[pct-l] starting from walker pass in late june?

[Sue Kettles]

I bet there are a lot of fun bear stories at Joshua Tree Spring.  When my
friend and I arrived there - August - hot day, and thirsty and super
tired... we found the shade wonderful and laid down and took a short, sweet
nap.  When I woke up, I meandered a few yards down to the spring and sat
down on the rock to get the piped water.  As I looked to my right, I saw
that a rattle snake was trying to slither away from my rock I was sitting
on.  I guess I interrupted his nap, or maybe his hunting grounds (foolish of
me not to have seen him - I just wasn’t thinking very snake smart).  I
jumped up and started yelling to my partner "rattlesnake - you gotta come
look"... and as I was shrieking those words, I must have woke up the bear
that had been sleeping in the tree above us... cause now we were watching
the snake move slowly away AND the bear coming down out of the tree.  He was
a junior bear - and just walked slowly down to the spring and kept walking
out of the area.  I'm sure my noise annoyed him.  My hiking friend and I
just looked at each other and were wondering...with big smiles.... did that
just happen?  
I feel so blessed and fortunate to witness the things I have seen.  

SS/HJ
-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Edward Anderson
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 6:00 PM
To: Sean Nordeen; pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] starting from walker pass in late june?

Hi Sean,
I rode through the area north of Walker Pass in 2008. I was told about the
resident bears there. When I arrived at Joshua Tree Spring I had an
interesting bear encounter. I had just taken the spur trail down the hill
and dismounted Primo. I saw a bear running down the hill, RIGHT TOWARDS US. 
I immediately reached down and picked up a couple rocks and ran towards the
bear, throwing them in his direction, and shouting as loud as I could in the
meanest voice I could make - "GET OUT'A HERE BEAR - GO-GO-GO" That worked
well. The bear came to a quick stop did an about-face, and ran back up the
hill even faster than he had come down. I have been able to scare bears away
using that approach before. I set up camp and never saw another bear at
Joshua. The water from the pipe was good - and there was a big water trough
for Primo, but very little grass.
MendoRider-Hiker
 

________________________________
 From: Sean Nordeen <sean.nordeen at gmail.com>
To: Pct-L at backcountry.net 
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 3:50 PM
Subject: [pct-l]  starting from walker pass in late june?
  
Back in 2009, I left Walker Pass on June 20th and reached Canada on October
2.  The temps were not as hot as I had crossing San Gorgonio Pass at the
I-10.  The normal water sources were all flowing.  I do not recommend
camping at Joshua Springs as it had a bear problem.  Not surprising since
its the only water in the area and a popular camping site.

I don't think its too late.  As you pointed out, its ~50miles to kennedy
meadows and the last several miles is along a branch of the kern river.
You'll be fine.

-Miner
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