Benson Hut

Four of us headed south on the PCT for another stunning high sierra hike to the Benson Hut on the flanks of Mt. Anderson.  This time there was no snow and more wildflowers grew precariously in the steady wind.  At the hut we paused for a leisurely lunch and Akiko and Elly went part way up the talus/scree route to the top of the peak to see how far they could go.  Going up was slightly challenging but the fear of going down made them turn around after only a small amount of time. 

We met a few hikers,  two sisters our age hiking from Sonora Pass to Sierra City.  They were to meet their husbands for a re-supply at Highway 40 and hiking ahead of time.  Although they seemed fine, they stated that this was the last of the long hikes for them.  Carrying enough water and food seems to be the big problem.   We also met some day hikers and young runners.  One man was hanging in the shade of a large rock in nothing but shorts and boots.  He has a weekend house in Truckee and told us of some other routes that sounded interesting.  Everyone is excited about the massive purchase by a Truckee land trust of the Royal Gorge area and it's future for hiking.  One of the hikes he described is up Cold Creek Canyon to Tinker's Knob, then making a loop by continuing to Benson and returning to the car in Cold Creek Canyon via a trail called the "foul weather escape route". 

Next week we are talking about driving to Squaw Valley and hiking the Granite Chief Trail up to the PCT  and the PCT to Tinker's Nob.  We would then return via the gondola to avoid the long downhill on the Granite Chief Trail. The gondola is no charge heading downhill.    Wednesday's hike was 12 miles, with a gain of about 2200 feet.  The hike we are proposing for next Wednesdy is approximately the same length, with perhaps more elevation gain.  We will probably not get back to Brunswick until 7 PM or later.  We do like to linger here and there along the way to enjoy the magnificant high country.  We will start at 8. 

 
Selma reports that she was the only one who appeared for the 9 AM hike so she hiked the Cascade Ditch.