Local Voices: Back on the Pacific Crest Trail, June 21

A report from Emily Quinn

The Lansing Journal is following the adventures of Lansing resident Emily Quinn and her brother Michael Carrick as they hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Text and photos below are shared from Emily’s Facebook posts.

June 21

We’re at about 940 miles now and have gone from Chester to Mt Shasta! I’ve enjoyed this part of the trail much more than Quincy to Chester. Nice green trees and great views of Lassen and Shasta. But also had one of my favorite days and least favorite days on trail all in one. The first 18 miles of the day were really mellow, but the last 5 had snow so we took the forest road. The “road” was completely overgrown, and we had to bushwhack our way through. Things got worse when we got off the road and had to bushwhack our way through even more manzanita bushes. I felt like we were never going to get back to the road but maybe was being a little dramatic lol. When we finally found the road, we saw a hummingbird chilling on a branch — neat! My legs look like they were attacked by cats. I will be one big scar by the time I get off this trail.

We’ll continue sharing Emily and Michael’s PCT journey as they continue providing updates. Stay tuned!

About the Pacific Crest Trail

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a long-distance hiking and equestrian trail closely aligned with the highest portion of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges. It is 2,653 mi long and ranges in elevation from roughly 110 feet above sea level near the Bridge of the Gods on the Oregon–Washington border to 13,153 feet at Forester Pass in the Sierra Nevada. The route passes through 25 national forests and 7 national parks. Its midpoint is near Chester, California (near Mt. Lassen), where the Sierra and Cascade mountain ranges meet. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Crest_Trail, cited April 22, 2023)