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.