Start: Kennedy Meadows Campground -- This is where I ended my previous hike southbound from Horseshoe Meadows. There is a small parking lot on the north end of the campground where the Taxi dropped us off.
End: Walker Pass Campground -- This is just off a state highway with a lot of traffic. I left my car in the campground with just a note saying I was hiking the PCT and would return in 4 days.
People along the trail: We saw no one else the first 3 days. 3 hikers and a trail maintenance crew on
We crossed paths with 4 horsemen that were clearing the trail.
horseback on the last day. After we had done our final ascend to a 6,000' saddle the last day we came across a couple that were at least 80 years old and lived in the Mohave desert not far from Walker Pass. They were hiking to the top of Owen Peak -- a 16 mile round trip. They both had huge backpacks and were just out for the day -- go figure. I hope I'm doing that when I'm 80. The other hiker we came across was solo and summiting Morris Peak which is just off the PCT. Then there was a group of 4 guys on horseback clearing fallen trees on the trail. Here's an article on one of them:
The dust storm in Ridgecrest on our way to start the hike.
Sam, Rob & Krabby (actually his last name) the taxi driver.
Description: We planned to leave Phoenix at 5 am and if everything went right we'd get on the trail by 2 pm and knock off 10 miles by 6pm. Well....we didn't get out until 5:30 am and hit a huge dust storm in Ridgecrest. We were to the Walker Pass Campground by 1:30, parked the car, did final pack prep, and promptly met our prearranged taxi within 5 minutes. The taxi charged us $120 for an hour ride to Kennedy Meadows (ridgecrest taxi -- Krabby was our driver -- I highly recommend him as I had talked with other drivers at ridgecrest taxi who quoted me higher rates). As we drove up the road to Kennedy Meadows the wind was still blowing hard and it was now snowing -- not hard but it looked like it could dump about 1/2". I knew the weather report said up to 1". We got dropped off at Kennedy Meadows at 3 pm and started our hike south in the howling wind.
By 5:30 we had hiked 6 miles through gusting winds and intermittent snow until we got to a campsite next to the South Fork of the Kern River where we decided spend the night. Although we were short 4 miles of our planned 10 miles we could make it up the next day. I didn't want to hike another 2 hours until its almost dark and then have to set up our tents in the snow and cook in the dark. It was a great camping spot. It was cold that night -- probably in the mid 20s. Although it snowed off and on through the evening there was no snow when we awoke the next morning.
Campsite on night 1 along side the S. fork of the Kern River.
S. Fork of the Kern River at Campsite.
On the second day we had our biggest day -- about 3,000' elevation gain and 17 miles. The first part was very scenic as you could see the domeland wilderness in the distance -- I would have been nice to hike closer to it but not a big deal. They call the domeland wilderness the mini yosemite. The forest had been burned and was pretty barren on our ascent but when we started our descent it was pretty much forested the whole way. Vistas were very impressive the whole way. We spent our 2nd nights at Chimney Creek campground which was very nice -- the women's outhouse was open, we had a picnic table, nice tent spots, and the whole place to ourselves. There was water just down the road in Chimney Creek. That evening it got windy and clouds blew in and covered the peaks. I wondered if the clouds would drop down on us but they stayed high. We had a pleasant night and it only got down to the mid 30s that night.
Sam retrieving Mylar balloons from the wilderness.
Domeland Wilderness (mini-yosemite)
Water Cache at Chimney Creek.
Cooking at Chimney Creek Campground.
The next day we started our 17 mile day with a 2,500' climb to a saddle. We ascended through a pine forest that was very impressive. The previous nights it has rained/snowed in a pretty strong wind at this higher elevation as you could see the snow only on one side of the trees. We stopped on the trail and just listened for a moment. With the sun out the snow & ice was melting -- you could hear the snow & ice falling off of the trees -- it was a constant soft rumble. Once we got to the saddle you had an incredible vista looking back at the snowy pine covered mountains and then you would look the other direction from the saddle and look down upon the Mohave Desert and the almost barren mountain sides. There was a very rugged ridge next to this saddle to which I though was the most unique land feature we saw -- however the ridge/mountain didn't have a name -- go figure. After the saddle we started to drop into the high desert. We camped at Joshua Tree Spring which was a very nice with trees and water flowing into a trough. Although there were signs saying there was Uranium in the water I had checked and it was safe for a 1 day use -- perhaps not on for daily for a long time. It tasted fine & no one glowed that night. It got down to 40 that night.
Along the trail.
Sam resting along the trail.
My new backpack -- Osprey came out with a new version
of my backpack with better shoulder straps. $220 well spent.
Snow covered trail.
My footprint in the snow.
Spanish Needle Creek. This is where a bear hangs out...
no sign of him.
The next day we had another good climb up to the saddle below Owen Peak -- this was also very scenic. The trail is very impressive the whole way but especially this portion as it is cut into a very steep and rocky mountain side.
We got back to the car by 1 pm and drove to Mohave where we spend the night in a Best Western. We drove into Boron -- where they mine Borax, have a museum about the 20 mule train that used to carry Borax from Death Valley to Mohave (where the train was), and it's also the location of the restaurant where all the test pilots would meet at the end of the day shown in the movie "The Right Stuff". However, the restaurant was torn down.
The next day we had planned on doing a short 8 miles segment but it was raining and blowing very hard so we decided to skip that. We drove to Aqua Dulce where I had missed a 1/2 mile segment between Vasquez Rocks and the town of Aqua Dulce -- we knocked that off in 10 minutes and then headed back to Phoenix.
This was definitely in the top 5 PCT hikes from South of Whitney as far as scenery and vistas from the trail. As I look at the pictures we took -- they don't do it justice. If someone is hiking PCT Highlights -- This would be a must for the southern portion of the PCT.
Rob & Sam were great hiking partners -- never a dull moment...as they are always making jokes and were easily entertained.
Rob.
Sam high fiving a tree.
The trail on day 4 in the high desert.
Joshua Tree in the background.
A drill bit stuck in a rock next to the trail.
The tent.
The boys -- Me, Rob & Sam.
Switchbacks heading down to Walker Pass.
Rob & a sign.
A gate along the trail at Walker Pass.
The Borax Museum in Boron, CA.
Double rainbow on our way to hike Sunday Morning --
which was eventually "rained out".
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.
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