CHECKING OUT THE SOUTHERN TERMINUS — THE REAL DEAL, 1/3/2015
Of course, I got a later start anyway — put off leaving till almost 1:30 PM (checkout is 1 PM). Stopped at the Morena Village Store — very nice general store; I had 2 scoops of ice cream! Then drove to Campo and to the PCT’s Southern Terminus, where the road got unpaved, very rough, and even very steep at the end. Oh, for the Honda!
But I was thrilled to see the PCT Southern Terminus monument, with its background of the border fence, including the tall sheets of whatever metal it is that so firmly demarcate Mexico from the U.S. and say so cruelly to Mexicans, “You’re not wanted here!”
(It puzzles me: we are a nation of immigrants, each successive wave of newcomers having to endure the violence, resistance, and insults of those who’ve been here longer and who say to themselves, “There goes the neighborhood!”
(That’s what the first native Americans to greet the Norse, Columbus, and the Pilgrims must have said to themselves, too.
(There must be a better answer. The new Americans I know, from Mexico, are hardworking and clean-living. They just ask for a fair chance at a better life. When I set out across the country in Maybelline, Mr. Velazquez told me that was one of the principal things he came to this country for: so his kids could live in a place with well-maintained roads, where little old ladies could set out alone to adventure from one coast to another. Not for welfare, but for free, safer schools — though that’s getting harder to say.
(We should at least decriminalize drugs and make immigration easier.They are the hardest workers of all, and we need them as much as they need us!)
But back to my ramblings: I was running late, as usual, even at Campo, as I looked for a place to park while doing my next hike-lets. So late, in fact, that I thought I’d better take I-8 home instead of exploring State Highway 94, though I did take off on 94, sure I’d be able to find a shortcut to I-8 courtesy of the GPS. Ha! The GPS kept telling me I was still at Morena Village and to take Buckhorn Springs Road north.
Belatedly, I realized that 94 was in a deep valley where multipathing and general invisibility to GPS satellites made accurate navigation highly unlikely, so I enjoyed the very scenic ride all the way on 94 to the connector with I-125 in Spring Valley (?), and eventually to I-5 and home. Lovely young grass produced a green fuzz on all the hillsides. It’ll probably be beautiful till April or May and burn-to-a-crisp season. I look forward to taking that route again!
I’m not sure when my next PCT hike-let will be; the Thor motorhome purchase is proceeding, but Maybelline will do just fine for now.
The WBC class started Tuesday evening, and I think I’m glad I’m taking it. I have so much to get back up to speed with!
Friday, January 9, 2015
SECOND PCT HIKE-LET, JAN. 2, 2015
FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2015
Another restless night, requiring a late sleeping pill. Probably the excitement of identifying those PCT-intersection points and wondering how to camp — boondock — nearby. The internal water system didn’t work — why?
Slept till 10:41 AM. Woke to beautiful day with most of the snow melted away. Wonder of wonders, there was a large woodpecker with a bright red cap and yellow cheeks trying to peck into one of the campsite posts — acorn woodpecker?
Discovered why the internal water system had failed: the water tank had drained out. I had unknowingly turned the valve to open, and the tank had drained itself over the day. Today I closed the valve, hooked up to city water, and refilled not only the tank but also any empty bottles I had.
Definitely I need my larger daypack, the green, ultralight one! Back to business! Today, however, it’s either the fanny pack or the blue, Hawaii shoulder pack; the latter is the one I’m using, but it lacks side pockets for water, a belt, and a sternum strap. And I want the Z-Rest sit pad — what a luxurious nap I’d have enjoyed yesterday on the rocks with THAT and my purple silk scarf for a blanket.
(How is it possible that Jerry Schad died so young, so suddenly, and seemingly so unnecessarily? I miss his wonderful books; if I’d known him, I’m sure I’d miss him, too. I still use his San Diego book, although I’ve taken very little advantage of it.)
Got away to hike around 2 PM today — gosh, my resolve to rise and start earlier was tested and found wanting. Wanting to sleep in. So there.
Anyhow, I walked through the campground to the parking lot where I ended yesterday’s hike, and then I stood around at the park’s entrance and wondered where to go (MOPKEN 3007’, 11S 0545297 3616203). There’s no more trail trail heading straight east from there. So I pulled out the book’s pages and read that I was supposed to turn north down Lakeshore Drive for a short distance. Sure enough, there were a couple of PCT shields there, including one up on a power pole.
So off I went, skirting the campground’s east edge before stepping into it and onto foot trail, which turned out to be well-marked enough despite numerous crossing paths and ATV routes over the next mile or so. The trail rose gradually, skirting the dry lakebed for a while before rising gradually through a pleasant stretch of chamise, oak, sagebrush, and (for a while) poison oak. It was open and sunny on this cool afternoon, and I appreciated that! I found it a very enjoyable walk amid the chaparral and after a while topped a low ridge and dropped moderately into a canyon full of live oaks and tall manzanita — really beautiful and really cold! After crossing its dry streamed, I went maybe 0.25 - 0.3 mile more, climbing out of the canyon, before turning around at TA1-2 (3180’, 11S 0547025 3617811). I then descended a little to a sunnier spot before seating myself for a nice break. I’d been walking for about 56 minutes (stopping the stopwatch for breathers), possibly 1.75 miles at the turnaround. After a while, I checked my watch to see — uh-oh — that it was almost 4 PM, so I rose, packed up, and hoofed it on home without a break, arriving at nearly 5 PM with 1:58:56 on the stopwatch! Yay, almost 4 miles!!! I am now on Halfmile’s page A3 and Wilderness Press’ page 75/Map!!!
No significant-enough corrections for WP PCT SoCal today.
The temperature, which may have been between 50 and 60 F when I left, was now down to 40 F, so I shed my gear, started hot water for peppermint tea, and went out to disconnect the hose and turn off the city water for the night. Checked Maybelline’s water tank, and she still looks to be full, so I had had her drain valve open last night. There’s nothing to tell you which setting is which on that valve (it seems to be when the valve handle is at right angles to the little pipe that empties the tank through the floor).
So, watched “Cat Ballou” — still a pretty good flick for 50 years old this year (!), and then pills including sleeping pill at about 8:30 PM tonight, with hopes for an earlier start tomorrow.
Another restless night, requiring a late sleeping pill. Probably the excitement of identifying those PCT-intersection points and wondering how to camp — boondock — nearby. The internal water system didn’t work — why?
Slept till 10:41 AM. Woke to beautiful day with most of the snow melted away. Wonder of wonders, there was a large woodpecker with a bright red cap and yellow cheeks trying to peck into one of the campsite posts — acorn woodpecker?
Discovered why the internal water system had failed: the water tank had drained out. I had unknowingly turned the valve to open, and the tank had drained itself over the day. Today I closed the valve, hooked up to city water, and refilled not only the tank but also any empty bottles I had.
Definitely I need my larger daypack, the green, ultralight one! Back to business! Today, however, it’s either the fanny pack or the blue, Hawaii shoulder pack; the latter is the one I’m using, but it lacks side pockets for water, a belt, and a sternum strap. And I want the Z-Rest sit pad — what a luxurious nap I’d have enjoyed yesterday on the rocks with THAT and my purple silk scarf for a blanket.
(How is it possible that Jerry Schad died so young, so suddenly, and seemingly so unnecessarily? I miss his wonderful books; if I’d known him, I’m sure I’d miss him, too. I still use his San Diego book, although I’ve taken very little advantage of it.)
Got away to hike around 2 PM today — gosh, my resolve to rise and start earlier was tested and found wanting. Wanting to sleep in. So there.
Anyhow, I walked through the campground to the parking lot where I ended yesterday’s hike, and then I stood around at the park’s entrance and wondered where to go (MOPKEN 3007’, 11S 0545297 3616203). There’s no more trail trail heading straight east from there. So I pulled out the book’s pages and read that I was supposed to turn north down Lakeshore Drive for a short distance. Sure enough, there were a couple of PCT shields there, including one up on a power pole.
So off I went, skirting the campground’s east edge before stepping into it and onto foot trail, which turned out to be well-marked enough despite numerous crossing paths and ATV routes over the next mile or so. The trail rose gradually, skirting the dry lakebed for a while before rising gradually through a pleasant stretch of chamise, oak, sagebrush, and (for a while) poison oak. It was open and sunny on this cool afternoon, and I appreciated that! I found it a very enjoyable walk amid the chaparral and after a while topped a low ridge and dropped moderately into a canyon full of live oaks and tall manzanita — really beautiful and really cold! After crossing its dry streamed, I went maybe 0.25 - 0.3 mile more, climbing out of the canyon, before turning around at TA1-2 (3180’, 11S 0547025 3617811). I then descended a little to a sunnier spot before seating myself for a nice break. I’d been walking for about 56 minutes (stopping the stopwatch for breathers), possibly 1.75 miles at the turnaround. After a while, I checked my watch to see — uh-oh — that it was almost 4 PM, so I rose, packed up, and hoofed it on home without a break, arriving at nearly 5 PM with 1:58:56 on the stopwatch! Yay, almost 4 miles!!! I am now on Halfmile’s page A3 and Wilderness Press’ page 75/Map!!!
No significant-enough corrections for WP PCT SoCal today.
The temperature, which may have been between 50 and 60 F when I left, was now down to 40 F, so I shed my gear, started hot water for peppermint tea, and went out to disconnect the hose and turn off the city water for the night. Checked Maybelline’s water tank, and she still looks to be full, so I had had her drain valve open last night. There’s nothing to tell you which setting is which on that valve (it seems to be when the valve handle is at right angles to the little pipe that empties the tank through the floor).
So, watched “Cat Ballou” — still a pretty good flick for 50 years old this year (!), and then pills including sleeping pill at about 8:30 PM tonight, with hopes for an earlier start tomorrow.
MY FIRST PCT HIKE-LET, NEW YEAR'S DAY 2015!
THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015!!!
Snow, snow, snow! Freezing temperatures! I pulled into Lake Morena County Park around 4 PM last night under clearing skies after having passed over 4000-foot-plus I-8 to Buckman Springs Road — snow above 3000 feet! Thank goodness for electric hookups, because my external and internal water hoses froze after 5 PM. The lady at the ranger station said temperatures got down to 15 F last night! I swear it is colder here at night than in Bishop.
In the dark, I backed into one of the campsite-defining posts but then quickly got straightened out. However, it took me quite a cold, cold while to level the unit. The snow is probably less than an inch deep, but there I was, in shorts, Keen sandals, and T-shirt. I hastily changed into sweatpants and jacket plus snow boots — thank goodness I had them!
Given the hassle to hook up, the freezing weather, and the fact that the PCT passes right next to Lake Morena Park, I scratched the idea of going to Campo and declared Lake Morena my New Year’s Day starting point.
What a glorious night after the sky cleared! The gibbous moon was so bright it hid most of the stars; I picked out Orion but not much else on two tries.
Couldn’t sleep readily in spite of a sleeping pill — probably too nervous and excited. Because I was up so late, I slept till about 10 AM, though I woke around 8 AM to take some photos of the campground while there was still snow on the trees; I’m sure it will melt off during the day.
I had disconnected my frozen external hose late last night but could not get the campground tap turned off — frozen shut too hard for me and my channel pliers? By the time I rose, the hose had thawed enough to drop a long cylinder of ice onto the ground, and the tap yielded flowing water. I had promised myself I’d get 4 new gallons of water but forgot at the last minute; now I topped off the old 3 only to find that one had sprung a leak.
While using the restroom, I encountered a real PCT hiker. I asked if she’d started at Campo; she said yes. Wow! In this icy weather! She declined an invitation to sit in my van to warm up and preferred to bask in the sunshine — smart girl!
And it was a beautiful, bright, clear day with tolerable temperatures. I finally hit the trail about 1 PM and took the brief but steep, snowy, muddy, rocky Nature Trail to the PCT to begin hiking south —although at this point, the trail actually runs east-west for a short while (west being “southbound”). It, too, was snowy, rocky, muddy, and steep at first but presently was exposed to the sun, so that the sandy tread grew more snow-free. Both sides were largely bracketed with tall chaparral, way more than head-high for me, manzanita and chamise most prominent to my eye. I had probably walked no more than 0.5-0.7 mile, but when I found a low, sunny, granite outcropping, I declared myself through for the day, took a break with a snack and even a brief nap (TA1-1, 3377’, UTM 1S 0544903 3615835), and soaked in the scenery of the surrounding hills and the valley that Lake Morena once filled. It’s drawn down for the winter, a ghost (I suppose) of its springtime self, which must in turn be a ghost of its pre-drought self.
Just before I left my turn-around spot, the PCT hiker passed me with a greeting, apparently returning southbound to Campo. Good decision!
Turning around now (hence “TA” on January 1 “1-1”), I hiked past the Nature Trail junction and continued to the PCT parking lot at Lake Morena Road and Lakeshore Drive before leaving the trail to walk back to the ranger station and then the campground. I’m in site 56 (so LKMO56, 3010, 11S 0544809 3616495). Reviewing the PCT Bible, Wilderness Press’s PCT books, I see there are some minor corrections, detailed in another document.
Late at night, I went through the points where the PCT crosses or grazes a decent road and identified several access points for my next adventures on it. On the other hand, I’ll leave the higher-altitude ones for later in the year!
NOW I understand why most hikers wait until April and ADZPCTKO to start their hikes!
My boots are muddy and my heart is lighter.
Tomorrow, northbound from the PCT parking lot!
Snow, snow, snow! Freezing temperatures! I pulled into Lake Morena County Park around 4 PM last night under clearing skies after having passed over 4000-foot-plus I-8 to Buckman Springs Road — snow above 3000 feet! Thank goodness for electric hookups, because my external and internal water hoses froze after 5 PM. The lady at the ranger station said temperatures got down to 15 F last night! I swear it is colder here at night than in Bishop.
In the dark, I backed into one of the campsite-defining posts but then quickly got straightened out. However, it took me quite a cold, cold while to level the unit. The snow is probably less than an inch deep, but there I was, in shorts, Keen sandals, and T-shirt. I hastily changed into sweatpants and jacket plus snow boots — thank goodness I had them!
Given the hassle to hook up, the freezing weather, and the fact that the PCT passes right next to Lake Morena Park, I scratched the idea of going to Campo and declared Lake Morena my New Year’s Day starting point.
What a glorious night after the sky cleared! The gibbous moon was so bright it hid most of the stars; I picked out Orion but not much else on two tries.
Couldn’t sleep readily in spite of a sleeping pill — probably too nervous and excited. Because I was up so late, I slept till about 10 AM, though I woke around 8 AM to take some photos of the campground while there was still snow on the trees; I’m sure it will melt off during the day.
I had disconnected my frozen external hose late last night but could not get the campground tap turned off — frozen shut too hard for me and my channel pliers? By the time I rose, the hose had thawed enough to drop a long cylinder of ice onto the ground, and the tap yielded flowing water. I had promised myself I’d get 4 new gallons of water but forgot at the last minute; now I topped off the old 3 only to find that one had sprung a leak.
While using the restroom, I encountered a real PCT hiker. I asked if she’d started at Campo; she said yes. Wow! In this icy weather! She declined an invitation to sit in my van to warm up and preferred to bask in the sunshine — smart girl!
And it was a beautiful, bright, clear day with tolerable temperatures. I finally hit the trail about 1 PM and took the brief but steep, snowy, muddy, rocky Nature Trail to the PCT to begin hiking south —although at this point, the trail actually runs east-west for a short while (west being “southbound”). It, too, was snowy, rocky, muddy, and steep at first but presently was exposed to the sun, so that the sandy tread grew more snow-free. Both sides were largely bracketed with tall chaparral, way more than head-high for me, manzanita and chamise most prominent to my eye. I had probably walked no more than 0.5-0.7 mile, but when I found a low, sunny, granite outcropping, I declared myself through for the day, took a break with a snack and even a brief nap (TA1-1, 3377’, UTM 1S 0544903 3615835), and soaked in the scenery of the surrounding hills and the valley that Lake Morena once filled. It’s drawn down for the winter, a ghost (I suppose) of its springtime self, which must in turn be a ghost of its pre-drought self.
Just before I left my turn-around spot, the PCT hiker passed me with a greeting, apparently returning southbound to Campo. Good decision!
Turning around now (hence “TA” on January 1 “1-1”), I hiked past the Nature Trail junction and continued to the PCT parking lot at Lake Morena Road and Lakeshore Drive before leaving the trail to walk back to the ranger station and then the campground. I’m in site 56 (so LKMO56, 3010, 11S 0544809 3616495). Reviewing the PCT Bible, Wilderness Press’s PCT books, I see there are some minor corrections, detailed in another document.
Late at night, I went through the points where the PCT crosses or grazes a decent road and identified several access points for my next adventures on it. On the other hand, I’ll leave the higher-altitude ones for later in the year!
NOW I understand why most hikers wait until April and ADZPCTKO to start their hikes!
My boots are muddy and my heart is lighter.
Tomorrow, northbound from the PCT parking lot!
Friday, December 19, 2014
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014
12/13-19/2014: Having looked carefully at the PCT maps, I think I’ll confine my van-assisted trips on the PCT to fairly well-used roads and, at this time of year, to elevations below 4000 feet, the latter for the winter weather and the former for the uncertainty of dirt roads here, there, and everywhere. It’ll make my short segments discontinuous, but I can live with that.
I can see myself graduating to overnights and then maybe short multi-day trips as the seasons advance and the weather improves. How long shall I stay in SoCal? Until, I suppose, the urge to explore the PCT farther afield overcomes me!
Addendum 12/18/2014: Maybe I ought to take that WBC course this winter. I just want to learn newer skills, but I’m afraid of being a problem to my fellow students by not hiking fast enough or far enough. Maybe they’ll have a section for Senior Turtles.
Addendum 12/19/2014: I’ve been up in Bishop for a few days and today (Friday) went hiking along Pleasant Valley Reservoir with the girls. What a great hike! Puffing up that first little rise was tough for me, and I was pooped by time we finished. We didn’t quite get to the power plant, but we were certainly in sight of it. So, say 1.75 miles of the 2-mile road, making a 3.5 mile round trip. Wonderful day!
I can see myself graduating to overnights and then maybe short multi-day trips as the seasons advance and the weather improves. How long shall I stay in SoCal? Until, I suppose, the urge to explore the PCT farther afield overcomes me!
Addendum 12/18/2014: Maybe I ought to take that WBC course this winter. I just want to learn newer skills, but I’m afraid of being a problem to my fellow students by not hiking fast enough or far enough. Maybe they’ll have a section for Senior Turtles.
Addendum 12/19/2014: I’ve been up in Bishop for a few days and today (Friday) went hiking along Pleasant Valley Reservoir with the girls. What a great hike! Puffing up that first little rise was tough for me, and I was pooped by time we finished. We didn’t quite get to the power plant, but we were certainly in sight of it. So, say 1.75 miles of the 2-mile road, making a 3.5 mile round trip. Wonderful day!
Friday, December 12, 2014
Friday, December 12, 2014
12/12/2014: I've long wished to hike the PCT. I'm a week and a half past 73 years old now. Too old? Well, I think two things:
1. Just because I may never finish is no reason not to start.
2. "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." -- From Medifast leaflet
3. I will never know if I can or can't if I don't try.
4. Much of the SoCal section is desert, and I hate the goddamn desert. (This means that I don't care if hiking little bits from accessible roads means I miss some in-between miles.)
After reading *Wild* by Cheryl Strayed and now hoping to see the film, I hope that come January 1, 2015, I'll start dayhiking parts of the trail, beginning at Campo. This will help me get in shape without having to carry tons of water. I plan to start my camping in Maybelline at Campo, one day walking south to the border and the southern terminus of the trail and back again, and the next day hiking north to Hwy. 94 and back again.
After that, I'll dayhike those stretches where the trail crosses a road I can reach in Maybelline, hiking one day south and back again and the next day north and back again from there. I really don't want to do all of Section A because of the goddamn desert. When I'm ready and the snow is gone, I'll probably jump to backpacking short stretches from road crossings (and back again) and eventually multiday trips, probably starting with the San Jacintos or San Bernardinos, maybe even north from Hwy. 178 (Walker Pass).
Who knows? Maybe I'll live long enough to walk the stretch through the Tejon Ranch easement!
The PCTA web site has directed me to an amazing series of free PCT maps by "Halfmile" (trail handle). I hope they print out well on the Canon.
Posted by Ant Kathy at 2:59 PM
12/12/2014: I've long wished to hike the PCT. I'm a week and a half past 73 years old now. Too old? Well, I think two things:
1. Just because I may never finish is no reason not to start.
2. "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." -- From Medifast leaflet
3. I will never know if I can or can't if I don't try.
4. Much of the SoCal section is desert, and I hate the goddamn desert. (This means that I don't care if hiking little bits from accessible roads means I miss some in-between miles.)
After reading *Wild* by Cheryl Strayed and now hoping to see the film, I hope that come January 1, 2015, I'll start dayhiking parts of the trail, beginning at Campo. This will help me get in shape without having to carry tons of water. I plan to start my camping in Maybelline at Campo, one day walking south to the border and the southern terminus of the trail and back again, and the next day hiking north to Hwy. 94 and back again.
After that, I'll dayhike those stretches where the trail crosses a road I can reach in Maybelline, hiking one day south and back again and the next day north and back again from there. I really don't want to do all of Section A because of the goddamn desert. When I'm ready and the snow is gone, I'll probably jump to backpacking short stretches from road crossings (and back again) and eventually multiday trips, probably starting with the San Jacintos or San Bernardinos, maybe even north from Hwy. 178 (Walker Pass).
Who knows? Maybe I'll live long enough to walk the stretch through the Tejon Ranch easement!
The PCTA web site has directed me to an amazing series of free PCT maps by "Halfmile" (trail handle). I hope they print out well on the Canon.
Posted by Ant Kathy at 2:59 PM
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