Sunday, April 30, 2006
Destination: Rodriguez Spur Truck Road
Starting Location: Pioneer Mail Today’s Miles: 15.70
Trip Miles: 68.00
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4-30-06
15.7 Miles
Pioneer Mail (5260) to Rodriguez Spur Truck Road (3650)
1759 Assent, 3228 Decent
It’s nice to finally be on the trail for good. Looking back, the Kick Off was great but I am glad to be moving. Liz joined me today and will stay with me for about a month. It was great hiking together today and I enjoyed seeing my wife again after such a busy few months with life getting in the way of us spending time together. Doug and Gerard gave us a ride to Pioneer Mail and then continued on to Warner Springs to drop Pro Deal off. The walking was really nice with abundant wildflowers. We enjoyed a few hot mid-afternoon hours in the shade of an oak tree in the middle of a desert meadow. We laid in the tall grass and had our first stretch where water was an issue. I had to walk down stream about ¼ of a mile before I found water at Chariot Canyon. Here at Rodriguez Spur we found water in a concrete tank used for summer wildfires. It had a few floaties in it but with a few drops of Aqua Mira (a chemical used to treat water) we drank up. We are sleeping under the stars tonight and plan on an early start as we have to cross a hot waterless stretch tomorrow afternoon. I have decided to try and not use the water caches that are put out by a group of wonderful volunteers. I believe the concept is wonderful but I am concerned about the reliance people may take in them and what that may do to the trail experience.
Destination: Rodriguez Spur Truck Road
Starting Location: Pioneer Mail Today’s Miles: 15.70
Trip Miles: 68.00
Pioneer Mail (5260) to Rodriguez Spur Truck Road (3650)
1759 Assent, 3228 Decent
It’s nice to finally be on the trail for good. Looking back, the Kick Off was great but I am glad to be moving. Liz joined me today and will stay with me for about a month. It was great hiking together today and I enjoyed seeing my wife again after such a busy few months with life getting in the way of us spending time together. Doug and Gerard gave us a ride to Pioneer Mail and then continued on to Warner Springs to drop Pro Deal off. The walking was really nice with abundant wildflowers. We enjoyed a few hot mid-afternoon hours in the shade of an oak tree in the middle of a desert meadow. We laid in the tall grass and had our first stretch where water was an issue. I had to walk down stream about ¼ of a mile before I found water at Chariot Canyon. Here at Rodriguez Spur we found water in a concrete tank used for summer wildfires. It had a few floaties in it but with a few drops of Aqua Mira (a chemical used to treat water) we drank up. We are sleeping under the stars tonight and plan on an early start as we have to cross a hot waterless stretch tomorrow afternoon. I have decided to try and not use the water caches that are put out by a group of wonderful volunteers. I believe the concept is wonderful but I am concerned about the reliance people may take in them and what that may do to the trail experience.
Robert Francisco 
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