[pct-l] Re: San Felipe Hills alternate route?

[gray_hiker at mindpoison.org (Gray)]

> This past summer, we started up from Scissors Crossing at 
> 3:00 a.m. in the coolness with lots of water and with a full 
> moon, using headlamps as needed.  To hike along up there, 
> watching dawn unfold, was really quite special.  Three shady 
> rest breaks and a leisurely pace brought us to Barrel Spring 
> about 4:30 p.m., welcomed by a young pouting rattlesnake 
> coiled in the middle of the trail.  In spite of the endless 
> ins-and-outs of ravines toward the end, it was for us, all in 
> all, a most memorable hike. 

Oh, it was memorable for me as well, and I am glad I did it... I just
don't need to do it again if there is a way with more shade.

I took a short siesta at Scissors, then as the sun fell, started up into
the hills. I continued with headlamp until about the 4th unseen, but
clearly heard, rattlesnake let itself be known close to the trail. That
spooked me, I was alone and didn't want to step on a rattlesnake in the
dark, so I found a semi-flat spot and pitch camp for the night. Bright
and early the next morning, after a couple hours of hiking, I saw my
first rattler, a small, pretty copper one who was a good snake, and let
me know he was there as soon as I rounded the corner. That night I
camped near the (empty) water cache (Bar-S-Bar Ranch?), and upon
returning from the side trail to another cache with some water, found my
camp spot had grown by about 7 people. For the first time on the trail,
I got to talk to fellow hikers before bedding down, which was very
pleasant. The next day I pulled my first 20 mile day, making it all the
way to Warner Springs... Just in time to miss the post office closing,
unable to find an ATM, and emotionally worn out. 

I should have given it another couple days before making a decision, but
I bailed there, and regret it to this day.

Gray