| Date: September 5, 2000 |
| Location Castle Craigs State Park |
| Where: Northern California |
We stopped here at Castle Craigs State Park on the way back from the Bay Area of California after leaving Candle Stick Park at 6:00am. We began our hike right from our trailer in site #26, taking the Vista Point Trail. We observed lots of pits on the ground of the dogwood tree and see a robin eating the fruit. Also see lots of bear scat with pits.
|
 |
| view from Vista Point From Vista Point we continue on the Root Creek Trail to where it intersects the Pacific Crest Trail and the Craigs Trail. From here we turn north on the PCT until it reaches the Kettle Belly Trail, which we take back to the campground. The Kettle Belly Trail is very flat, which puzzles me until I notice a length of narrow gauge rail, which I later learn was use in logging here around 1910 to 1930.
|
 |
Back in camp we discover that site #25 right next to ours is reserved for PCT hikers. Its food locker is stuffed with all kinds of things. Some things through hikers have left, not longer wanting to carry; other things have been placed there by trail angles for needy hikers.
|
 |
| Jeanette inspects the food locker The hike was wonderful therapy. I breathed in gobs of the pungent fall air and purified my soul of the rush of human clamor of California city life.
Statistics: 4 miles, 690 ft cumulative climb, 2:38 hours |
 |
| Castle Craigs |
 |
| Jim & Jeanette at Vista Point |
 |
| Jim at the PCT junction |
