18     Belden - Hat Creek, Old Station   -    88 miles

Belden

Humbug Road                                    19.4 m

Soldier Creek                                     23.4 m

Warner CG                                        21.6 m

Hat Creek                                         19.8 m

Hat Creek, Old Station                         4.2 m

Belden Post Office is one of the smallest ones in the US. During the main thruhiker season there is hardly enough storage space for all the packages. Leaving Belden was a long hot climb out of the valley. And we were warned of poison oak. The leaves are rather similar to oak tree leaves. Fortunately the trail descending into the valley as well as climbing out on the other side was recently well maintained. So the risk of being hurt by the plant was mostly eliminated. Poison oak grows within a certain elevation band level. This was the second plant after the infamous Poodle Dog Bush I better did avoid contacting. From here on the country side became more and more of volcanic origin. Mount Shasta became visible from quite some distant. This mountain was to become a frequent view for quite some time as the PCT passes it in a long swing on the west side.

During this section I arrived at the halfway mark. Adjacent to the trail was a small column with the inscription "halfway point". That was quite a nice feeling to hike from now on with constantly diminishing distance ahead. Nevertheless there were still more than 1.340 miles left. Drakesbad Guest Ranch in Lassen Volcanic NP offers dinner and breakfast for us PCT thruhikers. We are served the remainders of paying guest at a much lower price. And the food is served on a well set outside table. Also they offer showers, a warm outdoors swimming pool and laundry. A welcome amenity.

There was a thunder storm the day before arriving at Old Station. I avoided most of it. However I met some hail on the trail while hiking behind the storm. Other hikers had been more in a rush and as a result were caught by the storm.

Belden Post Office

View of Mount Shasta from Humboldt Summit

PCT often passes along lava

Halfway mark of PCT

View of Lassen Peak

Breakfast at Drakesbad Guest Ranch in Lassen Volcanic NP

Hail on PCT following a short but strong thunder storm

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