After a hearty breakfast at the Red Moose Bill took us to the trailhead having cautioned us about bear and rattlesnakes in the next miles. We waved goodbye and started up, up, up the 8 miles of switchbacks gaining elevation to get over the steep mountains behind Sierra City. We'd only gone 3 miles when I saw a rattler in the hillside rocks sunning itself. It never moved as we snapped quick photos and scurried on. 
We saw bear scat and a foot print or two but no bear. Around one switchback I heard crashing in the trees and saw a bald eagle on the ground in the trees, it's huge wings making a sort of swimming motion propelling itself down the mountainside. I think it may have had something in it's talons it was eating and didn't want to let that go so it moved away from us as best as it could, making lots of noise. The trail came out to a clearing where we could look down on the town if Sierra City far below. Leaving the forest behind we contoured across high rocky slopes just below craggy peaks, a couple of tiny trickles of water coming down the steep rocks and across the trail. One was our water source for the next few miles. 
Coming out of the trees we looked at tall craggy peaks towering over us.
Contouring around the bowl we were glad for a good breeze because it was very exposed and could have been really hot. 
Our back trail with the same tree in view as the previous photo. 
Looking at the back side of peaks we came over today. 
Beautiful lakes far below the PCT.
6/14/14 Saturday. 14.5 miles
Here are some views of the morning trail.
Once we reached the saddle and moved into forest again we could see lakes down below and roads to reach the lacked for fishing and recreation. Really pretty places to go but our trail was far above them. We met day hikers on the trail, mountain bikers on the roads that cross crossed the trail, lots of local people enjoying the wilderness. We also met our first thru hikers who had finished the Sierras and were now starting Northern California having made amazing miles. They were surprised to see us and we always let them know we'd skipped the Sierras but were going back to do them in August. The consensus was that we were wise to have skipped it for now. They slogged through snow for 300 miles post holing (punching through the crust up to their knees in some places) and getting wet.
Peggy near the edge of rocky cliffs looking down at one of many mountain lakes we passed today.
Both of us agreed our feet were really sore from the rocky trail and narrow contouring we did all day. We found a campsite only by climbing uphill off trail and creating our own space. The night air was cool and we both wore our down jackets to keep warm.
Today is the wedding of my friend Luke and his lovely Rena. I'm tucked away in the woods and can't be there but you two are in my thoughts today!
Last night I had on everything I owned for warmth and getting ready this morning was hard, fingers were stiff with the cold.
We were hiking by 6:45.
Every basin held a mountain lake, rocky crags overhead. Meadows full of yellow mule ears (sunny golden flowers with soft leaves big as mule ears), blue to purple lupine, deep purpley blue larkspur, bright blue forget-me-nots, red paintbrush, white ceanothus (wild lilac), pussy paws, orange columbine, penstemon (blue and pink) & pink heather. We enjoyed it all and took many photos.
After lunch we did a 2.5 mile uphill climb both our feet were hurting. We think this is our 2nd day curse, both of us had sore knees, feet, back...carrying full packs is hard on the body! The last miles of the day we were both on autopilot. Finally we decided to camp at a small clearing by a little trailside creek so we rested our feet by climbing into our tents and getting set up. Later we walked down hill to cook dinner, this being bear country we want to keep any cooking smell from our tent area. I had dehydrated homemade split pea soup, ham and rice for dinner.
We have heard from other tgru hikers that Caty, our friend from my 1st day hiking with Peggy at Scissor Crossing April 17th, is not far behind us! We'd love to meet up with her, she's a front runner with all the thru hikers that have gotten past the Sierras. She's hiking fast and strong so it would not be a surprise to see her hike up behind us one day soon!
When I saw Robin at Sierra City he'd brought me a new air mattress, my old one had a leak I couldn't find. My new Neo Air works wonderfully and is lighter than my last mattress. Thanks for taking care of me Robin!
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