11PM 4/14/2012
Hi Rebecca,
At the moment I'm still trying to focus on that one still very loose lose-end and haven't really tried to solidify my PCT plans yet (getting a
bit down to the wire on that one...) but I hope to have some more
time to focus on that later this week, so I might have a better idea
how & what I hope to be doing down there for the next two months or
so... and maybe how you might be able to help...
Just a sketch what's been in my mind to do in the near term:
There happens to be this PCTA meeting next Saturday in Sacto:
Saturday, April 21, 2012 3:00 – 4:15 pm Annual Meeting 4:15 – 5:30 pm
Open House at PCTA Office
"Come find out more about how your gifts have made a difference this
year on the Trail. Join us afterward at an Open House at PCTA's
headquarters next door." Please RSVP to Leslie Sabin at
LSabin@pcta.org • 916-285-1852
Location: Sierra Health Foundation 1321 Garden Highway Sacramento, CA 95833
Of course they're mainly looking for donations, won't get anything out of me, and I'm
not sure that I'd get much out of it either, but I am mildly curious about more
specifics on their plans realigning the trail thru the new Tejon
Ranch open space in the Tehachapis, curious about how they
manage/promote/support the "trail angels" and other hiker-resupply
support operations & infrastructure, including their take on hitchhiking,
ridesharing, public transit issues...etc., and I might be able to ask
some more practical Q's/advice about how to do it partly "with" a car,
especially overnight parking rules, risks...
Hope to be attending the "Kickoff Party" at Lake Morena (near the
Mexican border) April 27-29. Hope to connect with some people that
might be also trying to do the sort of car-flip-flopping at
trail-heads that I'm considering (the other alternative being I store
my car at, say, a self storage place "nearby" to bus transportation to
trailheads - for example there's one at reasonable price (1.25/lin ft
or ~20/mo for my 188" long car) near the town of Julian which is near
one of the portions of trail I'll be hiking early-on - maybe right
after the kickoff event (over the Laguna Mts.)
I had also been trying to squeeze in a major "hot" portion of trail on
my way down before the Kickoff: the section from Cajon Pass (NW of San
Bernadino) to the Lake Arrowhead area, which skirts the NW slopes of
the San Bernardino Mts at relatively low elevation. One way I'm
thinking of doing this is to leave bicycle around Lk Arrowhead near
where I'd be leaving the trail, and drive back to Cajon Pass leaving
my car at Motel there (assuming hotel would allow me to park car for
several days if on my return I pay for one night - or something like
that.) Then hike approx 40 miles on PCT back to my bicycle, and
bicycle "generally downhill" back to car at hotel. Somewhat risky
given I haven't really been bicycling much. Alternative being to
hitch back to hotel after the hike. Another option, since there seem
to be many access points in this area, is to string together a series
of day-hikes, either out&back or loops back with bicycle maybe. This
would end up taking more time.
In any case I'd have to allow about a full week what with trying to
arrange a place to stash the car, and bicycle & scouting the bicycle
return route, and allow 3-4 days to hike the 40-50 miles at the pace I
go with my camera.
The other low-elevation area to get done before it gets too hot is
about 18 miles around hwy 10 - from about Snow Creek Rd at the Foot of
the San Jacinto Range to the south, and East Fork Mission Creek Rd
where the trail starts climbing into the San Bernardino Range to the
north. I might just have time still to do this on my way to the
Kickoff event at Moreno Lake.
The final alternative of course is to leave my car behind entirely and
do it the way it's "supposed to be done", with bounce-boxes etc. sent to
post offices at "resupply points". Really this would just take a bit
more preparation and "support" than I've so far done.
Anyway, would welcome any thoughts you might have,
Gary
8AM 4/18/2012
Hey Dad, just saw this email.
I'll be around Saturday so you're welcome to come by - just give me a call
before you head my way.
Personally, I'd be hesitant to leave my Bike anyware that long, even locked
up. I think there's a good chance you would find your bike gone, or stripped
of parts, by the time you got to it. It happens all the time in Davis and
that's with a bunch of people around that should make it safer. It's
happened to me in fact.
If I were you I would go with the final alternative. Like I said, I'd be
willing to help you out. Just let me know. We can discuss on Sat.
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