PCT blitz, October 3-6

“i need to get in some more miles on the PCT before i can finish my review of the trail guide. i'm probably going to blitz through the San Gabriel Mountains here in Southern California, but i'm open to other locations. i'll be walking all day, hoping for about 15 miles per day on average, but as the days get shorter that may be pretty optimistic. i'll do it alone if necessary, but if anybody wants to join me that would be schweet.”

“Is the new guidebook as overwhelmingly negative as the old ones were? I hated those books - with a passion! It was like having some really nasty grumbling whining complaining nagging companion that you couldn't get rid of along every day. Jim wouldn't even read the books. He just looked at the maps occasionally -- but I'm a guidebook reader and like to know what's ahead. Those books drove me crazy. I hope the new one is better.”

“I agree with ginny! Tar I would join ya if you were more in the central Sierra :)”

“hmmm. the tone of the books seems to be pretty neutral to me. a bit wordy, but that's really because you don't want to write "you will crest a steep ridge" 8,000 times in one book.

too bad, Free. although after your little bit of trolling on the other site, i was reconsidering my opinion of you. but i'll give you a second chance any time you care to come down. ;)”

“Do you think the author would mind if you critiqued the Central Oregon PCT portion? I'd love to join you!”

“alas, i'm only reviewing the Southern California edition. but i'd love to get up to your neck of the woods, even if i would have to switch out some of my gear. how DO you folks do it in the damp?”

“How DO we do it in the damp??? LOL.. oh my... (should I go there?)

You're welcome ANYtime! Bring the hubbubble and the babybubble. Bring all the raingear you think you'll need... then throw in some more! In a few months, throw in the snowshoes too.”

“I'd love to go, if I lived in CA. Have fun ladies!”

“tar - It would be cool to join you. Are you talking day hikes or backpacking?”

“backpacking, Phil. i'll be traveling as light as i possibly can - tarp, pepsi-can stove, etc. if you'd like to, you would be welcome to join me, but it WILL be a blitz. i just want to cover as many miles as possible so that i can file as accurate a review of the guide as possible.”

“bumping this in the hope that i can scare up a partner. anybody wanna join me for part of it, maybe as a dayhike? (cue crickets chirping)”

“just got off the phone with my sister. she's sick, so she can't babysit, so i can't go this weekend. @&%$#!!!

anybody available & interested in the next week or two?”

“i was finally able to squeeze in the PCT Blitz over Thursday & Friday. it was going to last until Friday morning, but i tweaked my leg a bit and aborted the trip on Friday afternoon. i'll post a trip report when i finally get it typed up.”

“Cool pics, TB!”

“After one cancellation due to babysitting problems, I was finally able to start the PCT Blitz on Thursday October 9th. At 4:30 PM I left my car at Inspiration Point along the Angeles Crest Highway, and set foot on the PCT. The goal was to walk as far as possible until Saturday morning, when my husband would pick me up along the highway and shuttle me back to my car. We had a family wedding to get to on Saturday afternoon, so that was all the time I had available. I was hoping for at least 25 miles.

The late afternoon was nice – by October the weather has cooled enough to allow for enjoyable hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains. My starting elevation was 7,352 feet – high enough for a lowlander like me to have a little trouble keeping breath in their lungs. the trail climbed easily enough and after a mile i was passing Grassy Hollow campground & visitor's center, which was closed. this was a little disappointing for me, as i wanted to chat up a ranger and ask about the springs i'd be passing on the hike. pressed onward & upward, but soon found the trail turning back down for the drop into Vincent Gap. the sun had already dropped enough that the trail was shaded, but the top of the oaks i was walking through were still lit by that fiery light given to us at sunset. the trail made a dim tunnel through the oaks, illuminated by the little sunlight reflected down off the leaves at the top. it really was a magical and beautiful time to be alive and in the woods.

the soil turned red underfoot and i found myself strolling across Highway 2 to the Vincent Gap parking lot, which was empty. the parking lot was also in shadow but i could see there was still another hour of sunlight on the mountains across the river drainage. the PCT guidebook (which i was on the trail to review) said there were some good sites just after the Lamel Spring trail, 1.5 miles up, so i walked on, hoping i'd get to the spring before dark.

wow, the slope up to Mt. Baden-Powell (named after the founder of the Boy Scouts) is steep! just one switchback after another. the guidebook had indicated that the spring trail branched off at one of the switchback turns, so as i got higher i started looking for a trail at every curve. finally, i came to a sign for the spring trail, and knew i could make camp just up the trail (the guidebook told me so). i scouted around the first flat areas i'd passed for miles, and soon found a lovely spot sheltered under a thick fir. set up, cooked dinner and tried to go to sleep, but no dice! the moon came up and i may as well have been sleeping under a floodlight. Then the wind began roaring down from the direction of the summit. i'd have 30 minutes or so of utter peace and silence, then hear the wind starting to roar down from the top. by midnight i could hear the roar start and pinpoint exactly when it would hit my tarp. i think i finally fell asleep sometime after 1:00, and woke up at 6:15 on the nose. funny how a sleepless night backpacking never wears me out like a sleepless night at home.”