Last year, I volunteered to monitor a known pika site along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) on the west side of the Big Lava Bed. It was such a nice hike that we decided to do it again this year.
We hiked south from Crest Camp about 3 miles to Big Lava Bed Camp, which makes a good lunch spot and turnaround point.
We enjoyed sunshine and bright blue skies, but the east wind that brought us temperatures in the 60s was gusting through the trees and the shade was cool. This felt like a farewell to summer hike since I wore a light wool sweater over my base layer all day.
We saw evidence that Pacific Crest Trail Association volunteers had been working on this segment of the trail, cutting logs that had fallen across the trail and brushing an area around the piped spring about .2 mile north of Big Lava Bed Camp.
The vine maple has turned color and blazed fiery red against the dark basalt of the Big Lava Bed.
While we were eating lunch at the large campsite, a solo PCT thru-hiker appeared, heading north. Everyone asked if he wanted cookies and fruit. He stopped, took off his pack and loaded up. He said he is burning so many calories that he is always hungry. His trail name is Nightshade.
Nightshade was the only other hiker we saw all day.
PRO TIP: Crest Camp is closed for the winter, but the vault toilet is unlocked. Bring your own TP.
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