Page 5: To Harts Pass

Baron

After lunch we started off again, passing Windy Pass at 6257'. Mel declared that this was her favorite pass thus far. The trail then wound through soft pastoral Indian Basin before climbing to Buffalo Pass at 6600’, after which the trail traverses the steep hillside at this elevation for quite some time. At one point there is a great view down to the small (and still active) mining claim of Baron.

According to the books, this is one of the easiest sections of the Pacific Crest Trail and, golly, the views are just glorious!

Eventually we came out onto the gravel road that goes clear to the top of 7440‘Slate Mountain, where there is a seasonally manned fire lookout station. We headed down the road to Harts Pass and that night's camp.

Lyall's Larch, road to Harts pass on far hillside.

Surprisingly (at least to us), there was no water here. I had to backtrack up the trail for about a mile to fill a pot with water, which we used for dinner.

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