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Saturday, February 01, 2003 Getting Ready
Howdy. I'm one of those folks who has to work for a living, so taking 5-6 months off to walk from border to border isn't happening anytime soon. To maintain my sanity (and my magnificent trail legs) I'm slowly section-hiking up California. I started at the Mexican border at the 2002 ADZPCTKO, and have made it to Idyllwild so far. I'll be starting from there in May, headed to Mt. Whitney. Photos & updates to come.
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Monday, February 03, 2003 Ok, here's the plan
I'm basically doing two section hikes back-to-back. On May 24th, I'll leave Idyllwild headed to Agua Dulce. My uncle has some land in nearby Acton, so he's coming out to meet me there. I'll stock up on grub, then he'll give me a ride to Tehachapi, from which I'll hike up to Mt. Whitney, then bail out at King's Canyon & head home. Many tried & true thru-hikers just read that and thought "That's not a thru-hike - that's barely 500 miles." To which I say "yup." I don't pretend to be a 2600 miler, but I love the PCT and will spend 5 weeks hiking on it this summer. So darn it, I'm gonna post a journal.
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Saturday, March 15, 2003 Counting Down
The theme for this part of my hike preparation is "counting down." I'm hiking about 25 miles each week and making some diet changes, so I'm counting down my body weight, trying to get to 200 lbs. by May 24th. I'm also counting down my pack weight. If I brought everything I'd like to bring, my pack would weigh over 50 lbs. with food & water. Ice axe, bear can, emergency provisions - it really adds up fast. Now I'm sorting my gear by what will keep me alive, what will keep me safe, and what will keep me comfortable. A lot of the comfortable stuff may have to go. Most of all, I'm counting down days. 60 days from tonight I'll be spending my first night on the trail. I think about it constantly, to the point of distraction. Hiking feeds my soul and right now my soul is growling.
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Monday, April 21, 2003 One month to go
I saw my uncle this Easter weekend and gave him my back-up pack and resupply for Agua Dulce. He'll be meeting me in Agua Dulce at the end of my first section and take me to Tehachapi, the beginning of hike #2. Actually handing over my first resupply is very cool - it makes it even more real to think that in 6 weeks I'll have supplies waiting for me 250 miles from here. Pretty cool.
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Sunday, May 11, 2003
It's been a while since my last entry, but I'm not on the trail yet, so there's not much news. Everything's packed & divied up. I decided I'll bring an umbrella (+ 1 lb.) and I've adjusted my supplies (- 1 lb.) so my total starting weight is about 45 lbs. with 8 days food in my bear can and 4.6 liters of H2O. I'm leaving in 12 days from Cabazon now, a day beyond Idyllwild. I'll have to make up the trail from Snow Canyon up to Fuller Ridge later this summer. My folks live in Idyllwild, so I'll be up there a few times this summer. I've been keeping up with everyone else's journals, trying to calculate who I'll be meeting up with on the trail. I mentioned earlier that I'm carrying my bear can from the start. This is seldom (if ever) done, and I'll explain my reasoning next update.
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Sunday, May 11, 2003
It is required in certain areas along the trail that all food be stored in a bear-proof container. There are bear boxes in some bear areas, but in others you need to carry a 2-3 lb. bear can with you. Some people do, many don't. I've decided that the following is true: 1) After the first day's food is gone, you're basically carrying the same weight as you would without the can. In other words, the can adds weight, but only for the first day. After that, you still have the daily load-lightening from food consumption that you would have without the can, just one day later. 2) I don't have to worry about animals other than bears trying to get my food. I won't have to do a "critter hang" to protect it. 3) It makes a nifty seat. If I want to rest and there's nowhere to sit, it's handy. 4) I can empty it out and use it as a bongo drum in camp. I'm really big on bongo drums in camp. 5) If I get stuck in the snow I can use the lid as a shovel. With such multi-functionality, how could I leave it behind? Coming up next: "Ode To A Bear Can"
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Friday, May 23, 2003 Idyllwild
Tonight after work I'm heading to Idyllwild to start walking. I've been able to wrap up some things at work & I have a great assistant, so I should have a job to return to. My next post will be from the trail.
Body weight: 198 lbs. (yes, I barely made it) Pack: 20 lbs. Food: 16 lbs. Water: 10 lbs. Outlook: Very ready for a long walk.
- Molasses
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Saturday, May 24, 2003 Destination:
Ridgetop south of Mission Creek 8:00 PM My parents dropped me at Cabazon at 9:30, I left the Pink Motel at 11:00. Hiking into the canyon with the windmills, the wind was at my back, helping me up the hills. Because of a recent fire here, there is no chaperal taller than 3-4 feet & very few of those. I rested in the shade of a shrubbery from 1:00 to 2:00, then made it to Whitewater Creek by 5:00. Very refreshing.
It's been in the 90's all day & absolutely shadeless, but nice breezes most of the day. It's 8:00 pm now & I'm beat, so that's all for now. -Molasses
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Sunday, May 25, 2003 Destination:
Somewhere on the PCT
I am completely befuddled.
Starting with the ridge I camped on last night, I believe I have misidentified my location & mileage. I thought I was ahead of schedule, but have just now made camp at the "pleasant creekside camp" which I thought I had lunch at.
It's been a tedious, up & down, back & forth day. Had my first confrontation with a rattlesnake today. The score so far: Rattlesnakes 1, Molasses 0. I had to backtrack and go down a little ravine to go around him, as he was really attached to his spot on the trail.
SO - early to bed, early to rise, & tomorrow I'll figure out where I am. -Mo
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Monday, May 26, 2003 Destination:
Arrastre Trail Camp
I was misfiguring, have refigured, and am now 3 miles ahead of schedule! So far I've seen Jane, Paul, Lee, Noah, George & Matt. Lee & I are camped here & I just started a little fire in the fire ring. There's a spring here, so I'll camel up before I go.
It has been a beautiful day, pretty mellow trail conditions all the way. This is my first 20 mile day & I'm feeling pretty good. I still have blisters heel & toe, but they're not getting any worse. Knees, hip & back all doing fine.
I had lunch at a beautiful pass overlooking the whole forest with snow-capped San Gorgonio in the background. Pretty awe-inspiring.
Time to stoke the fire... Adios - Mo
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Tuesday, May 27, 2003 Destination:
Little Bear Springs
Camped here with Solace and Ryan. Long, good day today. Slept in and broke camp at 6:00, walked into Big Bear by 1:30. Ordered two lunches, then went to the fire station to shower, then down the street to the coffee shop to check e-mail.
-Mo
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Wednesday, May 28, 2003 Destination:
almost Deep Creek Hot Spring
9:45 AM at Holcomb Creek This valley here is beautiful. The creek is about 15 feet wide and the water is cold and clear. Broke camp at about 6:15 this morning, leapfrogging with Solace. Updated score: snakes=1, Molasses=1. HOO-rah!
8:00 PM I made it to the wooden bridge that crosses Deep Creek by 1:30 today. Went to the creek below to get water and heard, "Molasses!" Solace was further downstream getting water and taking a break. Deep Creek is beautiful! Pools, falls, and aspens. I stayed there for three hours doing repairs, laundry and just soaking. Now I'm further up canyon at my own little beach. There's a mule deer on the ridge watching me set up camp. I think I'm camped at his water hole. Oh well, he can have it back tomorrow.
-Mo
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Thursday, May 29, 2003 Destination:
Silverwood Lake
10:00 PM I got to Deep Creek Hot Springs at 7:30 this morning. Solace and Ed were there, along with 5-10 other folks who just come up to hit the springs. I left there at 9:30 after soaking my feet and soaking up some sun. It was blazing hot above the canyon, so I just kicked it into cruising gear and guzzled water. I've been following Deep Creek for two days now--it is an AMAZING place. Picture your ideal canyon environment (Plitvice, Seven Sacred Pools in Maui) then crank up the heat and add algae, biting black flies and rattlesnakes. I've taken at least 50 pictures in the last 48 hours.
Last night, coming down the canyon at 7:00 PM, I put my pole down ON a rattlesnake. The trail is about a foot wide and TOTALLY overgrown with knee-high grass. When I put it down it didn't feel like solid ground--kinda spongy--and then the loudest rattle right at my feet. I yelped and jumped, basically casting off with my poles and vaulting up-trail. My heart was racing and I was uneasy all night.
Tonight is different. I'm camped at a picnic site right on the water of Silverwood Lake. It's 70 degrees with a nice breeze and I've got 13 miles to Cajon Pass and my next resupply. Tomorrow morning I can eat breakfast at a TABLE like a HUMAN. I've been eating my gorp for breakfast because it turns into a chocolaty glob in this heat. My power bars are like peanut butter. I just open one end and squeeze it like a toothpaste tube.
I'll also get to bathe tomorrow, as long as I go in early and disguise it as swimming. I'll also take some time to review my gear needs before my resupply.
That's all for now. It's true - life IS good. -MO (I passed my 100 mile mark this morning. I'm at 112 now.)
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Friday, May 30, 2003 Destination:
Crowder Canyon
7:30 PM So
here's how today broke down:
I woke up just before sunrise and took several snapshots of the sun rising over the lake. A most beautiful morning. I went for a swim and cleaned out my pack (first trash can in days).
I left around 8:30 and was soon at Garces Overlook, a gazebo up on a promontory looking over Silverwood Lake. More snapshots. The trail continued through the mountains that surround the lake. Reminded me very much of the Verdugos where I romped as a lad.
The area from Silverwood all the way north to the Cajon Pass, possibly beyond, burned recently. Maybe last year, as the soil is still black and ashy in spots. It was long and hot and unstable and dangerously windy. I got blown off the trail - literally - twice. The trail carries you from ridge to ridge as you descend a series of canyons. Every time you follow a ridgeline, the wind sweeps up the wall of the canyon and blasts you. Pretty slow going - almost 1 mph.
So now I have about 2 miles to go in the morning to meet my folks at Cajon Pass and pick up my resupply. Right now I'm eating Doritos and beef jerky for dinner--YUM!
FYI: The Mo vs. snakes scoreboard has been discontinued. There were legal issues. Suffice it to say that I'm rattled at daily and yet I remain.
FYI #2: Solo long-distance hiking can be wonderfully freeing, as any start, stop, meal or camp is at my whim. But on afternoons like today, it would be nice to look over my shoulder and say, "This sucks, huh?"
Gonna go watch the sunset.... --Mo
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Saturday, May 31, 2003 Destination:
1 mile before Sharpless Ranch Road
7:30 PM The next flat spot is 2 miles away and I believe it's already taken by Jim, who left Cajon before me. Therefore, at 6:00 PM, I decided I would stop at the next spot in the trail wide enough for my tent and a passing hiker. I did this once last year and slept well, but as I was setting up my tent I noticed kind of a tunnel through the brush up canyon--big enough for me to walk up into.
I'm hoping that if something as big as me comes down that hill, it becomes more timid when it sees my tent--or if it trips over me, it continues on and doesn't stay to explore.
That's the kind of journal entry they find after the monster attacks in a bad movie, so I'll write more.
Coming into Crowder Canyon last night was a chore, leaving this morning was quite pleasant. I definitely came in the back way and from my camp to Cajon Pass was really pretty--a steep stone canyon with tiny falls and pools. Then I went to Cajon Pass to meet my folks, eat and resupply. Got there by 8:30 AM, left around 2:00 PM.
I'm still about 15 miles ahead of schedule but I may need another light day like this as my knees are feeling a little weary at the end of the day. I don't want to go back to 20-mile days if it's hurting every evening. I've got bonafide campgrounds at 13, 16, and 19 miles tomorrow, so I'll see how it goes.
Love to those I love, hi to everyone else (or bye). --Mo
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Sunday, June 01, 2003 Destination:
Guffy Campground
2:00 PM I broke camp at 5:00 this morning and have hiked 13 miles to the campground here. My last water stop was about 17 miles ago (thanks to the Trail Ratz) and I had less than a cup of water when I got here.
There was a couple just packing up their car when I came into camp and I asked if they knew where there was water (there's a spring nearby, but I wasn't sure where). The woman says, "Here, we're just leaving," and hands me a cold unopened gallon of water. So now I'm lying on my mat on a picnic table with 2½ liters in my pack and an empty 1-gal tied to the back. It's 72 degrees with a breeze, so the sun feels nice. I've got all my stuff--bag, tent, shirt--spread out on the table to dry out.
It's 3 miles to Blueridge campground, 6½ to Grassy Hollow with piped water. I may hike 3 and call it a day.
And now it's time for Molasses' fun facts! This week: Ridgewalking! DID YOU KNOW? 1. When walking a ridge beneath high voltage lines, touching the metal of your clacking poles with wet hands can be a real shock! IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP: 2. It's good to tighten the strap of your hat BEFORE starting on a windy ridge, 'cuz if it blows off and you try to grab it, you might not need a hat anymore.
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Sunday, June 01, 2003 Destination:
Grassy Hollow Camp
8:00 PM I am officially in Angeles National Forest, 160 miles so far. I think my feet are finally on the mend. This is my first night of stashing food canisters as I'm now in bear country. This reads like a telegram STOP I'm tired, must sleep now STOP --Mo
Oops--I forgot to mention--I met Beaker at Guffy camp yesterday afternoon. He's from Massachusetts. I asked if he was a Red Sox fan and he said, "Kind of. My brother took me to a game before I left." I told him about V and me going to Fenway for our anniversary to see the Yankees and he lit up. "Against the Yankees?! Those are impossible to get! THAT'S BASEBALL!" quoth Beaker.
Anyway, he's probably about 20. He doesn't have the guidebook and I don't think he has a compass. Just the data book and walking feet. Happy trails, Beaker.
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Monday, June 02, 2003 Destination:
Little Jimmy Camp
6:00 PM Little Jimmy Camp is a split-level affair, which is a good thing as it looks like the bears threw a party last night at the lower camp. Both bear-proof trash cans were open when I arrived, and weekend camper trash is everywhere down there. I ate my dinner and stashed my bear can down there, then headed to the upper camp which is much less used.
I stayed in camp late this morning and made camp here pretty early--only a 10-hour day. Summitted Mount Baden-Powell and took a lunch break at the foot of a 1500-year-old tree. Saw some nuns hiking the trail in their habits and a glider riding the thermals up Mt. Baden-Powell.
Low miles, but all in all, a pretty good day. --Mo
P.S. Camel Spring and Little Jimmy Spring both ROCK! Cold and fresh and plentiful. I have relied on springs and creeks for 90 percent of my water this time, have not found a dry one yet.
Things to ask a nun while hiking to the summit of Mount Baden-Powell: "Did you mean to dress like that, or did you just do it out of habit?"
Later...9:00
PM
Back to the nuns, they were dayhiking on Mt. Baden-Powell while vacationing in Wrightwood. They were all dressed identically and had identical walking sticks with string-wrapped handles and little round glasses. They were ahead of me and waited for me after struggling with the snow a bit. They asked me to go ahead so they could follow in my steps, so I went very slowly, kicking good flat steps through each of the snow patches. They all 7 promised to pray for me each night through June, and I asked for the most camera-shy to take a picture of the rest of us, 'cause it was pretty BIZARRE! (zzzzz)--Mo
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Tuesday, June 03, 2003 Destination:
Sulphur Springs Camp
9:00
PM
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Wednesday, June 04, 2003 Destination:
Big Buck Trail Camp
8:00 PM Much drier today than any past. I hit a trickle of a spring at 9:00 this morning, then nothing. I have one liter of water to last me 10 miles tomorrow, so I'll try to get an early start.
I'm camped at 5200 feet tonight, much lower than the 7450 where I saw the bear. Still, I've got a pile of rocks in my tin cup right outside my tent.
Hiked alone, took a break at noon after 12 miles at a picnic spot, found an older woman who had become separated from her Sierra Club group. She wasn't sure where they were hiking or where they had parked, so I asked her to stay in the shade with my gear while I looked for them. It was at least 95 degrees and I was worried about her. I found her group and got them reunited, then went and continued my shade break.
Now I'm here--and I'm tired--so hasta manana. --Mo
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Thursday, June 05, 2003 Destination:
Mattox Canyon
6:00 PM I had a nice walk this morning from Big Buck to Messenger Flats, about 5 miles. I was there by 8:30, had breakfast, then continued on. From there on I was plagued with foot problems. Usually I can adapt a remedy with bandaids, moleskin and duct tape, but today nothing worked. My left little toe, "Pinkie" to his friends, is swollen and sore. I'm breaking early, still one day ahead of schedule, to let my feet rest. In 14 miles, I'll be at my halfway point, Agua Dulce. Shower, laundry, pizza--I'm ready.
--Molasses (I have walked over 220 miles from a spot that is 95 miles east of here.)
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Saturday, June 07, 2003 Destination:
The Saufley's
6:30 AM I broke camp at 6:30 AM yesterday morning after taping my feet and headed up out of Mattox Canyon toward Vasquez Rocks.
I was following familiar tread and thought it was Beaker, who I knew to be ahead of me by a day. Then I remembered Beaker is using poles and I saw no pole marks, so the only other logical choice was -- SOLACE!
Sure enough, as I came around a bend, there was Solace. "Molasses! I knew it was you!" (I have a lopsided gait and large straw hat, both recognizable at a great distance.) We walked and talked for a while, having not seen each other for a week, then I let him go in front as he is younger and faster. Because of my foot problems and the downhill grade, he was soon out of sight.
Another hour or so brought me to the tunnel that goes under the Antelope Valley Freeway and there was Solace, waiting so we could walk into town together. Very cool.
More on Fri/Sat later....
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Saturday, June 07, 2003 Destination:
Tehachapi, just past highway 58
7:45 Yesterday at 3:00 PM, I arrived at Jeff and Donna Saufley's. They have a mobile home, an RV, and four large 6-man tents to provide a much needed rest stop in the middle of a hot desert section. All that is just for hikers--shower, laundry, full kitchen, TV, stereo, books, games, the use of their cars--these are amazingly generous people. Donna came in this morning with a basket of my laundry, took out a pair of my socks and held them against her face, taking a deep breath. I would have thrown them away, she made them new again. Awesome. I called home, work, checked e-mail--wonderful to have all the comforts of home away from home.
This afternoon, my uncle brought out my supplies for the next 8 days and forwarded me to Tehachapi for the start of 250-mile hike #2. We stopped at the Roadhouse in Mojave for lunch, did some sightseeing at Mojave airport, and now here I am. Great to rest, but great to be on the trail again.
Hasta
manana,
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