Perfect day for a hike...

Took myself out to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park today in search of some excitement, and I found it on the Harvey Moore Trail. What a truly fantastic hike this was...from conifer to oaks, to meadows and dense chapparrel, harper creek crossings even though it was standing water only...Elevations ranging from 4000ft to over 5000ft, and back down again. This area was severely damaged by the CEDAR fire in 2003, but is recovering very nicely..At 4 miles in, I came across granite springs trail camp complete with a well and hand operated pump. This is a destination I intend to revisit later this fall for an overnight hiking trip that will take me over about 30 miles of the parks trails.. I did the Harvey Moore trail from sweetwater parking to the dyer spring trail at the northern end.(dyer spring also connects at the 1.6 mile marker) to connect with the east side trail and back to the parking area. 10-12 miles +/- ...

Standing on the edge...

the desert trip is postponed until next weekend due to inclement weather! Lately we have seen seattle like conditions down here, with this low pressure system that doesn't seem to want to clear out...

This afternoon, I decided to take a drive out  hwy 94. I had heard from a lot of people that it is a really fun drive, and indeed it is! So while out there it only made since to stop and see the Southern terminus of the PCT...and here it is...Hard to describe what I felt at the moment I laid eyes on it and touched it....When I look at this, I see me right now...and wonder how might I be different once I get to touch the northern terminus? Just have to wait and see!

Going to the desert Saturday...

 with some long time friends, gonna give me a good opportunity to use my new camping gear! yeah!  Bought a hammock today, hopefully there will be a place to hang it up at the campground....I've  been told there is, but we shall see!

Oh that nasty marine layer...

Such a yucky day, heavy drizzle, not a drop of sunshine...Makes the body feel stiff, and sore..never mind yesterdays walk in the mountains....However this nasty weather has afforded me the opportunity to do a lot of work on this blog...I can be a very indecisive person, gotta be just so..(one of the many little nuances I want to work on while on this adventure). I also took a drive to REI and got myself a sleeping pad...(see the Gear Page for updates on that subject)..

Cibbets Flat to Horse Meadow

Another trip to Cibbets Flat..I decided that it being saturday, Laguna would be too crowded.  Did 17 miles this time around...those hiking socks really made a difference...It is my belief that on a mostly flat stretch of trail, I could easily do 20 now..everything I have been doing is up hill, then down and back up again, some elevation gains as much as 1400 feet.. Todays hike consisted of 8.5 miles up..up..up.. then 8.5 back plus the 1/2 mile back to Cibbets Flat campground, where I promptly re-hydrated a meal and drank an insane amount of water...then came the 50 mile drive home...soo very tired now...think I will go watch TV and pass out.

Why can't I sleep...?

From the day I first read about the Pacific Crest Trail, I have yet to spend any part of my days (or nights) not thinking about this trail. I think about how it is going to impact my life, how it is going to change my outlook on the world, and my perspective on people.

What I have only just realized is that it (the PCT) has already changed my life and I have not even seen monument 1 yet! I spend as much time as I can find in my days to gather information, test gear, read reviews..etc..etc.. What I am trying to say is that even after I turn off the computer, come home from a day on the trail, eat and relax. I still cannot get the PCT out of my mind...It keeps me awake, sometimes for several hours into the wee hours of the morning.

If I were to tell you that there was ever another event, place, or theme that embraced my thoughts as the PCT has, I would be lying., Truth is, I cannot wait until April to set out on this adventure! twice a week, I go out to the mountains to hike. sometimes for 5 miles, other times 16 miles, or something in between. and even though I come off the trail exhausted, legs feeling like jello, feet aching, I come off the trail with a huge sense of personal accomplishment, as I never thought I would ever do anything remotely close to this in my life.

It may seem odd to you, the reader that anyone would want to put a 30lb (or more) pack on their back and walk 2600 miles. It feels insane to me, but I crave this experience...

Sore muscles? what muscles...there mush...lol

So my regular tuesday outing to the NF took me to Cibbets Flat, 4 miles north of I-8 on Kitchen Creek Road, which is a few miles further east of  Sunrise Highway (S1), on the east side of the laguna mountains. not having any maps of this area, I recalled in my mind the approximate locale of the PCT from the campgrounds. I also recalled that it was about 7.5 miles from there to the southern borders of Laguna Mountain recreation area. My initial thoughts were that I would hike north towards Laguna for an approximate mileage of 5 miles, based on a pace of about 2.5 miles per  hour. Somehow I think I am in much better physical shape than previously thought... I ended up at horse meadow..8 miles up..which meant 8 miles back down. It was a tremendous shot in the arm for my ego! I figured this out later that same evening with some studying of my maps. I originally thought I did 10 miles total... Getting up to 20 miles a day is suddenly not so distant a goal! I forsee this happening long before departing for Canada!

Ok, I was at REI last night...(yeah I know..there a lot these days...) where I purchased myself a pair of hiking socks! best decision yet!!! then, I found a Alps Mountaineering 20 degree mummy bag onsale for 65.00..Got it! warm too!! All in all, a good addition to the gear collection.!

Growing up in pain

As much as I hate to admit this, I now believe that all of the problems with my body have mostly been created in my mind. With that said...

9 miles of trail and baggin' a peak tells me that there is very little my body isn't capable of handling. I realized today that the ever present knee problem is mostly muscle and tendon issues that I may be able to completely resolve with the right exercise program. Thats on my agenda next month when I see the doc for my quarterly check up. So doing this trip with known health problems should be a good test of my resolve, as well as a good test to see how my immune system responds to the daily routine of walking for 20 miles every day! I'm optimistic about the latter...hoping that it aids my body in the fight against the HIV virus.

what I didn't know about my pack...

The following is in response to a post I submitted to the PCT-L e-mail forum  that I subscribe to..

The original Lowe Expedition pack that I believe you have is a classic - if it is made from heavy Cordura and is colored blue. Soon after its introduction, it became very popular with alpine and expedition climbers due to its balance, capacity, and ruggedness. Its trend setting internal frame with integrated belt/harness design makes it worthy of adding to the Smithsonian permanent display, alongside the earlier Kelty frame pack. 

I used my pack on expeditions to a few continents, have since retired, and I gave the pack to my son. I'll ask him on Sunday whatever happened to that pack.

See ya,

==^=== Campy

PCTA Trail Project Database Manager

http://www.trailprojects.com click on PCT

Time spent doing trail work shall not be deducted from your life!

===^==

Now back to some insight into freeze dried foods...


I bought a hiker meal at REI couple of days ago, and decided to try it, It was really very good..I think I'm gonna make some and buy some just to keep things interesting... So ideas are up for grabs on dehydrated meals...

Discovery

Oh boy..40 lbs on my back...I weighed it, dead on 40lbs. I hiked a section of the PCT that I knew would challenge me with that pack on...and indeed it did. I was only able, (only because the sun was going down) to get in about 5 miles. But, I learned a valuable lesson today...Ultra-Light Backpacking is the only way to go! So I will continue to train with my pack full, but I think I will take some of the weight out and work with about 30 lbs instead....this seems to be a more feasible option, as I think 40 lbs is more than I really want to carry.. plus, I would like to be able do some serious backpacking trips over the next few weeks, so lighter pack, longer hike, less fatigue!

Rainy days...

Bored to tears these past couple of days...can't get out in the mountains because of the rain..well, I mean I could but I don't yet have any rain gear, or water proof boots and gaiters to perform such activities safely... Last thing I need is to get sick with pneumonia or slip and fall down a mountain side....

So I told my friend Leslie who works at Baby Cakes about the Lowe Alpine Expedition Pack I purchased yesterday, and she tells me I made a good buy with that...I felt like I did, but it is always nice when someone else validates it..

Another piece of the puzzle...

I got lucky today, found a seriously good backpack for 40 bucks on craigslist...Will see if it is going to be a good pack for the long trek over the next few months... So far so good....I loaded it up with about 20 pounds, maybe more and put it on,..It rests nicely on the hips, no strain on the neck or shoulders..went up and down the stairs for 10 minutes with it, seems to be a good buy..Now I just need that tent to get here, buy some stuff sacks and a little food then head off for a weekender!

and what about food?

A mans gotta eat! and a hiker can eat anything in sight after several hours of hiking through the back country...I have thought extensively about this topic, because it is likely the most daunting task that I have to tackle...I have to prepare ahead of time for up to 6 months of meals, 2 actual meals per day and lots of energy snacks in between to keep those legs moving and the mind occupied for 18 to 30 miles a day...I think about all that food I need to start dehydrating and bagging, and how much I am gonna end up with over the next 6 months and it almost scares me...

So perhaps a "hybrid" approach would be a better way to go... There is a great selection of freeze dried hiker meals that are reasonably priced..I think if I mix it up a bit, buy about half of my meals  ready made and make the rest from recipes. A book called "the well fed hiker" has been recommended to me, so I shall go and purchase it later this month...This approach could make the task of planning a menu and making it much easier and less stressful!

I think it is bed time! 2320 hrs. If I'm not careful, it will be 3 am  lol  Goodnight!

Decisions..decisions...

It appears that Max is completely infected with the PCT bug...much like I am..Only he's having trouble deciding if he can leave behind his southern California lifestyle to live the TRAIL life!

So the weekend of the 15th, we are going out to do some day hikes, make sure his legs are up to the task...then we'll be out, possibly, the following weekend for an overnighter...Today I bought my second piece of gear, a Jet boil Flash Personal Cooking System...What a remarkable set up! boils water At near sea-level in under 2 minutes..Yeah, I tested it out already  LoL..

Tonight I decided to buy myself a tent for local hikes from walmart.com for 25.00..It would never do for the thru-hike, but it will allow me to train with more gear, sooner than I can afford to purchase the tent I want, which runs about 260.00.

So heres the current gear list:
One set of LEKI Trekking Poles, used from REI for 25.00 (retail new for 139.00)
One Jet Boil Personal Cooking System from REI:  99.00
Coffee Press kit for Jet Boil from REI: 19.99
One (temporary) Solo Hiking Tent from Walmart.com: 24.99

And Likely tomorrow I will be purchasing a Kelty 4750  (78L) back pack that is in the sale bin at REI for 116.00. Should have gotten that today...but hey I didn't know where I was financially. with a little "trimming of the fat", I should be able to buy it and still do what I want all month long!