Along the way, the PCT traverses some of the most scenic land in the US, including 25 national forests, 7 national parks, and 34 wilderness areas. The trail can be divided into 5 regions:

Southern California – Mile 0 to 702: The first section is primarily marked by desert extremes. Highs occasionally rise above 100 degrees with lows potentially below freezing. Highlights include climbing over 9000 ft in the San Jacinto Mountains, crossing part of the Mojave Desert, and traversing the Tehachapi Mountains.

Central California – Mile 702 to 1197: The Sierra Nevada Mountains. Some of the highest and most beautiful country in the lower 48. The trail climbs over 13,000 ft at Forester Pass and gets close enough to Mt. Whitney (14,505 ft) for a day hike to the summit. This section traverses Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks.

Northern California – Mile 1197 to 1699: In this section, the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada give way to lower mountains of the Southern Cascades. Highlights in this section include Lassen Volcanic National Park, Burney Falls, the Trinity Alps Wilderness and the Marble Mountain Wilderness.

Oregon – Mile 1699 to 2155: This section is dominated by the numerous volcanoes making up the Cascade range. Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson, the Three Sisters along with Crater Lake National Park are all impressive formations along this section of trail. Forests in this section get thicker and shadier thanks to the increased rain fall.

Washington – Mile 2155 to 2660: The final section of trail is marked by thick forests and steep, craggy mountains. This section can be one of the toughest even for well seasoned hikers. Mt. Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, the Goat Rocks Wilderness, and the Glacier Peak Wilderness are many of the highlights along the way.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Going for a hike

Getting back into the Sierra today.  I'll be above 10,000 ft for the next 200ish miles.  I'll be taking a side trail to Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48.  It's around 14,508.  And I'll go over the highest point on the PCT Forrestr pass.  

Thanks for looking!
Posted by at No comments:

Tehachapi to Lone Pine

      Trail marker.
Didn't get back to the trail until 11am an it was 95 and miserable by 1:30.  Had to take a 3 hour siesta.  Edwards Air Force base is back there somewhere.
The water sources around here are few and far between.  This one had frogs living in it.  Delicious water from the spring though.
That's not a tan. Good ole fashion first.  Everywhere.
The source was only 18 miles away!!! And it was a guzzler!
Water cache from a trail angel.  Next natural water was in 36 miles. But there was a cache in between.
Drying my laundry at a motel. It was a cool 97 in the valley.
Me and the most interesting man in the world.
                 Kisses $1
More nasty desert.  It never ends.  It's hot dry and shitty.
Walked around this.
The guild said there was Uranium in the water.  I still drank it.  4 liters and 2 Togo.
Lots of dead bugs.  There was a bear bathing in this the day after I was here.
These two guys cowboy camped ever with the mosquitoes.
I slept very comfy in my tent.  Mines the grey and orange one.
Starting to see some trees!!!
Siesta time.  There was shade and a clear stream near by.  
Some ate snacks while others slept.  
More desert scrub.
Water!!! Moving water!!!! 
Had to take a quick hiker bath in it!! Cold mountain run off.
Hiking through the meadow.
Kennedy Maxie's is the start of the Sierra Nevada mtns. Never tone get really excited to get this far.
     Guard dog.  Nice little fella.
KM is a vortex.  I stayed here three days.  Free camping, cheese burgers and beer.  Lots of people get caught in the vortex and linger here for a week.
  Hikers hanging out.
A monster cloud moved in one day.
And it finally rained in the high mountain desert!!! We played frisbee for a while in it.
A hiker doing his laundry.
Drink beers and playing chess.
On our way out.
All my stuff.  I had to get a bear canister for the Sierra.  I hate it!! I made my pack 2.5 lbs heavier and its bulky.  I keep my sleeping bag in it.
Back to the trail!  And there are trees!!!!!
Glorious trees!!! I'm so happy to not be in the damn desert.
Water!  Moving water!!!
Another hiker set his hat down on a ant pile.  Hundreds of biting red ants.  I was cracking up watching him deal with it.
   Name that Author.
Another huge meadow and a great view of the Sierra!!! Loving it.
I found a can of sardines in mustard sauce in an abandoned pack and had it on a tortilla with cheese and salami.  Not recommended.
Hippy hiker doing yoga.
King of the meadow. Lord of the land. Master of mountains.
That's the meadow from earlier. I'm just 3,000 ft higher.
Rocks and trees! 
Little guy was pooped.  Needed a power nap.
                    That's a me!!!!
    Hey look at that!
These meadows are around 10,000 ft!!!
The bear can pushed the metal stays in my pack into me.  Had to reposition a few things and it worked out.
Found a hipbone.  And lots of vertabre all day.  This would make great battle mask!
Horseshoe meadow.  
Still around 10-11,000 ft.  It took me three hours to get a hitch 22 miles off the mountain.  And it was raining.  
Finally in Lone Pine and at motel.  The same one John Wayne stayed in.  They make a lot of movies around here.  A lot!
No rain down here but it's snowing up on the mountain.
My four day resupply.  
     Laundry day.  

Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)