Chief, aka Kevin. PCT 4 me 2013: The Hat Creek Rim, Oh my Goodness!

By Chief

Mile 1423

Hat Creek Rim is about 50 miles from Old Station to Burney Falls State Park. Basically, it exists because of a volcanic valley with lava cliffs. Trail starts out from Old Station, within 3 miles you get to the Subway cave, which is a lava tube. Sometimes hikers will spend the afternoon in the subway cave, which is at least 20 degrees cooler than the ambient temperature. From the cave you climb 500 ft. to a lava cliff, which you follow for basically 30 miles, with no water. There are signs along the trail that specifically say, “Don’t drink surface water in the Hat Creek Rim.” Not that there was any water.

Think Mojave desert when you walk this stretch. Fires have burned much of the vegetation along this stretch hence there is no shade. Our strategy was to see the subway cave and then walk to the lookout (7 miles from Old Station), shade up to the late afternoon hours. Left at 4pm with Cowgirl and Midnight Choc. We then walked 13.5 miles to a water cache, which we were hopeful was going to be there. We were prepared to continue on the entire 30 miles without a water supply (carrying lots of water). The trail tread was strewn with lava rocks. It meandered along the rim of a cliff. There was no trail maintenance and I can’t reason why it meandered when it just could have been straight? and it was a hot afternoon. About 2 miles from the cache, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it without a resupply. Arrived at the mile marker of the water cache at 8:30. There it was. 40-1 gallon containers of spring water from the Hat Creek basin. At that moment, I felt like the next best thing to HEAVEN. Thank God for Trail Angels. I filled up with 4 liters of water. Walked 200 yards until I found a flat spot. Rolled out my bedroll and began to prepare my dinner. Best dinner I have had in weeks. Tortilla’s, hummus, chili cheese wheat thins, beef jerky and snickers for dessert.

It’s difficult to describe this feeling of euphoria from the discovery of water and a flat spot to sleep and a simple dinner.

That was only HALF of the Hat Creek Rim! I was pleased to see Cowgirl and Midnight Choc. to arrive about 40 minutes later. Slept in this morning. Started walking at around 6am for about 12 miles. Again through exposed lava fields to the next water – creeklet. After that it was another 11.5 miles to Burney. Long stretch.

Caught up with Beads, Lint, Cowboy and BirdMan. Stumbled across, not 1, but 2 Trail Magic Caches’. The first was some beer with a nice note. The second magic had a table, 2 ice chests (with ice), soda, beer, and a box of assorted chips and crackerjacks, which I enjoyed. Even got a mermaid tattoo from my crackerjack box! 8 more miles continued with a mix of forest and lava until we arrived at the Burney Falls State Park.

I had made it past the dreaded Hat Creek Rim. Had a large soft serve ice cream at the General Store in the Park.

Chief