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Archive for May, 2006

Manage heat, manage water

Posted in 2006 PCT Trail Journal on May 2, 2006| Leave a Comment »

Destination: San Ysidro Creek

Starting Location: Top of Felipe Hills Today’s Miles: 20.20

Trip Miles: 105.20

Top of Felipe Hills 1st Gate (3360) to San Ysidro Creek (3355)

2100 Assent, 1952 Decent

Our water/heat strategy worked well. We arrived at the 3rd Gate cache with 3 liters apiece and enough to get to Barrel Springs if needed. Frightening the 3 other hikers at the cache were completely out of water as they were relying on the cache being fully stocked. About mid morning we had a bit of a scare as Liz was on her hands and knees with a sudden and acute case of nausea. I immediately suspected heat exhaustion but the symptoms were not quite right. Fortunately she recovered as quickly as she fell ill and thinks it may have been from some powdered soy milk–another good reason not to be a vegetarian. It was scary being a long way from anywhere and being faced with this situation. It was a nice afternoon at Barrel Springs and a quick trip to our camp stop. We will go into Warner Springs tomorrow for our first true resupply. I am looking forward to cleaning up as we really stink after 3 days of desert travel. Some town food sounds good also. Did I mention we really stink?

Destination: San Ysidro Creek
Starting Location: Top of Felipe Hills Today’s Miles: 20.20
Trip Miles: 105.20
Top of Felipe Hills 1st Gate (3360) to San Ysidro Creek (3355)
2100 Assent, 1952 Decent
Our water/heat strategy worked well. arrived at the 3rd Gate cache with 3 liters apiece and enough to get to Barrel Springs if needed. Frightening the 3 other hikers at the cache were completely out of water as they were relying on the cache being fully stocked. About mid morning we had a bit of a scare as Liz was on her hands and knees with a sudden and acute case of nausea. I immediately suspected heat exhaustion but the symptoms were not quite right. Fortunately she recovered as quickly as she fell ill and thinks it may have been from some powdered soy milk–another good reason not to be a vegetarian. It was scary being a long way from anywhere and being faced with this situation. It was a nice afternoon at Barrel Springs and a quick trip to our camp stop. We will go into Warner Springs tomorrow for our first true resupply. I am looking forward to cleaning up as we really stink after 3 days of desert travel. Some town food sounds good also. Did I mention we really stink?

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Water is heavy

Posted in 2006 PCT Trail Journal on May 1, 2006| Leave a Comment »

Starting Location: Rodriguez Spur Truck Road Today’s Miles: 17.00
Trip Miles: 85.00
Rodriguez Spur Truck Road (3650) to Top of Felipe Hills
1503 Assent, 482 Decent
We got up early and hit the trail at 6:20 in order to beat the heat. As planned we reached San Felipe Creek by 11:00 and are now parked under a cottonwood tree as we wait out the heat of the day. We plan to leave around 4 p.m. and do another 9 miles or so. So the water cache situation here is unique in that you have San Felipe Creek which is of marginal flow and you have about 50 gallons of bottled water .2 miles away. What to do? We filled our bottles with the cache water and will carry enough to make it to the next permanent source. Liz pointed out that not using the clean water in order to make a point or claim some sort of purism was really silly as much of the water we have been accessing was also developed by people for the PCT traveler . . . interesting thought.
I climbed up Felipe Hills in the late afternoon carrying 6 liters of water. At two pounds per liter that stuff is heavy. The climb took longer than expected and we did get over the top before dark so we found a flat spot along the trail and threw our bags down. It is a beautiful evening and my spirits are good. I am suffering more physically than anticipated; the knee is very sore and Liz pointed out without me even noticing that my ankle was swollen up the size of an orange. It is freaky looking but does not hurt at all. The heat and mileage is causing me some chaffing. My feet, which everyone talks about being a problem, seem to be doing well with one tiny blister on the side of my big toe. The stars are really coming out now under a quarter moon. We must get going early again tomorrow as we have about 15 miles to water and we are dry camping with only 3 liters left. I am really enjoying the desert and especially the blooming cactus
Starting Location: Rodriguez Spur Truck Road Today’s Miles: 17.00
Trip Miles: 85.00
Rodriguez Spur Truck Road (3650) to Top of Felipe Hills
1503 Assent, 482 Decent
We got up early and hit the trail at 6:20 in order to beat the heat. As planned we reached San Felipe Creek by 11:00 and are now parked under a cottonwood tree as we wait out the heat of the day. We plan to leave around 4 p.m. and do another 9 miles or so. So the water cache situation here is unique in that you have San Felipe Creek which is of marginal flow and you have about 50 gallons of bottled water .2 miles away. What to do? We filled our bottles with the cache water and will carry enough to make it to the next permanent source. Liz pointed out that not using the clean water in order to make a point or claim some sort of purism was really silly as much of the water we have been accessing was also developed by people for the PCT traveler . . . interesting thought.
I climbed up Felipe Hills in the late afternoon carrying 6 liters of water. At two pounds per liter that stuff is heavy. The climb took longer than expected and we did get over the top before dark so we found a flat spot along the trail and threw our bags down. It is a beautiful evening and my spirits are good. I am suffering more physically than anticipated; the knee is very sore and Liz pointed out without me even noticing that my ankle was swollen up the size of an orange. It is freaky looking but does not hurt at all. The heat and mileage is causing me some chaffing. My feet, which everyone talks about being a problem, seem to be doing well with one tiny blister on the side of my big toe. The stars are really coming out now under a quarter moon. We must get going early again tomorrow as we have about 15 miles to water and we are dry camping with only 3 liters left. I am really enjoying the desert and especially the blooming cactus
Starting Location: Rodriguez Spur Truck Road Today’s Miles: 17.00
Trip Miles: 85.00
Rodriguez Spur Truck Road (3650) to Top of Felipe Hills
1503 Assent, 482 Decent
We got up early and hit the trail at 6:20 in order to beat the heat. As planned we reached San Felipe Creek by 11:00 and are now parked under a cottonwood tree as we wait out the heat of the day. We plan to leave around 4 p.m. and do another 9 miles or so. So the water cache situation here is unique in that you have San Felipe Creek which is of marginal flow and you have about 50 gallons of bottled water .2 miles away. What to do? We filled our bottles with the cache water and will carry enough to make it to the next permanent source. Liz pointed out that not using the clean water in order to make a point or claim some sort of purism was really silly as much of the water we have been accessing was also developed by people for the PCT traveler . . . interesting thought.
I climbed up Felipe Hills in the late afternoon carrying 6 liters of water. At two pounds per liter that stuff is heavy. The climb took longer than expected and we did get over the top before dark so we found a flat spot along the trail and threw our bags down. It is a beautiful evening and my spirits are good. I am suffering more physically than anticipated; the knee is very sore and Liz pointed out without me even noticing that my ankle was swollen up the size of an orange. It is freaky looking but does not hurt at all. The heat and mileage is causing me some chaffing. My feet, which everyone talks about being a problem, seem to be doing well with one tiny blister on the side of my big toe. The stars are really coming out now under a quarter moon. We must get going early again tomorrow as we have about 15 miles to water and we are dry camping with only 3 liters left. I am really enjoying the desert and especially the blooming cactus

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