Heading south on the PCT from Rainy Pass, in an area that's astonishingly UNPROTECTED! Not in National Park, Wilderness, not even RecArea! See http://americanalps.blogspot.com/
Main PCT on this side of Bridge Creek is a beautiful easy trail through transition forest (a dryer, east-side look).
Peaks to the south - McGregor Mtn?
FINALLY we come to the NCNP boundary! What's it doing all the way up here? The highway corridor should be protected! Imagine them clear-cutting or mining all the way to here!
I'm on my way back now on the east side of Bridge Creek, following an old trail...
A cool and quiet evening... focusing on these interesting flowers, when...
I hear this rustling in the bushes just 10 paces away! Yaaaa! I freeze!
It's a mother and cub, crossing the trail just a few steps ahead of me! Yikes!
She sees me as I try to step back quietly...!
Oh. my! Getting some good photos, but hope she moves on soon!
I bang my hiking poles and she's off!
One last look back before she disppeared into the woods. Her cub scampered behind her in the greenery, mostly hidden.
And a glance back at a sign marking the Park boundary, several miles from the highway. So now I'm back in potential CLEARCUT! As N3C says, "It's time to complete the Park!" http://www.americanalps.org
Coming back up to the highway.
Hard to imagine that this pristine country is UNPROTECTED!
Some sunset views on the way back.
Awesome veins of granite in this road-cut at the Diablo overlook!
Diablo Lake
Some great quotes here on an intepretive sign at Diablo overlook! Now we just need to COMPLETE the Park!
Today's public now needs to step-up and make some new decisions - to ensure the Park gets completed! http://www.americanalps.org will show YOU how!
