare enough event, but seeing the little chicks scurrying around like animated pine cones was a total surprise. The chicks freeze when you approach, making them ideal photo subjects.
Since we picked the one cloudy morning of the holiday weekend to do this particular hike, there were no views from Sedum Point, except of the point itself,
and of the loved one enjoying a snack on the summit.
Then it was back the way we came along the road and down the PCT, to a crossing of Trout Creek and on to the TH immediately beyond.
This is a very pleasant, easy (10.3 mi, 2075’ gain) hike on a quiet section of the PCT. Access to the TH is all paved but parking is limited. If we do this hike again, we’ll probably skip Sedum Point and continue right (W) along Road 41 for about 1.5 mi to Mowich Butte, where the views are much better than those from Sedum Point.
Along the way, we caught a glimpse of the canopy crane which lifts researchers into the ecology of the upper parts of the forest. Oregon Field Guide did a show on it in the last year or so.
We could also see Mowich Butte (arrow) across the valley, which is an alternative destination for a slightly longer hike (the views are also better on Mowich than on Sedum).
Where the PCT crosses the now abandoned section of Road 41, we turned left for the short hike down the road to a scramble up to Sedum Point. Along the way, we surprised a mother grouse and several chicks – seeing the parents is a rare enough event, but seeing the little chicks scurrying around like animated pine cones was a total surprise. The chicks freeze when you approach, making them ideal photo subjects.
Since we picked the one cloudy morning of the holiday weekend to do this particular hike, there were no views from Sedum Point, except of the point itself,
and of the loved one enjoying a snack on the summit.
Then it was back the way we came along the road and down the PCT, to a crossing of Trout Creek and on to the TH immediately beyond.
This is a very pleasant, easy (10.3 mi, 2075’ gain) hike on a quiet section of the PCT. Access to the TH is all paved but parking is limited. If we do this hike again, we’ll probably skip Sedum Point and continue right (W) along Road 41 for about 1.5 mi to Mowich Butte, where the views are much better than those from Sedum Point.
