Saturday, June 07, 2003

MIDPOINT NOTES:
I've really enjoyed hiking with both Beaker and Solace. Although they both hike much faster than I do, we've met up for breaks and camped together a few times, and we were all together Friday night at the Saufley's. Solace and I each got pizzas, Toes and Scoots made sushi--a Saufley's first. Solace and his wife live locally, it would be cool to have a weekend hiking partner. He's been churning out 25-mile days, Beaker's gonzo with 30-35-mile days. I hope to see them both by Kennedy Meadows (in 8 days). I'm about 100 miles ahead of them now, but averaging 16 miles per day. I might see Beaker tomorrow.

 

I think my foot problems were not helped and possibly caused by my Superfeet(R) inserts. I have a row of blisters right where my foot hits the edge. I've switched to the original insoles now, which are much softer. That, plus the zero day should really help.

--Mo

 

Sunday, June 08, 2003        

Destination: 4 miles past Golden Oak Spring
Starting Location: Saufley's
Today's Miles: 21.00
Trip Miles: 276.70


I'm SURROUNDED by ticks. All afternoon it's been like hiking through a clock shop and now I'm camped at a tiny clearing with ticks in every direction. I don't think I have any tick bites yet, although I've been bitten by every other insect out here. Thank God I have a tent. I don't think I could sleep without all my little screen panels keeping everything OUT.

 

My feet are definitely better today, evidenced most by my ability to walk downhill rather than hobble. I really needed that day off yesterday.

 

I got to Golden Oaks Spring around 2:30 this afternoon and it was just a trickle. The trough was so funky I emptied out my bear can and filled it from the trickle, then filtered from there. My next water is 18 miles on, so I couldn't do without.Beautiful thunderheads today, had some sprinkles yesterday on the way to Tehachapi. So far I've had nothing but blue skies since Idyllwild.

 

In addition to being surrounded by ticks, I've been surrounded by wind turbines too. I assume it's all the same windfarm. Today was the closest I've gotten to them. The propellers are really huge. Now I'll let them lull me to sleep--concerto for tick and turbine in A minor.--Molasses

 

Monday, June 09, 2003        

Destination: Logging Road past Cottonwood Creek
Starting Location: 4 miles past Golden Oak Spring
Today's Miles: 17.40
Trip Miles: 294.10

No bears.
No snakes.
No rivers.
No peaks.

A pretty uneventful day. Saw some bear tracks this morning (large and small) but no bears. I was being obnoxiously noisy to let them know I was there--it must have worked.

I've seen Frog, Zebediah, Choo-choo, Paul, and High Life today. All hiking faster than me, so they're all camped ahead of me now. I'll probably see someone in the morning, as I tend to start a bit earlier than most.

Fun Fact:
You know you're drinking "wild water" when you have to move cow flop to get to it. Thank God for water filters.

--Molasses

Tuesday, June 10, 2003        

Destination: Still camped near logging road
Starting Location: Logging Road past Cottonwood Creek
Today's Miles: 0.00
Trip Miles: 294.10
6:00 AM

 

I could do a 13-mile day today and still be one day ahead of schedule, so I'm kicking back in camp for a while. I had breakfast and took my vites, now I'm back in bed reading.

I didn't say much about the trail yesterday 'cuz I was feeling pretty funky. I ran out of water about 3 miles shy of Robin Bird Spring and was pretty wiped when I got there. I get really weird without water.

Anyway, there were a couple of sections yesterday, maybe 4 miles total, where the trail goes through true forest--alternating oak and pine. Beautiful surroundings with TONS of birds, not too buggy. Plus the trail is almost cushy with oak and pine duff. Pretty nice. I usually zoom through the exposed areas and meander through the nice spots like this. I meet people on the trail in 2 instances: in camp, or they walk by while I'm sitting in the shade. (I hike from shade to shade.)

Happy Tuesday morning,
Molasses

 

Tuesday, June 10, 2003     
Starting Location: Still camped near logging road
Today's Miles: 20.30
Trip Miles: 314.40
7:30 PM

 

I'm camped on a hilltop where a dozen roads and trails intersect. It's almost 10 miles past Kelso Valley Road. It's intensely windy, but I'm in a little low spot behind some Joshua trees. It shakes the tent a bit, but it's not going anywhere.

I met and hiked with Florida Bob this morning. Bob is the one who, after two early attempts at the San Jacintos, returned to the Mexican border to start over. "I didn't come out here to stay in some hotel," says Bob. Many early hikers were holed-up from Anza to Idyllwild waiting for April's storms to pass. Not Bob.

There was a huge water cache just off Kelso Valley Road and I picked up another 1½-liter bottle there. That makes my total capacity 6 liters. I figure as my food runs down I can afford the extra weight. There are some long, dry stretches so I figure I'll carry it until my next resupply at Kennedy Meadows, then toss my old 1-liter bottle and stay at 5 liters for the Sierras.

The Piute mountains are another one of those places where you can visualize an old western being set there. Huge boulders, toasty-brown hills with very few trees.

Went to Waterhole Mine this morning and there's a Piute ceremonial area there (also a spring, which I located with Sherlock Holmesian sleuthing).

That's all for now.
--Molasses

(I just checked my mileage: I'm 3/5 of the way home!

 Anywhere is walking distance if you have the time.)

Wednesday, June 11, 2003        

Destination: McIver's Cabin
Starting Location:
Today's Miles: 18.40
Trip Miles: 332.80

9:00 PM

 

There's an old cabin here in the Scodie mountains, built in 1938 by Murdo McIver. It's 3 miles off the PCT, is always open, has 2 cots inside and a spring 30 feet from the front porch. I'm now sitting on the front porch while Florida Bob plays his banjo. Just a couple of hillbillies.

I'm almost 60 miles south of Kennedy Meadows and having some new foot problems. I'll probably stay here in the morning and work on a solution. I've got a place to camp at 10 and 12 miles tomorrow, so I'll probably go easy and use up some of this mileage I've gained. I'm 26 miles ahead of schedule now.

I pushed hard the last 7 miles to get here, and arrived with 3 toes that have split pads and are raw. Best thing for that is good company and a little banjo music. Rest and bandaids should do the rest.

ZZZ.
--Molasses

Thursday, June 12, 2003        

Destination: McIver's Cabin
Starting Location: McIver's Cabin
Today's Miles: 0.00
Trip Miles: 332.80
7:30 AM

 

My new address is:
McIver's Cabin
Scodie Mountains
California

I woke up around 5:30 AM and had breakfast, then said goodbye to Florida Bob. I'm planning a light day, so I may not see him again.

This morning I washed ALL my socks, so I'm "stuck" here until they dry. I've got the wood stove burning and rigged a laundry line over it to dry them.

I'll camel up on water, see to my feet, then hit the trail. I finish this section (section F) in 10 miles, and there's a nice camp there (but no water). That may be a day for me.

--Molasses

Thursday, June 12, 2003        

Destination: 3 miles past Walker Pass
Starting Location: McIver's Cabin
Today's Miles: 12.40
Trip Miles: 345.20
6:30 PM

 

I left the cabin at 10:00 this morning with fresh socks and 12 band-aids on my feet. Tood a very leisurely walk and made it to Walker pass by 2:00 PM. I hate to say it, but the burn areas always have softer tread. I guess the ash mixes with the soil and softens it up.

Anyway, 5 miles of burned area this morning, fairly level. Time flies in those places because the scenery never changes. You just put your head down and start chugging and before you know it--5 miles.

The walk in to Walker Pass was nice, and there's a campground just for PCT hikers. Huge shade trees, so I did lunch and a nap before the 1000 foot climb to my camp.

Now I'm giving my feetsies some much needed rest, and we'll try for another 20 miles tomorrow. Kennedy Meadows is still 50 miles ahead and I'd like a warm meal with a cold drink. (All I wanted was a Pepsi, but she wouldn't give it to me.)

I mentioned that there's a spring at the cabin--it is the best water yet. Cold and fresh, it's the only water so far that I haven't filtered. I think old Murdo had a pretty sweet life.

I talked to Vera again today. I'm carrying my cell phone and every time I'm at a really high pass, or can see a highway, or a radio tower, I give it a shot. I have about a 10 percent success rate, but it's always worth a try. Nothing eases my mind like hearing her voice. Each time we talk it's like I'm starting fresh that day. I helped make for a very mellow day.

I think FLAB is a few miles ahead of me. We've gone through hundreds of miles with a few PCT registers, but since Tehachapi there seem to be more and more. Florida Bob has been hitting these faster and faster, going from Florida Bob to Fla. Bob to FLA B (which really cracked me up). At lunch it was just "FB".

We've been kind of hit and miss on the trail, but I look forward to seeing him again soon. We should all be in Kennedy Meadows together on Sunday. His banjo strumming is so low-key, I really felt like I was down on the bayou last night. Only thing missing were the fireflies.

--Molasses