MP 575 cont'd
What with the late start, the heat and the heavy pack I was able to make only a disappointing 17 miles. I need to average 24 miles per day to get 140 miles to Kennedy Meadows with the food I have.
I hope for an early start tomorrow. Camped now on a ridge in the Tehachapi Mountains in a thick chaparral of mesquite and pinion pine. Beautiful sunset tonight.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
MP 575 Got off to a late start from Tehachapi because I had to mail out my bounce box from the post office before leaving town. The clerk refused to accept my box because of the ORM-D Consumer Commodity label which indicates shipment of isobutane fuel canisters. She was absolutely ignorant and wrong but rather than argue I removed the offending fuel canister from the box. Next time I will think twice before going to the trouble of following all the rules and properly labeling the box.
Leaving Tehachapi I walked upwards into the Tehachapi Mountains through literally mile after mile of windmills. Although generally seen as environmentally benign, they surely do mar the landscape.
The weather was hot and dry. We had to carry water for a 25 mile dry stretch which on top of being newly resupplied with six days of food meant carrying one of the heaviest packs I have had so far. I am just guessing but it may have been forty pounds.
Leaving Tehachapi I walked upwards into the Tehachapi Mountains through literally mile after mile of windmills. Although generally seen as environmentally benign, they surely do mar the landscape.
The weather was hot and dry. We had to carry water for a 25 mile dry stretch which on top of being newly resupplied with six days of food meant carrying one of the heaviest packs I have had so far. I am just guessing but it may have been forty pounds.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
MP 558 I have been in Tahachapi since yesterday. Took a zero today which was much needed. The zero days are ostensibly days of rest but actually most of the time is spent with resupply, running around doing errands and solving sundry problems. Not very restful. Blackhawk, Atlas, Hee Haw, Malpractice. Argentina and the Three Caballeros are here, among others. We all went out to a Chinese all-you-can-eat buffet for dinner.
Even though not getting much rest, I'll be hiking out early tomorrow morning and it will feel good to be back on the trail. I have 140 miles to Kennedy Meadows which I need to do in 6 days. Kennedy Meadows is the gateway to the high Sierras. The trail will take me up to Forrester Pass at about 13,000 feet and then to the John Muir trail which runs through Kings Canyon Sequoia National Park on to Yosemite Park and Tuolomne Meadows for about 250 miles. I intend to climb Mt. Whitney which is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States at 14,500 feet. If I get the timing right I will climb Whitney on my birthday.
The hiking is getting easier. I can walk all day now without getting tired. Coming down from the San Gabriels my pack felt so light I was worried that I might not have packed all of my gear and had to stop to check.
Even though not getting much rest, I'll be hiking out early tomorrow morning and it will feel good to be back on the trail. I have 140 miles to Kennedy Meadows which I need to do in 6 days. Kennedy Meadows is the gateway to the high Sierras. The trail will take me up to Forrester Pass at about 13,000 feet and then to the John Muir trail which runs through Kings Canyon Sequoia National Park on to Yosemite Park and Tuolomne Meadows for about 250 miles. I intend to climb Mt. Whitney which is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States at 14,500 feet. If I get the timing right I will climb Whitney on my birthday.
The hiking is getting easier. I can walk all day now without getting tired. Coming down from the San Gabriels my pack felt so light I was worried that I might not have packed all of my gear and had to stop to check.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
MP 503 - 526
Climbed down out of the mountains again yesterday and am once again in the mojave desert following the route of the los angeles viaduct. I am blessed with cool weather. Temperature yesterday about 65 degrees. Normal temperature would be in the 90's or 100's. I need to take advantage and get my miles in before it turns hot. Next resupply is Tehachapi on Tuesday.
I did visit hikertown yesterday which is a bizarre little place. Will post some photos when I am able.
Climbed down out of the mountains again yesterday and am once again in the mojave desert following the route of the los angeles viaduct. I am blessed with cool weather. Temperature yesterday about 65 degrees. Normal temperature would be in the 90's or 100's. I need to take advantage and get my miles in before it turns hot. Next resupply is Tehachapi on Tuesday.
I did visit hikertown yesterday which is a bizarre little place. Will post some photos when I am able.
Friday, May 25, 2012
MP 478 to 503.
I stayed last night at La Casa De Luna, a hiker haven in Pleasant Valley which advertizes itself as providing hippy daycare. It features a 24 hour nonstop party which made me feel as though I had been transported back to 1967.
I was hiking by 5 in the morning and hit the 500 mile mark by mid-afternoon. The temperature was cool with high winds and dropped steadily all day. I covered 25 1\2 mile today so it was a good day. Am now camped in a small saddle below a mountain riddge. It is snowing hard and I hope my tent stands up against the wind tonight.
I stayed last night at La Casa De Luna, a hiker haven in Pleasant Valley which advertizes itself as providing hippy daycare. It features a 24 hour nonstop party which made me feel as though I had been transported back to 1967.
I was hiking by 5 in the morning and hit the 500 mile mark by mid-afternoon. The temperature was cool with high winds and dropped steadily all day. I covered 25 1\2 mile today so it was a good day. Am now camped in a small saddle below a mountain riddge. It is snowing hard and I hope my tent stands up against the wind tonight.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
15 miles: 400 mile mark came & went. Have been on the trail now for 4 weeks. The day was a lazy day. I slept in til 615, made tea, ate breakfast in camp & didn't start hiking till 820. The trail has been crisscrossing hwy 2 for awhile and the guidebook said there was a restaurant a mile and a half down the rd. Was able to hitch a ride down for lunch. On the way back hitched a ride with a fellow driving a 1957 VW Beetle which promptly broke down. Spent a good part of the afternoon messing around on getting back to the trail. Hiked another 8 miles after that.
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