I completed the alternate route to Shelter Cove today. There was no smoke on the trail until I reached Odell Lake, in the afternoon it rolled in quite thick. I spent the afternoon hanging out at Shelter Cove, and was lucky enough to get a ride to Bend with Devilfish, the same trail angel who provides all of the water caches north of Tehachapi. My mileage today was approximately 10 miles, 16 km.

I left camp this morning and walked straight into a very recent burn zone. I guess the fire wasn’t that hot because the dead trees still had their needles. Through this section, one side of the trail was burned black and red, while the other side was still green and healthy.

I walked past Diamond View Lake and topped up my water. Over the lake, I could see Diamond Peak. The other three section hikers would be over there somewhere, and it looked like they were also having a clear smokefree day after passing the Emigrant Fire.

I followed the trail down Trapper Creek for a few hours and walked into increasingly thick forest. Further downstream, there was long lichen hanging from the trees and moss growing on either side of the trail.

I made it to Shelter Cove just after lunchtime, and right before the smoke started rolling in over the hills. There was a store here with food and cold drinks. I was tempted to buy pizza here, but I knew I would be in Bend soon where food would be much more affordable. I grabbed a can of beer and took it out to the hiker area to hang out with the other PCT hikers.

One of the people in the hiker area was a trail angel who could help with organizing transport. He was mates with another trail angel Devilfish, who was already on his way from further south. Catch-Up, Brewmaster and Canyon Man showed up about an hour before Devilfish, and we all jumped in with him.

This was the end of the section for Catch-Up, Brewmaster and Canyon Man, they got dropped off in Chemult from there they would continue home. I rode the rest of the way to Bend, Devilfish even dropped me right at the hostel in town. I had plans to stay here for a couple of days to rest and hopefully meet with Cook, Mango and Wow again.