I walked along some of the flattest and softest trail I’ve ever seen today. In the morning, I walked to highway 138 and had lunch at a huge water cache. In the afternoon, we climbed up and around Mt Thielsen to camp at Theilsen Creek Meadows, a total distance of 16 miles, 25.7 km.

When I left camp this morning, I immediately began walking on beautifully flat and gentle trail. The surface was so soft and sandy, but not to the point that it might rob my energy. The cruisy, flat trail continued for several hours, in 7.8 miles, the average grade was just 142 ft/mile, that’s 27 m/km over 12.6 km

Around lunch time, I crossed highway 138. Just past the highway was the perfect lunch spot. After this point, the trail began to climb the south & west sides of Mt Thielsen.

The trail wound around 4 main ridges on Mt Thielsen as it climbed. On the way around, I got to see the Emigrant Fire’s plume from closer up, and we were now too close to see the cloudtops behind the haze. The fire had grown more in the last day, and it seemed a PCT closure might be imminent. The plan to take the eastern alternate was still safe though.

I approached the last ridge and saw the north face of Thielsen for the first time. The mountain was rugged, with craggy ridges and huge fields of smashed talus on the lower slopes.

I arrived at camp slightly before the others and scoped out the campsites. I’d found some great spots just above the trail on a small ridge. We set up camp and shared more beer, courtesy of the legendary Brewmaster.

The third section hiker had previously spent a lot of time in Arizona, exploring the trails there. He was particularly experienced in exploring the desert canyons out there. Catch Up had given him the name Canyon Man. The four of us were a real group now; Catch Up, Brewmaster, Canyon Man and Skillet.