Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - May 13th
Day 34: Monday 13th May Maxwell Truck Road – Oakland Canyon
By dawn the temperature had only dropped down to 68ºF so I was anticipating another
hot day. I tried to get on the trail before the temperature rose and by the time I ate my
second breakfast at 9.45am I had already been walking for 3½ hours. Those who have
seen the film “Lord of the Rings” may remember the Hobbit meals consisted of
breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper. This fits
in well with the pattern of meals ate by thru-hikers. In the morning on the northern side
of Sawmill Mountain there was enough tree cover from the mixed woodland to give relief
from the heat but in the afternoon on the hotter, drier southern side it was a return to
the oppressive heat in the shadeless chaparral. “Trail Angels” put in another appearance,
when I came across tins of pineapple, luncheon meat and condensed milk at a jeep track
crossing. I took the pineapple and ate it during my teatime break at the deserted and
waterless Bear Campground, where I was able to strip off to allow my saturated clothing
to dry in the sun.
“Cloudwalker” came through, having already been walking for 8 hours and with
another 2½ hours to go before he would be picked up in Oakland Canyon. He had started
in the morning with “Billy Goat” who was going well while it was cool, but had decided to
have a short day. I left “Cloudwalker” resting at the campground and climbed up Liebre
Mountain before starting the 2000ft descent to Oakland Canyon. These descents at the
end of the day are very tiring, with great care needed to prevent straining the knees. I
met “Honey Bear” at the Canyon and got water from her before setting up my tent for
the night. “Honey Bear” reported that the Bouquet reservoir Fire had now reached 5000
acres, but was now 80% under control.
Over the last few days, flies had started to appear and they were such a nuisance here
that I had to shut myself up in the tent; Not really something I wanted to do with the
temperature still at 90ºF. This was my longest day so far both in times of distance and
time.
Day 34: 20.6 miles 8.31 hours Camp: Oakland Canyon
By dawn the temperature had only dropped down to 68ºF so I was anticipating another
hot day. I tried to get on the trail before the temperature rose and by the time I ate my
second breakfast at 9.45am I had already been walking for 3½ hours. Those who have
seen the film “Lord of the Rings” may remember the Hobbit meals consisted of
breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper. This fits
in well with the pattern of meals ate by thru-hikers. In the morning on the northern side
of Sawmill Mountain there was enough tree cover from the mixed woodland to give relief
from the heat but in the afternoon on the hotter, drier southern side it was a return to
the oppressive heat in the shadeless chaparral. “Trail Angels” put in another appearance,
when I came across tins of pineapple, luncheon meat and condensed milk at a jeep track
crossing. I took the pineapple and ate it during my teatime break at the deserted and
waterless Bear Campground, where I was able to strip off to allow my saturated clothing
to dry in the sun.
“Cloudwalker” came through, having already been walking for 8 hours and with
another 2½ hours to go before he would be picked up in Oakland Canyon. He had started
in the morning with “Billy Goat” who was going well while it was cool, but had decided to
have a short day. I left “Cloudwalker” resting at the campground and climbed up Liebre
Mountain before starting the 2000ft descent to Oakland Canyon. These descents at the
end of the day are very tiring, with great care needed to prevent straining the knees. I
met “Honey Bear” at the Canyon and got water from her before setting up my tent for
the night. “Honey Bear” reported that the Bouquet reservoir Fire had now reached 5000
acres, but was now 80% under control.
Over the last few days, flies had started to appear and they were such a nuisance here
that I had to shut myself up in the tent; Not really something I wanted to do with the
temperature still at 90ºF. This was my longest day so far both in times of distance and
time.
Day 34: 20.6 miles 8.31 hours Camp: Oakland Canyon
Tehachapi Mountains
across the Mojave
Desert
across the Mojave
Desert
Liebre Mountain
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