Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - May 2nd
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Day 23: Thursday 2nd May
Deep Creek Hot Springs – Cleghorn Picnic Site
I had a last soak in the hot pools in the morning before reluctantly getting back onto
the trail.
It was an easy two-hour walk down Deep Creek to the Mojave River Forks Reservoir
Dam. The last 3 miles was along the top of a buried pipeline, which was built to carry
water to the Mojave Dam. Having built the dam, with irrigation of the surrounding land
in mind, they then decided that there wasn’t enough water so the dam was never used
for this purpose. The dam is now part of a flood control system in case the Silverwood
Dam, downstream, fails.
I caught up with “Kiwi” at the dam. We had tried to persuade him to take a longer
rest at the Hot Springs, but he had ignored the advice and was already struggling with
his shin injury. I walked with him for a bit before making a short diversion from the
PCT to collect a food supply. I had intended to leave my supply bag at the Summit
Valley Country Store but it had just been closed down. Fortunately Sherri Baxter, who
lived next to the store, offered to look after the bag for me. I picked up the bag and
took advantage of her freezer to get some ice to give precautionary treatment to my
heel. Her son, Brian, showed me a short cut back to the trail, avoiding the road walk.
He had been a fireman, but an injured knee had meant he had to give up that work and
he was now employed by the National Park. He had joined the Fire Service so he could
spend time in the hills and mountains, the main work of the fire service being
controlling wilderness fires.
I caught up with “Kiwi” again and walked with him for the rest of the day. The only
reason I could keep up with him was that he was being slowed down by his injury. We
completed 20 miles before camping at the Cleghorn Picnic Site beside Silverwood Lake.
The Lake is a Reservoir and is much used as a recreational site, particularly for power
boating. The Picnic Site was developed with toilets, piped water, and a beach as well as
numerous picnic tables under the shade of Sycamore trees. It was probably illegal to
camp at the Picnic Site so we waited until it got dark before putting up our tents under
the trees rather than on the grass, which would have been visible to any Park Rangers.
This was just as well because there was a sprinkler system, which came on to water the
grass overnight.
“Kiwi” had stiffened up badly and it didn’t look likely that he would be able to
continue in the morning. My injuries were much improved, but not completely cured
after only two days rest. I learnt from “Kiwi” that Andrew had not dropped out, as had
been rumoured, but that he had had some leather boots made for his dog to protect its
paws from the hot sandy terrain.
Day 23: 20.0 miles 7.40 hours Camp: Cleghorn Picnic Site
Deep Creek Hot Springs – Cleghorn Picnic Site
I had a last soak in the hot pools in the morning before reluctantly getting back onto
the trail.
It was an easy two-hour walk down Deep Creek to the Mojave River Forks Reservoir
Dam. The last 3 miles was along the top of a buried pipeline, which was built to carry
water to the Mojave Dam. Having built the dam, with irrigation of the surrounding land
in mind, they then decided that there wasn’t enough water so the dam was never used
for this purpose. The dam is now part of a flood control system in case the Silverwood
Dam, downstream, fails.
I caught up with “Kiwi” at the dam. We had tried to persuade him to take a longer
rest at the Hot Springs, but he had ignored the advice and was already struggling with
his shin injury. I walked with him for a bit before making a short diversion from the
PCT to collect a food supply. I had intended to leave my supply bag at the Summit
Valley Country Store but it had just been closed down. Fortunately Sherri Baxter, who
lived next to the store, offered to look after the bag for me. I picked up the bag and
took advantage of her freezer to get some ice to give precautionary treatment to my
heel. Her son, Brian, showed me a short cut back to the trail, avoiding the road walk.
He had been a fireman, but an injured knee had meant he had to give up that work and
he was now employed by the National Park. He had joined the Fire Service so he could
spend time in the hills and mountains, the main work of the fire service being
controlling wilderness fires.
I caught up with “Kiwi” again and walked with him for the rest of the day. The only
reason I could keep up with him was that he was being slowed down by his injury. We
completed 20 miles before camping at the Cleghorn Picnic Site beside Silverwood Lake.
The Lake is a Reservoir and is much used as a recreational site, particularly for power
boating. The Picnic Site was developed with toilets, piped water, and a beach as well as
numerous picnic tables under the shade of Sycamore trees. It was probably illegal to
camp at the Picnic Site so we waited until it got dark before putting up our tents under
the trees rather than on the grass, which would have been visible to any Park Rangers.
This was just as well because there was a sprinkler system, which came on to water the
grass overnight.
“Kiwi” had stiffened up badly and it didn’t look likely that he would be able to
continue in the morning. My injuries were much improved, but not completely cured
after only two days rest. I learnt from “Kiwi” that Andrew had not dropped out, as had
been rumoured, but that he had had some leather boots made for his dog to protect its
paws from the hot sandy terrain.
Day 23: 20.0 miles 7.40 hours Camp: Cleghorn Picnic Site
Deep Creek
Bindweed
Kiwi leaving the dam