Trail Reroute thru Lassen Nat'l Park

imported
#1

06/12/05
Due to the “Butte Fire” in Lassen Park last year, and the late, heavy snow pack this year (2005) the PCT has not yet been cleared of debris left by the fire. there is a reroute. It begins at Corral Meadows (avoid Grassy Swale) and travels north along Kings Creek to the Summit Lake South campground. It picks up at the Summit Lake North C.G and heads north past Big and Little Bear Lakes (Cluster Lakes)(do not go to Echo) and picks up the PCT again at Badger Flat.
By 06/14 or 15 there should be a map at Drakesbad showing the change.
Also, On Tuesday, 06/14, a prescribed burn will be started on Badger Mountain. As a result, there may be yet another reroute in that area, but it’s not been shown on any map that’s been made available yet. Southbounders can see a copy of the reroute at either the National Park Information Center just north of Subway Caves on Hwy’s 44 and 89, (open til 4:00, seven days a week through the summer) or by calling Georgi or Dennis, your local Trail Angels, at 530.335.7463.
FYI: The restaurant by the Post Office is at the moment, closed and may not reopen this season due to a change of ownership of the Hat Creek Resort and store and the Coyote Cafe. So no meals are available there at the moment. Uncle Runt’s, some 3.5 miles north on Hwy’s 44/89 does have 3 meals daily including pizzas, etc. (Closed Mondays). Dennie and Georgi can probably help with transportation or whatever. We also have showers, laundry, sleeping facilities (mostly outside), hot tub and on-line availability at our home.
Give us a call…how can we help you???

Georgi Heitman

#2

Reino from The Netherlands (She completed the Sierra last summer) started nobo from Belden about mid-May. She was turned back by deep snow and bad weather so went north to Castle Crags St. Pk. and headed south. Got here to Old Station about 6/06. We checked conditions thru the park …the folks at Loomis Museum said she could “probably make it” tho they wished she wasn’t soloing. We heard from her three days later from Drakesbad, She said the snow was very deep, trail hard to find and that Kings Creek was “waist high and very fast”.
It took her over a week to make Belden (how long does it usually take?), she said it was very, very difficult, partially because the weather went to ----, the last day she traveled through rain, hail and falling snow. It’s been for the most part very nice here in Old Station since, so snow should be melting fairly fast. On the other hand…it’s still quite cold here nights, below freezing (4500 ft) …our creek comes straight off Mt. Lassen, and has usually risen several inches by now due to snow melt. It may be melting up there, but not very fast, our water is up maybe an inch, no more.
One other thing…in the park, Kings Creek has several sources, one of them being Summit Lake. There are campgrounds there…even in easy winter years,these campgrounds are the last to open due to slow snow melt. I suspect that Kings Creek could be running high longer than usual since things seem to be melting slower that most years. Just use extra caution.

Georgi