[pct-l] Sections D & E, January 2003 Report

[Bighummel@xxxxxxx (Bighummel@xxxxxxx)]

--
[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
The following is forwarded to me and others from Monte Dodge who received it
from Ron Strickland who asked that it be sent to the PCT-L for thru-hiker
information purposes (whew!).

In a message dated 3/14/2003 11:29:24 AM Pacific Standard Time, Montedodge
writes:

> January 2003: PCT, Sections D &E
>
>  In late January, I hiked 190 miles on the PCT to fill in gaps left over
> from the previous two spingtimes in southern California.
>
>  I=E2=80=99d begun tardily at the tail end of the 2001 Wave. I=E2=80=99d =
made the mistake
> of starting so late that temperatures often exceeded 100 degrees.
> Dehydration and other problems took the starch out of me. But last year I
> erred on the side of too much preparation for heat; I was very much
> underdresssed for 20 degree nights.
>
>  In 2001, I skipped most of Sections D and E because of the heat. Those
> sections, according to the conventional wisdom, were some of the most
> burdensome on the entire PCT. And I observed for myself during a car trip
> south of Tehachapi that the force of the broiling sun from the sky was
> matched by the reflected heat from the ground.
>
>  This January 2003 I discovered that Sections D &E are VERY attractive and
> alluring if hiked at the most logical season. Whether in the San Gabriel =
or
> Tehachapi Mountains or Mojave Desert/Antelope Valley, my hike was very
> enjoyable. Not only was there no rain but also the days were often warm a=
nd
> sunny. [The intense schadenfreude of this experience was enhanced by
> frequent reports of blizzards back east.]
>
>  So I offer the following notes to encourage hikers to visit the southern
> PCT before the May/June heat has a chance to fry your brains and dehydrate
> your body.
>
>  INTERSTATE 15 (CAJON PASS) TO AGUA DULCE:
>
>  I-15: I was surprised to discover that a very large area beyond the
> freeway up through the hills had recently burned. I hiked to Inspiration
> Point and found no running water along the way. However, there were plenty
> of extensive snowbanks. I enjoyed wearing my summer shorts and T-shirt as=
 I
> passed ski slope snowboarders. Who skied man-made snow.
>
>  Cloudburst Summit to Mill Creek Ranger Station: There was no water
> available at Messenger Flats.
>
>  North Fork Ranger Station: Water &camping were available. (Info.: Todd,
> 818-899-1900.)
>
>  Santa Clara River Ford: I stealth camped in brush off the trail and boil=
ed
> the dubious-looking water. Next morning I obtained water from one of the
> faucets I passed at the trailer park (at the invitation of a resident.)
> [Many of the hills ahead showed evidence of a massive fire.]
>
>  AGUA DULCE TO TEHACHAPI:
>
>  The Agua Dulce PCT relocation has not yet happened. The new route would =
be
> east of and parallel to the present road route that goes through the
> village; the new route would go from Vasquez Rocks to the Air Park and on
> north. Famous trail angels Jeff &Donna Saufley advocate a
> high-for-the-views alternative relocation in the hills above their house.
> My preference would be to utilize both relocation routes to make a superb
> loop trail circling the horse-friendly village of Agua Dulce. Such a loop
> should be created soon before development makes it impossible. On the
> different subject of transportation, the Metrolink commuter train
> (800-371-5465) provides ready access from the Burbank Airport to Acton; a
> shuttle service (661-259-9444) makes infrequent trips between Acton and
> Agua Dulce. While in this region, you may also wish to consult the Santa
> Clarita Transit (661-294-1287.) [The very generous Saufley=E2=80=99s (661=
-268-1235)
> often help with thru-hiker transportation; Jeff went out of his way to he=
lp
> me with trailhead rides.]
>
>  Bear Spring at the cattle trough was trickling.
>
>  Green Valley Ranger Station (at San Francisquito Canyon (near Green
> Valley): the water was turned off at the closed-for-the-season facility. =
(I
> hitched to the Green Valley Store and back.
>
>  The trailside seep (north of Elizabeth Canyon) was trickling.
>
>  Pine Canyon Road south of the Tejon Ranch: Cow Canyon Creek was flowing
> well.
>
>  Road #138: After the death last year of Jack Fair, entrepreneur Richard
> Skaggs bought that well-known trail angel=E2=80=99s homestead. When I was=
 there,
> his workmen were building Hikertown to host PCT thru-hikers. This
> hospitable retiree is providing a "casino", chapel, bunkhouse, and shower=
s=2E
> Also, because the County Store (a mile away) is closing this month, Mr.
> Skaggs is including a small hikers-only store at Hikertown to sell us the
> sorts of provisions we like. Hikertown will hold our cache boxes. (Richard
> Skaggs: 661-724-0086. Write to Hikertown at the old Jack Fair address.) [I
> enjoyed his story that his first morning at his new get-away-from-it-all
> desert place, he walked out his door to find a dozen suspicious-looking
> characters lounging in his yard. No one had told him that the property was
> a well-known stopping point on the long march north to Canada.]
>
>  Cottonwood Canyon: Off-season trickles were available, running down the
> Cottonwood Canyon spillway. (The horse trough was inoperative.)
>
>  Tylerhorse Canyon Creek: It was flowing strongly.
>
>  At the first windmills: There is a brand new stock tank and a en plein a=
ir
> hiker shower (provided beside the trail by the utility.)
>
>  Horse camp at the Tehachapi-Willow Road: Oak Creek was flowing weakly out
> of a marsh.
>
>
>
> Another transportation resource is the Antelope Valley Transit Authority.=
 <A HREF=3D"http://www.avta.com/";>
> www.avta.com</A> 661-945-9445, #200.
>
>  Happy trails,
>
>  Ron "Pathfinder" Strickland
>
>  <A HREF=3D"http://www.ronstrickland.com/";>www.ronstrickland.com</A>
>
>
>