19     Hat Creek, Old Station - Castella   130 miles

Hat Creek, Old Station

Hat Creek Rim                            11.5 m

PG&E Cassel CG                         22.6 m

Screwed River                           22.0 m

Deer Spring                               22.5 m

Fitz Gulp Gulch                          22.0 m

Descent to Sacramento River       24.0 m

Castella                                     5.0 m

Old Station Post Office is one of the very small ones too. But it was big enough for my food package. After getting additional supplies at the nearby service station I moved on to the slightly off trail located Subway Cave. This cave is a lava tube created about 20,000 years ago by the Hat Creek Lava Flow. Once the top had cooled off lava continued to flow below and made this cave. From here there is a long stretch without natural water sources. Water seeps away into the lava. However half way through this dry stretch there is a water cache set up for us hikers. The PCT follows the Hat Creek Rim for a long time thereby giving great views into the valley below and beyond. At Burney Falls State Park I had ice cream and hot dogs with plenty of shade.

From here the PCT starts the long loop around Mount Shasta. And here I saw the only bear during my complete thruhike. He stood at the trail more than 100 yards away. We looked at each other for a while before he started to move away slowly climbing the hill side. How many bears looked at me and remained quiet or even moved away from me without me noticing them of course I don't know. Next stop was at Castella; another hamlet in a hot valley. There is an Interstate as well as a railway line. Not much can be seen except for the Post Office, a service station with shop and a completely empty camp ground. Due to the Interstate most any traffic just passes by.

Hat Creek, Old Station Post Office

Subway Cave

Sunset at Hat Creek Rim

Hat Creek Rim

PCT near Bartle Gap

Mc Cloud River

View of Mount Shasta

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