Gumboot Saddle to Boulder Peak

Well, this was an interesting day. Seven of us started out, divided into two groups. Group 1 started at the Gumboot trailhead with a plan to summit Boulder Peak. Group 2 started at the 40N45 trailhead, about a mile further north of Group 1, with a plan to summit Bob’s Knob. Both groups shared the same trails for the middle portion of their hikes but the Boulder Peak group continued on about one mile further south to summit Boulder Peak.

Clear skies and temperatures in the 50s and 60s made for delightful hiking. We had great long-range views with Mt. Lassen clearly snowcapped and visible at 70 miles, Shasta at 23 miles and Trinity Lake at 17 miles.

Group 2 stopped for lunch a bit short of Bob’s Knob, but on the ridge at a point a bit higher. As we were settling in for what turned out to be a ONE HOUR lunch we had a radio call form the Boulder Peak Group 1 that one of their hikers had tripped and scraped their leg. Jim walked the injured hiker back a bit and she joined Group 2 for the remainder of the day.

Both hikes were about the same length (8 1/2 to 9 miles) but the Boulder Peak Group 1 had an extra 800’ of down and 800’ of up to bag the summit. Notwithstanding the Hike Mt. Shasta website writeup of the first mile of the PCT south from 40N45 as a not to miss section of the PCT we were quite unimpressed with it.

Group 2 finished early enough to stop and enjoy refreshments at the Mt. Shasta Resort. Group 1’s more demanding hike meant that they finished later than Group 1 and headed straight home.

Photos By: Bev, Jim, Liz