Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - Day 11 April 18th
Day 11: Thursday 18th April Tule Canyon Trail – Highway 74
There was frost on my tent in the morning, but it was back to completely clear skies
and I expected it to warm up later. Paul had to take me back to the store, where I had
left my walking poles, then on to Tule Canyon. He was then going out to place water
caches, as he was one of the “Trail Angels” putting out the water. Since I was
slackpacking I started later than normal.
The morning walk through undulating hills was quite interesting with a variety of
desert flora, but increasing chaparral in the afternoon meant a more monotonous route.
The cacti should have been flowering and there should have been plenty of wildflowers,
but with the drought the desert was rather colourless. On reaching Highway 74 I walked
down the road to the “Paradise Café” and phoned Paul for a lift back to Anza.
Back at the “Hiker’s Oasis”, “Flutterby” and “Fancy” had turned up together with
another thru-hiker, Andrew. Andrew was attempting to walk the PCT with his dog. The
dog had been struggling in the hot conditions and Andrew had missed out the section
from Scissors Crossing to Barrel Spring, as he didn’t think it would be fair on the dog.
Since many of the National Parks further north don’t allow dogs he could have more
problems.
We had a superb homemade Pizza for dinner and stayed up late watching videos of
the PCT in Oregon and Washington.
Paul and Pat refused to take any money for all this hospitality.
Day 11: 16.7 miles 6.10 hours Camp: “Hiker’s Oasis”, Anza
There was frost on my tent in the morning, but it was back to completely clear skies
and I expected it to warm up later. Paul had to take me back to the store, where I had
left my walking poles, then on to Tule Canyon. He was then going out to place water
caches, as he was one of the “Trail Angels” putting out the water. Since I was
slackpacking I started later than normal.
The morning walk through undulating hills was quite interesting with a variety of
desert flora, but increasing chaparral in the afternoon meant a more monotonous route.
The cacti should have been flowering and there should have been plenty of wildflowers,
but with the drought the desert was rather colourless. On reaching Highway 74 I walked
down the road to the “Paradise Café” and phoned Paul for a lift back to Anza.
Back at the “Hiker’s Oasis”, “Flutterby” and “Fancy” had turned up together with
another thru-hiker, Andrew. Andrew was attempting to walk the PCT with his dog. The
dog had been struggling in the hot conditions and Andrew had missed out the section
from Scissors Crossing to Barrel Spring, as he didn’t think it would be fair on the dog.
Since many of the National Parks further north don’t allow dogs he could have more
problems.
We had a superb homemade Pizza for dinner and stayed up late watching videos of
the PCT in Oregon and Washington.
Paul and Pat refused to take any money for all this hospitality.
Day 11: 16.7 miles 6.10 hours Camp: “Hiker’s Oasis”, Anza
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Ancient Brit on
Tule Canyon Road
Tule Canyon Road
Table Mountain
Hikers' Oasis
Paul, Flutterby,
Fancy and Andrew
Fancy and Andrew