[pct-l] Antelope Valley Reroute

[jeff.singewald at comcast.net]

Lou, yes, you probably are in the minority with regards to your feelings about this proposed re-route.  However, with that said, you will likely be able to hike the existing route that includes 15 miles of road walking for as long as your little heart desires.  I agree that hiking through the desert can be beautiful.  I really enjoyed the San Felipe Hills crossing during my thru-hike in 2006.  However, walking along the aqueduct on dirt roads for 16 miles is not my idea of a wilderness trail.  These dirt roads will continue to exist, so feel free to keep hiking them after the re-route is completed if that is what you choose.

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Lou Filliger" <lfilliger at earthlink.net> 

> As a resident of LA I day-hike the sections of the trail between LA and the 
> Tehachapis as 
> a matter of convenience on a fairly regular basis. I am a sun worshipper and 
> fully enjoy 
> hiking in 90 or even 100-degree heat. It's a matter of deciding to love the 
> heat and feel 
> its power to guide you rather than fighting it or dreading it as many people do. 
> 
> One of my fondest memories of the PCT is a day-hike I did from Tehachapi-Willow 
> Springs 
> Road to the 138 at Neenach School Road. It's 39 miles and I did it in mid-May 
> of 2006. 
> Took me 14:50 (7 AM to 9:50 PM). I've often hiked along the LA Aqueduct 
> section, or up 
> past those feldspar hills in the mid-north section of the valley, or through the 
> section 
> south of the 138 down to Liebre. I know I'm in an extreme minority, but I 
> really love 
> this whole section of the trail - in fact, it's my favorite of the many parts 
> I've done - 
> and will really hate to see it go as part of this rerouting. I understand that 
> the desert 
> isn't the Pacific Crest - but the desert is beautiful, and it's vanishing, and 
> the PCT 
> already has more than its share of mountains. So, I plan to be out there 
> enjoying my 
> last couple of summers on the Aqueduct sections before they're taken away by 
> this 
> rerouting. 
> 
> Lou Filliger 
> 
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