Flat Tops Loop - Day 1 Continued.

The goal was to get as close to Derby Peak (12188') as I could before dark. Turned out I got to the summit right as sun was setting. It looked like it might rain, but I hadn't seen any signs of lightning, so I set up camp right there on the top.

See the cabin? Trappers Lake pretty much kicks ass.







Little Trappers Lake.







Water everywhere.








A shepherd. We could see each other from miles away. We didn't talk today, but about 20 miles from here the following day we crossed paths again and tried to communicate.



Elk watching me from the ridge (and my eventual camp) on Derby Peak.



And closer up.

THE three rivers of the North State.

Thanks to a friend, we got to spend two nights at the Nature Conservancy cabin on the famous McCloud River near Mt. Shasta.





The McCloud was milky with glacial silt from Mud Creek, so we spent the day fishing the Pit River instead. This is as good as it gets, really. Fall colors, fishing with friends, and a soak in the streamside Kosk Hot Springs on the hike out of the canyon.



Kosk Creek.



The caretakers cabin on the McCloud.



After fishing the Pit and staying down on the McCloud, we went up to the old standby--the Upper Sac--to fish the Sunday away. The colors up on the Sac are amazing right now, and the October Caddis hatch was on. Unfortunately, the fish weren't eating them today.

Heading in to the CalTrout Trout Camp.




Wow.

Knownothing Creek

The creek from an old rickety bridge.



A trout caught further up (small but fun to catch in such a small creek).



An old cabin at the lower end of the creek.