Words about science and hiking
Apr 30 Spent yesterday taking a zero at Hikertown as my feet were still sore from the 20 mile road walk the day before. They are still sore, but you just kind of get used to that. For the last 200 miles or so I have been walking mostly west, following the great transverse coastal Read More …
Woke this morning to the roar of traffic. Apparently the road is a shortcut between Lancaster and the San Fernando Valley. And it was now my route, as the PCT proper is closed for the next 25 miles due to a fire last year. The alternate is a 19 mile roadwalk. It was boring, tiring Read More …
After a slow start leaving Agua Dulce (due to the Challah french toast at Mon Ami’s), I climbed up through oak woodlands, finally breaking out on a ridge with a fantastic view of the snow-covered Tehachapis. The dense chaparral offered few campsites – I hit one at 4PM after 16 miles of hiking, but decided Read More …
After a night of intermittent rain – the first time I have pitched my tarp – I ate my leftover pizza for breakfast and headed for the Saufley’s, aka Hiker Heaven, some 10 miles away in the village of Agua Dulce. The night’s rains left the air cool and crisp, and the hike was (mostly) Read More …
A short day of 14 miles down to the Acton KOA. Around the campfire last night, we dry and very dirty hikers had started talking about all the wonders of the KOA: it had showers…a pool…you could have pizza delivered!…and beer too! Pretty soon it began to seem like we were hiking to a veritable Read More …
Slow getting started this morning as it was very cold – my water bottles were more frozen than liquid. The trail took a long climb out of the canyon on a very poorly maintained trail. It is eroded and overgrown and heavily infested with Poodle Dog Bush. This was still avoidable with slow and careful Read More …
Up and moving early, and at a brisk pace too, as there was a chill wind blowing from the north. The trail here takes a detour to avoid a canyon that is a stronghold of the endangered Yellow-legged Mountain Frog. The official detour is a 14-mile loop out to the desert that features a 2000-foot Read More …
What a difference a day can make. And what a difference between hiking with sore, battered feet vs feet that are reasonably happy. The first is a trial to be endured; the second is fun – that thing that recreational activities are supposed to be. I spent much of the day yesterday with my feet Read More …
A quick 6 miles, mostly downhill, and I was at the Angeles Crest Highway by 8:30. Along the way I passed the Blue Ridge Campground, which brother Dave and I postholed up through the snow one year whe we were teenagers for a bit of winter camping. We learned that 1/4 inch ensolite foam pads Read More …
I spent a pleasant night camped in Swartout Canyon, reading a John LeCarre novel thoughtfully left by a trail angel in the water cache, and then was up before dawn to try to minimize my exposure to the heat while making the day’s climb. I usually stir with the first birdsong – this gives me Read More …