Day Hiking The Southern California PCT: April In Southern California 2010 (Part II)

As I said in my Previous Post (April in Southern California 2010: Part I) I went to Southern California to see my dad. While there, I spent a lot of time hiking parts of the Pacfic Crest Trail. The day after I arrived I went up to Idylwild and hiked up to the Pacific Crest Trail just below Mt. San Jacinto. I had heard that the snow was heavy this year and long lasting. My intent was to go 20 miles each day, but this day I only went 8 due to the amount of snow I had to trudge through once I got up to the PCT. In normal years at this time there would not be any snow on the trail, or very little. Here are some photos of the trail in and around Saddle Junction, just 2.5 miles above the mountain town of Idylwild.



After the snow experience, I decided I'd better find portions of the PCT to hike which were at lower elevations. Another PCT access point not far from my father's home was the PCT cross point at Highway 74 just before it descends down to Palm Springs. The starting elevation was 4800' and I was able to get the 20 miles I desired. I went 10 miles in and 10 back, with an elevation gain of over 2000'. The wildflowers were wonderful and I wasn't prepared to see such beauty. But, this is spring and that is wildflower season in any Southern California year. Growing up as a young man in Los Angeles I never realized such beautiful flowering occured in the deserts of California. Of course, at that time I was more interesting in the size of my biceps than I was in the wonders of nature. Here are some pictures from that trail that day...






When I arrived at my turn around point, 10 miles, I met three young men taking a break very near the trail. I asked if I could take my break with them and they were eager to accept my request and talk with me. They were three Israeli soldiers who had just been discharged from there duties in Israel. They decided together to hike the Pacific Crest Trail and were amazed at the scenery thus far experienced. The other hikers who started out with them at the Mexican Boarder gave them the trail name, "The Israeli Gears", because they marched in step with each other and looked very mechanical. They invited me to keep up with their blog on line and to join them for part of the hike once they got up around Portland Oregon where I live.

From Left to right: Tom, Yashov, and Ishai.

As I headed back to the starting point I encountered a not too friendly Western Diamond Back snake on the trail. He was lying right in the middle of the trail and I just about stepped on him. He was oblivious to me until I turned around and faced him. Then, he coiled up, shook his rattle at me and tried to scare me off. Hiking in Southern California is not all glorious, but he was a beautiful creature, even though potentially deadly.



I spent my last full day in Southern California hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Interstate 10 up through White River Canyon. This was desert hiking at its finest. The weather was mild, the flowers were at there peak blooming, and I put in 21 miles without too much strain. I was sore by the end of the day, but not too fatigued. One month later and I would have been drained from the intense heat. Here are just a few of the photos I took that day...

Trip To Southern California: April In Southern California 2010 (Part I)

Last week I went to Southern California for a spur of the moment trip to see my father and brothers in Southern California. My company insisted I take some vacation time since I am between projects, so I, "high tailed it" down to Hemet to see Dad, Lew, Paul and anyone else in the family with whom I could spend time. Here's a picture of the three youngest brothers and our 86 year old dad...



It was great to visit with Lew's daughters, Jessica and Chelsea, as well as his son, Brian. Brian is soon to be married to his finance, Angela and I will be officiating his wedding in July. I spent some time discussing the wedding plans with Brian and his planner. While I was visiting, Chelsea had a very successful competition in the discus and javelin in San Diego at the JC where she is attending. She qualified for the California JC State championships in these events and had the San Diego State coaches looking hard at her during the competition. Looks like she just might be attending San Diego State for both athletics and to study Kinesiology. It turns out that San Diego State has a great Kinesiology program and that is just what she wants to study before going on to teach Physical Education. Here is a picture of me, Dad, and Cealsea...



Speaking of Physical Education, Jessica is just about to complete her student teaching and will the be certified to teach Physical Education in the state of California. She is also getting married this summer! I had the pleasure of spending part of a day hiking with Jess at the nearby Wildlife Refuge of Santa Rosa Mesa. Here we are on our hike. This picture also includes Lew's girl friend, Kim, who went on the hike also. She's a great cook, by the way!




During the week I was also able to head down to see my brother Phil in Ramona. I had never seen his place of business, Plastifab, so I stopped in there before we headed over to his house. Here are pictures of his shop where they fabricate plastics for purposes too numerous to list here...


Phil just turned 63 and in the not to0 distant future will be getting his right hip replaced, which has been a sore subject for a lot of years. No pun intended! Ironically, his company fabricates the type of composite plastic used in artificial hips. Here he is with a piece of that plastic which some day might wind up in his hip!




Here are more pictures of Phil in his garage at his home where he keeps his antique car collection. Phil's been buying, restoring, and selling these cars since he was in his twenties. A real treasure and something to be very proud of.



But, the main reason I went to Southern California was to see my dad. For a week I spent the mornings and evenings with him, while during the day I visited others and headed for the hiking trails. He's doing extremely well and I am very proud of him. I hope to head down again soon to spend some time with him once again.

Video Log of The South Breitenbush Trail to Jefferson Park

CLICK ON THE TITLE OF THIS POST TO VIEW THE VIDEO

This past summer, Pam and I hiked the South Breitenbush Trail to Jefferson Park, located at the base of Mt. Jefferson. Jefferson Park is one of the most celebrated photographic locations in Oregon. Many people have come to know Oregon by the post cards displaying Mt. Jefferson as the back drop to the serene lakes and meadows of Jefferson Park. It was only a weekend overnight backpacking trip, but when you see this video you might think we were out on a remote week long expedition. That's Oregon for you; glory in your back yard. This year, late July turned out to be the best time for the wildflower show that we eagerly anticipated. I have been to Jefferson Park in early summer and in the Fall, but never at peak wildflower season, which is the middle of summer. But, there was a price to pay for our lovely experience... MOSKITOS! We were armed with deet and a tent with a fly, so we were able to minimize the damage to our flesh. But, in retrospect, I would do it all over again, because the experience completely outweighed the cost. If anyone wants to go, just let me know and I'll take you up this next summer. Bring your camera!

Photologue of My Experience Backpacking The Sierras In October 2009

It was early October and I was over one month late for my John Muir Trail hike. I missed the big hike with Tom Willard due to job requirements. It was the wrong time of year to go in to the Sierras for backpacking, but I was determined to get my Sierra fix this year. I drove all night to get to Bishop California and headed right for the Ranger Station to pick up my permit. By the time I got to the Bishop Trail Head at the foot of the Sierras it was about 12noon. The weather was perfect at near 70 degrees for a high that day. The nights were slated to be very cold and when I met hikers descending the trail they reported 20 degree temps overnight. I knew it would be cold at night, so I was prepared.

The trail up to Bishop Pass was populated with many day hikers. I was planning on hiking about 5 miles to one of the lakes below the pass and then the next day continue my 6o mile loop hike back to the trail head. As you can see, the scenery along the pass trail is excellent.


I set up my tent in a well protected site near Bishop Lake, about one mile below the pass. The weather forecast called for a 20% chance of light snow.

When I woke up in the morning my tent was covered in snow and there was about 3" of snow at that time. I waited for the weather to break, but by 9AM I lost faith that they snow would let up. I pack up quickly and intended to get back down to the trail head before the trail was covered in snow. In my rush to get packed and down the mountain I dropped my GPS in the snow, but didn't know it until I got to my car. I would have to come back when the snow melted to try and find it.

The trail was still discernable on my way back down, but in some locations it was not so clear where the trail had gone. The portion of trail you see behind me was a good section of trail. By the end of the day they had 4 to 5 inches of snow at the pass. I'm glad I went down. So much for the forecasted 20% chance!

On my way down from the pass I met two hikers that were bailing out of the Sierras at the same time I was. I gave them a ride to town and then on to their car, about 40 miles away at Mammoth Lakes, where they started. The weather was going to be bad for a couple of days, so we all decided to head for Death Valley to dry out before going back to the Sierras. These ladies were doing the entire John Muir Trail and are very experienced through hikers, having hiked over 7000 miles! On the left is Teresa, aka "Wandering Hippie" and to the right is Kellie, aka "Hippie Longstockings".

The scenery in Death Valley was grand indeed! Deep canyons, flat salt lakes, and sand dunes. Everything you would want in a desert experience. Plus, warmth!

At the lowest point in Death Valley and the United States.


After an overnight stay in Death Valley we headed back to the Sierras with a plan to hike from Kersarge to Taboose. A 45 plus mile hike which takes in one of the most spectacular portions of the John Muir Trail. With the "Hippies" and I teaming up we could put a car at the beginning and the end, so we didn't have to worry about hitch hiking back to the car. Getting up to Kersarge Pass was a steep climb, but a well maintained trail.

Coming down from Kersarge Pass we had a fantastic view into the heart of the Sierras. Bull Frog lake sits in the background.

The hike up Glen Pass from Bull Frog Lake was long and brutal. Over the course of several miles it was switch backs and high stair treads made of rock. Manyof the stair treads (rock steps) were 2' high! And, there were hundreds of them. If you are looking to get buns of steel, this is the way to do it!



Coming down from Glenn Pass in to the Rae Lakes area was a spectacular sight. Here, the Painted Lady looms on the horizon. We sat near these lakes during our lunch break and enjoyed the best lunch time scenery a person could hope for.


On the way down from Glenn Pass and the Rae Lakes we had a glorious view of one of the many Sierra divides.


On our way up to Pinchot Pass it was toward the end of the day and getting very cold! We finally stopped when it got dark, put up our tents, and went straigt away to bed - after some hot soup! It was a rugged 20 mile day, having tackled two passes and 5000 ft. of elevation gain. We estimated that the temperature went in to the teens that night.

The next morning we got to the top of Pinchot Pass early in the morning. Marie Lake sits just below the pass.

By mid day we were at Taboose Pass, which was a long slopping moonscape.

Going down from Taboose Pass was beautiful and very scenic, but very rocky and gravely. I would hate to ascend that trail! I felt grateful to only have to go down.

We descended in to the desert of the Owens Valley tired, but mostly satisfied. We were ready for a good meal and a cold beer, so we headed for the nearest restaurant in Independence! The Hippies gave me friendship, lots of new understanding about long distance hiking, and a new name. That's right, a new name! Teresa and Kellie had a trail name, so why couldn't I? Before I left them I asked the Hippies if they could give me a trail name, because as they pointed out, it is not good protocol to give yourself a trail name. By the end of our time together Hippie Longstockings dubbed me, "Llama Walker".


The next day, after coming down Taboose Pass, we went our separate ways, the Hippies went south to get back on the Pacific Crest Trail near Mt. Whitney and I went north, back to Bishop Lake to see if I could find my GPS. This picture shows the GPS right where I dropped it in to the snow. Several days later, undisturbed!

After I found my GPS I continued on to Bishop Pass to complete some of what I had come there to do in the first place. The weather was clear but very cold that day.

Looking back from Bishop Pass to Bishop Lake and the rest of the lakes along the pass trail. It's hard to believe that just a few days previous to this day the landscape here was covered with 5" of snow.



I was at the end of my time among the cathedrals of the Sierras and as I sat looking toward the Black Divide from Bishop Pass I contemplated my return next year. Yes, next year it will be the John Muir Trail in its entirety. At least, that will be the plan!