Postcards from the Trail |
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Location: Lake Morena, California PCT Kick Off weekend
4/28/07
Today’s Miles: 0
Although it seems improbable that more people and hikers could move into this kick off weekend, it was a Saturday. So, indeed more did. As the decibel level grew throughout the grounds so did my desire to pull up stakes and saunter up the trail. But, that’s me. Instead I cocooned for a nap to some music.
The interesting talks today were on Geology and Black Bears.
I learned that the rocks we walk on have been on their own journey of sorts. Naturally their travels have not been limited to only the PCT or it’s five-month time frame. Many have surfaced by way of volcanic events where they’ve traveled hundreds of miles through erosion only to be plunged back into the earth’s hot mantle by way of the subductive continental plates – A journey that has been ongoing for five billion years. Sort of makes my five months pretty whimpy, doesn’t it?
I won’t be giving any lectures on my new knowledge of Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic rock anytime soon – just won’t take them quite as for granted as I place my toothy tread upon their well traveled surface.
The increase in people means an increase in tents – it’s an amazing spectacle of geometric shapes and colors – a city of nylon. There are single pole tents and double-pole ones too. A few have three or even four and some have no poles at all – they don’t even have a tent. They’re Cowboy Camping under the stars – that seems to happen often in these here parts. Anchoring all of these portable homes are the campsites massive Live Oaks. Each is unique and grotesque in an odd way, but grand!
After a hearty American dinner of potato salad, cheeseburgers and hot dogs, Park Rangers from Yosemite National Park talked about fire safety and the high forecast of Black Bear encounters with we hiking knuckleheads. Drought years with their effect on the food supplies are in direct correlation to bear issues. “Issues” is a nice word for mauling (just kidding.) When someone asked the speaker on mountain lions yesterday how often they eat, his answer was “Every ten days they need something big.” It didn’t escape my notice that he said “something.” Lovely! The most crowded talk was on the water supplies and snow levels. That’s where I learned that the $150 Ice Axe and the $80 Crampons I purchased before the hike wouldn’t be needed. Forever the optimist, it also meant the raging river fords would be reasonable rather than radical.
The break here has been good and a lot of hard work by many has been successful. Being a guest of honor hiker (class of 2007) it has been valuable. Maybe next time I might arrive a day later or leave a day earlier, but that’s next time. Tomorrow I’ll wake at five and strike camp and point myself north once again. It’s sort of a new habit I’m forming – this thing called thru hiking. Moving North seems to be a positive, optimistic thing to do. Of course, many of you who don’t hike, always feel that hiking South would be closer to walking downhill. Come on, admit it. I can assure you it’s only a perception. Moving North can be downhill and moving South can be uphill – nutty isn’t it? Let’s not even talk about how North is often East or West or even moving South at times. And moving South occasionally means moving in every direction other than South. Trails are not highways and topography of the land (and property lines) dictates the route. Tomorrow I move north (and other directions) again. Let’s go to Canada.