MudNCrud Forums
Climbing and ... Climbing => Everywhere Else => Topic started by: Brad Young on December 22, 2010, 09:01:41 AM
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In the 3 1/2 years that we've been hiking the PCT, we haven't yet hiked in the heavy winter months (December through February). We also haven't hiked in serious rain. That changed with this trip.
December 22 is my 50th birthday. And no parties for me, thank you. Instead I requested that all five girls join me on a two week road trip. The first week on the PCT, then Christmas with Vicki's family in Tracy, then a week climbing with friends in Joshua Tree. At least when it came to the week on the PCT, the two four-legged girls were immediately enthused. The three two-leggers were a little less so.
Every campground we could find within 50 miles of our hiking is closed for the season. Besides, it's been raining a lot and the days are quite short. Plus we'll be camping when we're in Josh. So, for this week we rented a suite on the west side of Palmdale, no more than nine miles from the start of the hiking.
Our first day was December 19th. Weather was predicted rainy, with "gale force" winds. For the only time so far on the hike I left the camera. But Vic got some starting and ending photos:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5081/5275485457_e3d1173883_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5166/5276091372_f523369335_z.jpg)
The winds were gale force, at least for the first six of 12.4 miles. Often the rain was "falling" horizontally, although, sometimes, as the wind blew along and up slopes, we could see the rain going uphill at a ten degree (or more) angle. This was not the girls' favorite day of PCT hiking to date. I didn't find it a sunny stroll in the park either, but it does my heart good to see that I'm not raising two pansies:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5276091632_f93fd027dc_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5275486499_a254c1d86f_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5084/5275487275_7e61997315_z.jpg)
The dogs didn't get rain jackets:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5275486725_57ab672637_z.jpg)
This was a hard day. In spite of decent rain gear, we all got fairly wet (when it's blowing like that, you can't keep it out of the holes). I carried a large thermos of hot soup, which we loved halfway through the hike, but if we'd gone on for another three or four miles, it would have been too much.
Heavy rain was predicted for December 20, so we took a rest day. Vicki and I did a driving reconnaissance (and had fun generally checking out the area). Also, the big city allowed Vicki and Katie to shop for sizes that are hard to find where we live (i.e. extra, extra, long).
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wow Brad- that SO doesn't look fun. Still though, part of it does and I'm sure you made an adventure from it. Happy Birthday!!!
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cripes
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The next part of the PCT is only 7.6 miles between paved roads. This seemed pretty easy, highly appropriate for a light rain day. Actually the rain was only supposed to be light until early afternoon, so we got a relatively early start (on the trail by 9:00 AM). We started under heavy overcast:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5128/5281447428_ae131926b7_z.jpg)
A two mile section of uphill led directly into the clouds:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5284/5280846861_b279e2ec59_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5128/5280847405_85709e5586_z.jpg)
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(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5280851705_f879101e6e_z.jpg)
Routine, basically level hiking continued along a ridge top. The PCT guidebook describes the views from this part of the trail as spectacular. I dunno; it seemed kinda California Central Valley in the winter to me:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5247/5280852305_58b9b48f1e_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5086/5281453910_49cbb9e191_z.jpg)
Luckily this ridge top hiking with spectacular views continues for twenty more miles. Although the weather today will be only clearing, tomorrow we should get the full gorgeousness in clear, sunny weather.
Meanwhile, while hiking yesterday, the girls tried their first-ever Persimmon, courtesy of Tonya, who'd left a pound of them with us from her Farmer's Market:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5288/5280852589_1eb1042404_z.jpg)
Soon we could see Lake Hughes Road through the mist, and then Vicki and the Subaru:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5281456356_4bb28eab4e_z.jpg)
Although it didn't rain on us, the heavy mist in the clouds had the same effect. So, in the less than three hours it took us to do the hike, we got damp. What better way to cure the dampness, than hamburgers next to a roaring fire at the Rock Inn in Lake Hughes Township (two miles from where we jumped in the car)?
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5165/5281457948_5f1ace751e_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5170/5281540318_d024d2f53c_z.jpg)
Next up: 9.6 miles coming(?) this afternoon as the rain lets up.
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Whoops! I forgot to post the photo I took for Dennis and mudworm:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5280848431_83b6997d0f_z.jpg)
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nice! way more active than me. i went to the gym. didn't climb, just renewed the membership
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It is good to see mudncrud is getting around
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Happy Birthday Brad!
Way to stick with it.
Squiddo and I will loosen a few holds for you tomorrow.
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Wow, "hell hath no fury like a storm system scorned." The tail end of this thing is packing a wallop down here. The main road out to where we hike was washed out and closed. We found an alternate, but lost half an hour. And when we got there it was still pounding rain. The hourly forecast, which said "30%" chance of rain at noon, got pushed back hour by hour and it continued to pour. Finally, with nearly 10 miles to hike, and it getting to be 1:00, we thought "not today."
Beautiful skies predicted for tomorrow.
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Right on, Brad! :) Good to see you're still gettin' after it, rain or shine.
My birthday is the day before yours......I'm 49.(haHa, yer old)
Happy birthday to ya, & thanks for the fine reportage!
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Hey Brad, save your self the time and pass on the pinns. All of the balconies chutes were waterfalls and the sun was still out!
The place needs a couple sunny days to dry out.
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pics
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Skully: Hey, there was a time when I was twice as old as you - show more respect to your elders ;D And, happy birthday to you too.
As promised, the floods abated and the clouds parted. Thursday was a beauty. We packed it up and headed out for 9.6 miles of hiking. The first two miles were uphill and then the rest was along a ridge top with expansive views. As with most of our days on the trail, our eight year old Tricia set the pace (most of you reading this have hiked with her and won't actually find this that strange):
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5287437980_3381311e63_z.jpg)
Tricia and I wore our matching PCT shirts:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5286837283_cde3ff86fd_z.jpg)
The book told us we'd be hiking by an old graphite mine. That sounded odd, but I guess it has to come from somewhere. The rocks and rubble in front of the mineshaft looked black. Sure enough when we rubbed it it was just like rubbing a pencil.
As we gained elevation we started to encounter conifers. First among these were big cone spruce, a tree unique to southern California:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5287438624_8a1d7711ec_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5287443208_084e39f1bc_z.jpg)
When we got to elevation the views were captivating. To the northwest were the Tehachapis, covered with snow from the recent storm:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5162/5287440848_9549d900c6_z.jpg)
Between the Tehachapis and us was Antelope Valley; we'll hike about 30 miles across this at spring break, 2011:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5161/5287448798_b723e1baca_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5286847013_3bc5945f5f_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5286841109_289601a0d4_z.jpg)
And far to the north, as the guidebook had told us, we could see Olancha Peak, a 12,000 plus foot peak often considered the south-most big peak in the High Sierra. It was covered in snow, and thus visible from 80 (?) miles (in this view it's just left of the larger mass of desert peaks):
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5048/5287442912_8168eb3f07_z.jpg)
We could also see the whole Elizabeth Lake and Lake Hughes area that we'd been paralleling throughout this hike:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5122/5287441456_4b7ecb66cd_z.jpg)
Like most (all?) siblings, my girls feud some. But on the trail they more or less look out for each other, and they look out for me:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5287443516_618e73a25f_z.jpg)
As always, Vicki drove around to pick us up. She hiked out to meet us:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5043/5287444974_d8d85fc484_z.jpg)
A short hike led the rest of the way to the car:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5288/5286846449_8bec3e3a53_z.jpg)
And, per our normal procedures, we continued a few feet into the next-planned hike to ensure overlap with today's journey:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5205/5287448234_33eb370115_z.jpg)
Then off to home to switch cars and gear (and to break for Christmas). We'll hike the PCT more on the 27th and then continue on to climb in Joshua Tree (skipping Pinns per Factor's advice).
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Nice,
Thank you
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Sweet stuff. Diggin' it. Sir. ;)
Take care, ya'll.
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Merry Xmas y'all!
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Yep, merry Christmas indeed. Quiet and serene here.
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Merry Christmas
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Off today to the trailhead on Sawmill Mountain Ridge. The plan is to get there at bedtime, bivy, then get up to beautiful, clear skies tomorrow. A 14.5 mile hike will continue along the ridge and then drop down toward the floor of Antelope Valley.
But the girls want to check out the Wii that their aunt Kaaren got them for Christmas. The proposed compromise is to go home, set up the Wii, then play the PCT application. Nah.
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Oh cool, with the Wii PCT application we can all race you!
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It may be our only chance to catch up. You guys get around.
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But the girls want to check out the Wii that their aunt Kaaren got them for Christmas. The proposed compromise is to go home, set up the Wii, then play the PCT application. Nah.
Wii?
really?
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After a family Christmas with Vicki's family in Tracy, and mine in San Jose, we headed down on the night of the 26th for a bivy up on Sawmill Mountain, where we'd finished our last hike. We arrived at 9:30 to cold temps, but all we had to do was unpack the car and get in our sleeping bags. The next morning we woke up to really cold temps (22 degrees), but a beautiful location. I quickly made coffee, hot chocolate and oatmeal, the sun came out, and we got ready to hike:
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(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5286/5308894606_b64bca39d4_z.jpg)
Tricia found sheets of ice on a nearby puddle:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5308307653_6efcd62752_z.jpg)
We drove back one mile to start our hike. Katie got to drive this part. The temperature when we started hiking was a balmy 34 degrees:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5308896060_699488717d_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5165/5308309295_43b81f4474_z.jpg)
We hiked on the north and then the south side of the ridge. The day was clear and the views spectacular:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5081/5308307923_88141e2fdf_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5285/5308896844_0613b47fc6_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5308902894_d6262126b3_z.jpg)
This is Tricia's self portrait:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5046/5308310337_37014ee1a7_z.jpg)
We enjoyed a lunch with a view:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5210/5308314867_7f2784b786_z.jpg)
We gained elevation this day to just over 5,700 feet. We then dropped down off the ridge toward the Antelope Valley and the Tehachapis. Above 4,500 feet we started to get into some snow, which we hiked in for several miles:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5090/5308903684_55dcd812e4_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5004/5308904838_6b134828dc_z.jpg)
The drop down from the ridge to the valley is controversial. The Tejon Ranch (the largest privately owned spread of land in the state) resisted efforts to place the PCT over its land until 1993 (it's the only logical place for the trail to go). Even then, the trail was kept as close to the ranch's border as possible. As a result, there is some severe up and down hiking from the top of the ridge to the bottom of the valley, and then over the next set of hills into the Antelope Valley proper:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5205/5308905468_0eac4f68b8_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5286/5308907518_a605b5df0c_z.jpg)
After 14.2 really fun miles (including passing our 500th continuous mile of hiking from the Mexican border), Vicki picked us up on Pine Canyon road and we were off to Joshua Tree for three days of climbing with friends:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5308322483_a992fafaa7_z.jpg)
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We had a nice time in Josh, climbing with about a dozen friends. But the middle day was unclimbable; scattered showers and gale force winds. And I mean gale force. We've got a Sierra Designs six person, family car camping tent. After all day in the winds, by evening the stress must have gotten to it. A main pole snapped! And I don't mean a wimpy little fiberglass pole, this was a half inch diameter metal pole. We had to bail to town, where we stayed with friends:
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(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5003/5312777512_a2eaacf1f3_z.jpg)
We climbed on the 30th, then drove to Lancaster. Since the temps were predicted to be (and were) ten degrees lower than they had been four days earlier, we opted to stay in that town and drive out twenty miles to the trail on New Year's eve. By the time we got going the temps had increased to 31 degrees:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5164/5312749876_0a598f2c84_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5047/5312751154_610d7effe5_z.jpg)
A small pond near the start of the hike provided entertainment. Katie threw a rock to make the ice break. but it didn't break; instead it hit the pond and bounced! We kept throwing rocks and laughing, forgetting that our dogs are called retrievers for a reason:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5312162775_f93a310ea7_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5170/5312164665_0654aacecd_z.jpg)
Then over to Pine Canyon Road and into more of the Tejon Ranch stay-near-our-fence-hike-up-and-down nonsense. But the views were again, spectacular:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5312168365_031500b82d_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5003/5312758786_6219911f0f_z.jpg)
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(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5123/5312763644_d2b1bbe558_z.jpg)
Then, down onto the flats and another half-mile to Highway 138:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5010/5312764786_9dfcb230c8_z.jpg)
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(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5283/5312766468_58230cc908_z.jpg)
Then a brief break at the highway with Vicki and then the not-as-pleasant hike across Antelope Valley started (this is on surface roads and on the banks of aqueducts):
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5081/5312767400_bc6f5229f8_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5312767964_160ca5d0b0_z.jpg)
Yes, this is the PCT, on the bank of the California aqueduct:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5284/5312769654_e52c164d90_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5206/5312770486_4ff46b847b_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/5312184013_33339a1b47_z.jpg)
Tricia and Katie enjoy listening to country music. A popular song now is "Big Green Tractor:"
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5312768530_1fbdd07fec_z.jpg)
The "trail" then turns off from the California Aqueduct onto the Los Angeles Aqueduct (these cross by way of a pipe, which, later, becomes the trail):
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5312775586_06e0598b24_z.jpg)
More icy water, even in the early afternoon:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/5312774632_523b7c3eec_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5244/5312774218_ddece1db7b_z.jpg)
Then we met up with Vicki and hit the road. Part of the promise I made to my older daughter was that - in return for a good attitude on the whole trip - I'd get her home in time to spend New Year's eve with friends (and we did):
(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1435/5312776584_8ed47e490f_z.jpg)
And that's the PCT part of my 50th birthday celebration: five days of hiking, just over 52 miles, now 521 continuous miles from the Mexican border, still having fun.
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Roger that, Brad. The having fun part, that is. :) That Mojave wind is mighty, huh?
Shame about the ranchy detours.
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About a year and a half ago the Tejon Ranch signed a deal with the state of California. Among other things, in return for permits to build a 2,000+ home new town near the grapevine on I-5, the ranch is setting aside some land as rural, permanently. It is also allowing the PCT to be re-routed farther into the ranch before turning toward the Tehachapis (and that way keeping the trail on the true pacific crest in that area). With budgets and all, the Pacific Crest Trail Association will probably have to do the trail building (mostly with volunteers - they can muster large numbers). It'll be years though.
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nice.
tho a bit cold for my blood.
Happy Bday!