Mile 519 to 559

Section E

Ron hiking along a covered portion of the LA aqueduct.

Hikertown to Tehachapi Willow Springs Road – Sobo
Miles: 40 

Hiking with: A fellow section hiker from SoCal -- Ron.

Lodging:  Hikertown & the Best Western in Palmdale, CA.

Shuttle: Cars.

Dining: Wee Vill Market (185th St. and D Ave.)

Start:  Techachapi Willow Springs road -- there is a parking lot along with information signs about the wind turbines on the north side of the road.  There was also enough space for a few cars on the south side of the road.

End:  Mile 532.  At Rosamond and 170th Street we went west about 1 mile and left a car just off the dirt road.  It seemed pretty safe.

People along the trail: No one.

Description: I read on the PCT-L that another hiker was planning this hike.  I emailed him (Ron) and thought perhaps my group could help shuttle his group.  As it ended up it was just Ron & I hiking and we shuttled just ourselves with our cars.  I drove Thursday after work from Phoenix to Palmdale, CA and spent the night in the Best Western John Jay Inn where I've spent 6+ nights total hiking section E.  I got up and met Ron at the Wee Vill Market for breakfast.  It's a Circle K type market with a grill.  They do a great breakfast and lunch.

We drove over to 170th Street & Rosamond, turned west on a dirt road until the road "T'd" with another road which was also the PCT (mile 532).  We left Ron's car there and drove mine about 40 minutes to where the PCT crosses Tehachapi Willow Springs road.  We started southbound as a respectable pace.  This area was pretty dry -- there is a severe drought in CA but this is a dry area anyway.  Along our hike we saw some wild horses and deer which was pretty exciting as the typical wildlife along the PCT in SoCal is a rattle snake.  After 14 miles we descended into a dry wash and pitched our tents.  We hadn't seen water all day -- as expected.  The temperature was in the mid 60s -- perfect.  I had a bagel for dinner as planned rather than  freezed dried food to save water.

The next morning we were on the trail early and a couple hours later we were out of the mountains and hiking through wind turbines.  We crossed cottonwood bridge which is actually an aqueduct.  I was surprise how large cottonwood wash was -- for a desert wash it can carry some serious water.  By 3 we were at Ron's car and on our way to the Wee Vill Market for a late lunch.  After lunch we picked up my car, returned and dropped Ron's car back at mile 532 and then drove my car to Hikertown were we spent the night.  Each room has it's own theme and I slept in the "Hotel".   It was very nice with a western movie theme.  There were pictures on the wall of the Bob's (caretaker at Hikertown) parents who were in Vaudeville and some early movies...pretty cool.

The next day we were on the trail just before the sun came up (6 am).  We only had day packs with water and a couple of snacks so the hike went fast.  It was also a nice cool day -- 60ish.  This part of the PCT went along the LA aqueduct.  This is more interesting than one would think.  The first portion is a canal, then you can see part that's a 100 year old round rusted pipe with rivets, then the rest is underground.  Ron knew a lot about the aqueduct which made the hike even more interesting.  We were done by 11:30, ate again at the Wee Vill Market, picked up my car at Hikertown and cruised back to Phoenix.  It was good to be back on the trail again.  I've now hiked enough it seems "comfortable" whenever I'm on the trail.

We parked Ron's car along side the PCT at mile 532.

Ron heading south on the PCT from Tehachapi Willow Springs Road.

Joshua Trees with Turbines dotting the hillside.

Wild Horses.

Water tank & shower at 556 -- dry of course.
Perhaps they get it going during thru-hiker season.

Most of the trees in day 1 were burnt.

PCT sign on a burnt tree.

Burnt Joshua tree -- the ends look like Pineapples.

After the trees are burned the frequently get blown over.
Here one is right on top of the trail -- with Ron weaving his way through.

Looking west at the Tehachapi Mountains.

Looking down at the dry wash where we camped on night 1.

Hiking our of the dry wash at the beginning of day 2.
Looking down the hillside at a "hill climbing" motorcycle track.
Tracks like these were all over these hills/mountains.

Tyler Horse creek -- not much flowing unless you really needed water.
There were cattle hoof prints & crap along the edges...ugh!!!
Fortunately we had not planned on getting water here.

Wind Turbines dotted the landscape once we were out of the mountains.

Interesting gate.

Shade for PCT hikers at Cottonwood Bridge.

The cooler under the shade at Cottonwood Bridge.
"Courtesy of the Kern County Land Owners Assoc."

Cottonwood Bridge.

Sign next to Cottonwood Bridge locating valve with water -- it was dry.

My room at Hikertown.

Pictures on the wall of my room at Hikertown.

My bed at Hikertown.

Part of my room at Hikertown.   The cut-out is John Wayne.

A gate along the PCT just north of Hikertown along the Aqueduct.

100 year old pipe -- LA aqueduct.

The PCT is this road for about 3 miles.

A view of the Tehachapi Mountains.