PCT Hike – Willow Springs Road To Tehachapi Pass

April 4, 2015July 17, 2016 Chugchug Backpacking Mill Creek to Tehachapi Pass, PCT

Oak Creek Canyon, Willow Springs Road, Cameron Canyon, Tehachapi Pass

PCT mile 556 to 566

Day 6 of Pacific Crest Trail section hike from Mill Creek Summit to Tehachapi Pass

Early morning saw the lunar eclipse. I didn’t know there will be an eclipse. It is just that that moon was full that night and suddenly it became dim which drew my attention.

Walked all morning among the giant wind turbine that dot the ridge top above Oak Creek and Cameron Canyons near Tehachapi Pass.

Made it to my truck. Started on my way to get the bike, and then home.

Stats for this trip: 148 miles. 28381 ft. up 29528 ft. down.

Wind Turbine along the Ridge above Cameron Canyon, South of Tehachapi Pass

Lunar Eclipse above Covington Mountain. It was a full eclipse earlier, but not enough light for a photograph

Wind Turbine on the ridge above Oak Creek Canyon Near Tehachapi Pass

PCT Hike – Cottonwood Creek to Willow Springs Road

April 3, 2015July 17, 2016 Chugchug Backpacking Mill Creek to Tehachapi Pass, PCT

Cottonwood Creek, Iberdrola Wind Farm, Tylerhorse Canyon, Gamble Spring Canyon and Oak Spring Canyon

PCT mile 534 to 556

Day 5 of the Pacific Crest Trail hike from Mill Creek Summit to Tehachapi Pass

PCT mile 536 – there are thousands of giant wind turbines here.

PCT mile 542 – Tylerhorse Creek, finally out of the flatland. The water in the creek is actually pretty clear and it tastes pretty good.

PCT mile 546 – The Gamble Spring Canyon area is also a playground for dirt bikes. The hillside and the PCT are crisscrossed with bike paths.

PCT mile 549 – There is a water cache at the very top of the mountain above Gamble Spring Canyon. This one is stocked with still sealed water bottles from Costco. The water tastes great.

PCT mile 556 – found a flat spot to put my tent for the night.

Water Cache at the Mountain Top above Gamble Spring Canyon

Wind Turbines by the Moonlight (before the eclipse)

PCT Hike – Lake Hughes to Cottonwood Creek

April 2, 2015July 17, 2016 Chugchug Backpacking Mill Creek to Tehachapi Pass, PCT

Hughes Lake, Pine Canyon, Hiker Town and Los Angeles Aqueduct

PCT mile 518 to 534

Day 4 of the Pacific Crest Trail hike from Mill Creek Summit to Tehachapi Pass.

It took 3 hitchhikes and walking for about 1 mile to get from my hotel at Lake Hughes to Hiker’s Hikertown. I bypassed 32 miles of the PCT, part of which was closed due to fires. I think this is a common case along the PCT were sections are closed due to one reason or another.

PCT mile 518 – after picking up my resupply package and filling up my water bottles, I have started again on the PCT. This section of the PCT follows the Los Angeles Aqueduct and it is completely flat and boring. It must also be hot here in the summer, yuk.

PCT mile 534 – stopped for the night.

PCT Hike – Agua Dulce to Francisquito Canyon

April 1, 2015July 17, 2016 Chugchug Backpacking Mill Creek to Tehachapi Pass, PCT

PCT mile 457 to 478

Day 3 of the Pacific Crest Trail hike from Mill Creek Summit to Tehachapi Pass

Started early from the Sierra Pelona Motel as the first mile and a half were on the road and could be easily be navigated in the dark. Back on the PCT at first light.

PCT mile 463 – Bear Spring, there is water in the spring, but I don’t really need any.

PCT mile 465 – Bouquet Canyon Road. Met a hiker Southbound. He said that he had tried to get across the burned sectuib if the trail in the Sawmill Mountain area, but it was too difficult. He ended up bypassing the area via the Lake Hughes.

PCT mile 466 – past Bouquet Canyon Road. Met another PCT hiker going southbound. He said that he didn’t even try to get through the burnt area and instead walked the road from Hiker Town in Neenach to Sanfrancisquito Canyon road. I decided to do the same only in reverse.

PCT mile 471 – there is a wonderful water cache here in the shade with comfortable chairs. I set for a while and fell a sleep. Great.

PCT mile 478 – Sanfrancisquito Canyon Road. I was able to get a ride all the way to Lake Hughes. Found a motel at Lake Hughes for the night. Took a shower, washed clothed and dinner at the restaurant.

PCT Hike – Messenger Flats to Agua Dulce

March 31, 2015July 17, 2016 Chugchug Backpacking Mill Creek to Tehachapi Pass, PCT

North Fork, Soledad Canyon, Agua Dulce.

PCT Mile 430 to 456

Day 2 of the Pacific Crest Trail section hike from Mill Creek Summit to Tehachapi Pass

PCT mile 430 – started early, nobody on the trail but me

PCT mile 436 – North Fork ranger station. The care taker here saw me looking for the water spigot and came out. The spigot is dry, but he had set 2 big jugs of water on a table nearby.

PCT mile 444 – KOA campground. I got a couple of liters from the faucet in the laundry room.

PCT mile 454 – Agua Dulce. Had dinner at the Sweetwater Cafe. Talked to a few people, the only hotel in the area is the Sierra Pelona Motel on Sierra Highway.

PCT mile 456 – Reached Sierra Highway and walked 1.5 mile along the road the the motel. The Sierra Pelona Motel is simple, chip, and the shower worked. What more can one asked for.

PCT Hike – Mill Creek Summit to Messenger Flats

March 30, 2015July 17, 2016 Chugchug Backpacking Mill Creek to Tehachapi Pass, PCT

Big Buck, Mount Gleason, Messenger Flats

PCT mile 419 to 430

Day 1 of the Pacifc Crest Trail hike from Mill Creek Summit to Tehachapi Pass

PCT mile 419 – Found the fire station at Mill Creek Summit and filled up my water bottles (6 liters of water weigh 12 lb.) then started north on the trail.

PCT mile 425 – There is road construction near the Little Gleason Forest Plantation. The workers all stopped what they were doing to let me pass (a little weird).

PCT mile 430 – Messenger Flats Campground. A couple in a 4WD van showed up. They are going to spend the night. They are with the PCTA, supervising the trail between Mill Creek Summit and North Fork ranger station. The man wanted to know about fallen trees along the trail section I just came through and was disappointed to hear that there are many. They offer me water of which I accepted 1 liter. I have enough and didn’t want to carry more than necessary.

Biking – Tehachapi Pass to Mill Creek Summit

March 29, 2015July 17, 2016 Chugchug Backpacking, Biking biking, Mill Creek to Tehachapi Pass, PCT

Day 0 and 1 of the Pacific Crest Trail section hike from Mill Creek Summit to Tehachapi Pass – 65 miles and 3500 ft of elevation gain.

Day 0 – Drove to Tehachapi Pass on H/W58. Left my truck and got on my bike. Rode on Cameron Canyon Road, Tehachapi Willow Spring Road, Through Rosamond and into Lancaster. I stopped in Lancaster, spending the night at the Marriott. I hope to get a good night sleep and continue in the morning.

Day 1 – continued along Sierra Highway, Pearblossom Highway, and Angeles Forest Highway to Mill Creek Summit, but didn’t quite made it on the bike. It was too far and too much uphill from me. I hid the bike on the side of the road by some bushes and hitchhiked the rest of the way to Mill Creek Summit.