killing time in my car in front of the McCloud library, my backpack near Burney Falls

Well, it was a rainy drive east (some very heavy downpours) to overnight in my car at a turnout near where the PCT climbs up out of the Pit River Canyon north of the Lake Britton Dam north of Burney Falls.

Woke up to partly sunny skies, and proceeded to explore the several paved and gravel roads off of Clark Creek road which crosses the dam and connects with hwy 89 to the north.  I was reading the PCT guide which mentioned that the PCT crosses a paved road near Rock Creek, (a few miles along the trail up from the dam) which seemed curious to me, and after driving all the candidate gravel roads in the area, I concluded that the guide was mistaken.  Too bad, because I might have tried to shave off a day at the east end of the 60 mile hike via a short day-hike today with my bicycle closing the loop.

I did spend several hours in the morning at the nice car-camping spot at Rock Creek, sorting out my car and my backpack and my bike-pack.  All packed (more or less) I went back to the area above the dam to see where I might leave my pack.  In the process, I hiked about a mile of the trail above the dam, (and got a bit drenched by a brief unexpected sprinkle during that walk.)  I did find a road crossing that would be quite convenient to get to by bicycle. just about a half mile up from the dam.

I had tentatively assumed I might be staying in that area another night to avoid my stashed backpack getting a drenching from a chance thunderstorm that was forecast to be possible in the afternoon/evening (even though I do wrap my pack in a garbage bag.)  But it seemed to be clearing, slowly, so I took the chance and left my pack, while I was there, and since I'd then have the opportunity to use the wifi at the McCloud library, and triple-check my 45 mile bike route during daylight hours. That will be a rather strenuous ride for me, a 1400 ft gain in elevation from the trailhead at Squaw Creek to Deadhorse Pass about midway to the dam, then only 800 ft net loss down to the dam.   Lots of ups and downs will make the actual amount of climbing about double that. It will be "a challenge"!  I will plan to take it easy, take lots of breaks to un-numb my butt, take all day.

So, I guess I'm about to leave the library here. (Actually I've left and come back a few times, to recharge my battery so my inverter doesn't go into screaming mode powering my laptop. I've been doing a few errands, getting some groceries, topping off the gas, checking shower availability at the RV campground across from the gas station - yes, they do offer showers for $7 - I told the lady I'll be ready to take one five days from now.

I still have my camera & gps accessories and my "emergency kit" to get sorted out. Will probably do that in the morning since it may be after dark before I get to the Squaw Creek trailhead south of town where I'm headed now to overnight, and where I will leave my car tomorrow morning.  This is the same place I bicycled to about a week ago after taking the bus from Dunsmuir on my overnight hike from here to Castle Crags.