September 8

After another great Sunday in town with friends I have returned to my home, the Pacific Crest Trail. It is steamy hot here in Castle Crags National Park, even though the sun has set. I am down to sleeping in just my shirts and sleeping bag liner. I didn't have enough time to gain elevation beyond 4,000 ft. to find cooler air as I left from the trailhead at 5:00 pm. I would have night hiked a little, but I had a blister on my heel that was quite painful and the stop is a welcome one. I have my alarm set early and am going to try to make up the mileage in the early morning before the heat sets in. I am stealth camped below the trail and not at a designated campsite as the nearest one is 13 miles away. 

Louis texted me last night as he was night hiking to watch out for rattle snakes after he had almost stepped on one. He was plugged in, and was wondering why his iPhone was making funny noises. When he looked up his headlamp illuminated a mature rattle snake coiled up and blocking the trail. He said he had to throw stones at it because the trail was too narrow to go around it.