[pct-l] Section D Expediton After Action Report

[hiker97 at aol.com (hiker97@aol.com)]

The Acorn Trail is a nice trail, but steep.  Yesterday when I went up it, it was hot and humid.  The humidity was did me in.  Everything else was fine.  I was rolling along and noticed how much water I was losing.  I thought to myself, "How do I stop this?  I have no cure."  I knew I would be very short on water for the rest of the trip up at the PCT intersection, since there is no water until I15.  So, I decided that life was better than death.  I did think about continuing on and not giving up.  I knew that once I got on the PCT and headed south to Cajon Pass it would be a lot of downhill hiking and I would be smoking.  I figured I would die about 15 miles into that journey south.  My water requirements are a lot different than others because of diabetes.
 
Once Rattlesnake and I went out in his air conditioned truck to check out the trail Saturday, I was very glad I retreated.  We were drinking lots of cold ice water in his truck as we bounced along looking for the PCT along dirt roads.  Lots of fun.
 
I plan to go back for this hike in October.
 
Thanks for the info and advise, Switchback
PCT Section Hiker, Est. 1970 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: matt maxon <matt@mattmaxon.com>
To: hiker97@aol.com; pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Sent: Sat, 30 Jul 2005 08:09:11 -0700
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Section D Expediton After Action Report


Switchback
It is possible to cache water at or near Gobblers Knob campground OR at one of the several points where the trail comes close to the road.
 
I was out in Avalon and could see the thunderheads over that general area and to the South, go figure but it was nice in Avalon! Might try to coax the family into spending 3-4 days at Two Harbors later in the summer.
 
How is the Acorn Trail? any down trees washouts etc?
 
RE: freezing water it has been my experience you should use already opened bottles and not fill them completely, then store them in the freezer for 2-days to a week before you need them to ensure they are frozen solid. I keep several in the freezer at all times, they are also good for massaging your foot after a long hot day of hiking, my podiatrist reccomended using it to help control my heel spurs.
 
Cheers
Trail90
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <hiker97@aol.com>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Cc: <jackcain70@hotmail.com>; <rattlesnake5648@yahoo.com>; <carolwbruno@yahoo.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 30, 2005 4:13 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Section D Expediton After Action Report


> Well, I went up to Wrightwood to see about the Acorn trail up to the PCT and an attempt over to Cajon Pass.  I made almost up to the PCT before I could tell my water was not going hold up to Cajon Pass.  The problem was humidity.  I was leaking water by the tons through sweat.  I had just under 8 liters with me.  By the way, the timer for drinking, umbrella, SunPrecautions clothing, etc., all worked great.  Thank god I have all the other bases covered. 
>  
> The only chance I had was to have special water for just the Acorn Trail and then water for the PCT.  Live and learn.  Jack Cain had mentioned in an email to freeze some water bottles, so you can have cold/cool water from the trailhead.  Very smart idea.  I needed about 4 more bottles than the one cold 16 ounce bottle I had.
>  
> So, my choice was go ahead and dehydrate and die or turn around and go back down to Wrightwood and Victorville to party.  I thought about it for awhile and then decided to retreat.  Wrightwood is a neat place.  You can easily get a nice home there for $250 per square foot.  Lots of small and large places.  
>  
> The only people I saw on the trail was a husband/wife team running to the PCT and back.  They live on Acorn Drive going up to the trailhead.  I had a pleasant conversation with the wife on the way down as she was behind her husband by about 10 minutes and stopped to walk with me.  There is a "No Trespass" sign about a third of a mile from the trailhead on Acorn Drive.  But my wife dropped my off at the trailhead.  No extra walking for me.  
>  
> As soon as I got down to the trailhead and the street I walked about 100 feet and some guys were out on a driveway.  They immediately asked me if I needed a ride.  One gave me a ride down to the Grizzly Cafe (about 1.5 miles (?) away on Hwy 2).  He was the town historian and gave me a mini tour.  Really cool.
>  
> I had stopped by the hardware store to sign the register before I started my hike.  After the Grizzly Cafe tuna melt (one of the best tuna melts on rye bread I have ever had and I eat these all the time) I went over to the hardware store to call local trail angels to see if I could be put up.  No one home.  Rattlesnake arrived from Victorville to rescue me.  We went driving around the Victorville area Friday evening.  He is a field project manager for a very large industrial complex and a new power plant being built.  Very interesting tour.  Lots of fun.
>  
> So, here I am in the Victorville Ramada Inn on Saturday morning giving you my latest adventure report.  Rattlesnake and I are going party all day and goof off.  We will meet my wife early Sunday morning for breakfast at the Marie Calendar in Victorville.  Any of you around come over and join us.
>  
> My next expedition will be to Mt. Whitney.  I plan on failing on that trail too and partying in Lone Pine and Bishop.  But I will give it my best shot.  This is fun.
>  
> Your intrepid hiking buddy, Switchback
> Survivor of the Very Steep, Hot, Humid Acorn Trail
>  
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