Miscellaneous

Saw a rattler yesterday but he slid into the bushes before I could get a pic. 

Got some great video of hang gliders taking off from Mount Laguna yesterday!   Really made my day.  You'll have to wait for me to get back to see that.  Those guys have serious guts.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Great overview of the desert part we are actual in the process of crossing as I post this.

Anza-Borrego part 2

Cameron Valley

Horny Toad and Flower

Lake Morena

4/25/13

Just past the lake and campground as I write this.  They are having the PCT kickoff party there starting tonight and for the next few days.

I like a good party but not on the first day of hiking.  Besides I would be to paranoid someone would steal the camera.

I am hiking on to do 20 miles for today.

Morena Butte

4/25/13

Its been much more mountainous than I expected for the first full day of hiking.

Left Jesse and his brother Zack at camp this morning.  Expected them to catch up but they never did.

Definitely some beautiful scenery out here.  I think I am going to need about a terabyte of storage for all the video.  Not really joking, at the rate I'm going.

Good news is that the water situation is not as dire as expected.

Campo, CA

Made it to Campo!  Met up with two California boys hiking up to Kennedy Meadows.  Will hang with them as long as I can keep up.

It's a lot greener here than I would have thought and a lot cooler for now.

Looks like a good dozen people ahead of us today alone.  Damn that Cheryl Strayed and her book.  Resupply might be an issue now

Take care, will report in when I can.

PCT Bound!

On my way!  Just landed in Denver where there is snow in the ground.  Catching my connecting flight in about an hour.  So far so good.;)

Ocala National Forest-Part4

Ocala National Forest-Part3

Ocala National Forest-Part 2

Ocala National Forest-Part1

 

 

I've been checking out the weather from Campo on up to Tuolumne Meadow, CA, and it looks somewhat mild.  I think I can get by with the Poncho and Sleeping bag.  I am still thinking about the cold weather clothes.  The high elevation is around 9,000 feet and I am well aware that it can get very cold at that elevation.  The poncho should be fine as far as any precipitation and I do not plan to camp up high.  I am thinking I might need more than a fleece jacket though to hike through those elevations.  I will probably bring my cold weather coat and mad bomber cap just to be safe.



Sierra Snowpack Report

http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=9082&p=67422

Report says 52% of normal which is good news for crossing the high mountains safely.  Not so good for drinking water.

I checked a few other sites and this appears to be accurate.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/27/187078/sierra-snowpack-falls-short.html
 

Just Got In

Debugged and unpacked.  Reviewed video taken the past four days and should have something up tomorrow.  Had a decent shot of a male Turkey strutting his stuff the rest will be quick scenery shots with some commentaries from me worked in.  You'll have to bear with my editing in commentary as I need the practice and also need to see what works and what doesn't.

Hopkins Prairie Campground

Long day of hiking, 16 miles but a good half of that was in direct sun.  This Hopkins Prairie had a burn run through it and I'm not to sure how controlled it was, a couple of miles hiking through ash.
Anyway the campground is nice and has a well.  Nothing wrong with a little rust in your water!;)
I did see a lot of Bear scat today and this campground has bear resistant garbage bins.  Maybe some visitors tonight!

Ocala National Forest

First night out.  Did a little more than fifteen miles with a 45 pound pack.  Good thing the forest floor is soft and not rock or my feet would be killing me right now.  Otherwise i'm good.

Definitely need to lose some weight out of the pack before the PCT.  Think I will pack the tent, air mattress, rain jacket, heavy boots and sleeping bag and send them to the Sierra Nevadas.  Only poncho, poncho liner and light shoes to cross desert.

Training Hike

Just finished up a sixteen mile training hike, 40 pound pack.  Fairly hot out here despite the overcast and intermittent breeze.  Looks like the storm will start in the next hour or two.  Will take it easy the next two days then hit the Ocala National Forest.  It's gonna be hot but no doubt good conditioning for the desert.

Quote

"Verily the lust for comfort murders the passion of the soul, and then walks grinning in the funeral." - The Prophet

Weather

Looks like we have a bad front coming through for the next few days.  I'm gonna wait it out.  If there is one thing the Gator doesn't like hiking in it's the rain...and the heat...and the cold.  That's right, the Gator is a fair weather hiker! Lol.

Will do a few day hikes weather permitting and head out into the Ocala National Forest Saturday.