The Pacific Crest Trail starts off with a bang. Throughout the initial 700 miles in Southern California, the PCT is essentially a desert trek; arguably the most feared section of the entire trail.
I have a fair amount of desert hiking experience -- Utah, Arizona, California, Texas, and the more arid sections of Washington state. (Yes, Washington does have desert areas, though we often associate Washington with rain) However, I have never undertaken such a long hike in such conditions. I have never had to to carry so much water. I have never been more nervous about a hike.
The Southern California region winds through a fair amount of diverse terrain. The elevation varies between 1200 and 9000 feet, through dry hills, mountains, forests, dusty desert-land, and the San Andreas fault zone. The trail climbs into and traverses the San Jacinto mountains, San Bernardino and San Gabriel ranges, and finally into the Tehachapi Mountains.
I have a fair amount of desert hiking experience -- Utah, Arizona, California, Texas, and the more arid sections of Washington state. (Yes, Washington does have desert areas, though we often associate Washington with rain) However, I have never undertaken such a long hike in such conditions. I have never had to to carry so much water. I have never been more nervous about a hike.
The Southern California region winds through a fair amount of diverse terrain. The elevation varies between 1200 and 9000 feet, through dry hills, mountains, forests, dusty desert-land, and the San Andreas fault zone. The trail climbs into and traverses the San Jacinto mountains, San Bernardino and San Gabriel ranges, and finally into the Tehachapi Mountains.
Typical plants encountered in this section of trail vary between the scrub and chaparral in the lower elevations, and the coniferous trees in higher elevation. Probably the most talked about plant in this section of trail is the infamous poodle bush. A tall shrub, the poodle bush tends to thrive after wild fires, and in arid environments. It sports large bright purple flowers that can reach up to 10 feet tall. If you are like me, you may be tempted to pick bunches of these flowers and use them to decorate your backpack or perhaps make a crown to parade around in. Fortunately, the Pacific Crest Trail Association, USDA Forest Service, and California Botanic Garden Association anticipate foolish people like myself and have posted a myriad of websites warning of the danger of trying to pet the poodle bush as if it's an actual poodle. Touching this plant will result in a blistering rash, similar to the rashes from poison ivy or poison oak. So there will be no garlands for me in Southern California.
The wildlife in this section includes lizards,snakes, rodents, coyotes, and cougars (I assume of both the quadruped and bi-ped variety). Though most people go into the hike most fearful of rattle snakes, the comments I have been reading on the web forums seem to indicate that the biggest wildlife threat in this section is mice. I shall be taking an odor-proof/ chew proof bag for my food storage and taking the same stance with animals as I do with the poodle bush-- no touchy-touchy!
My 4 year old nephew, Blake, informed me that I should not be going into the desert, because there is not water and there are snakes. "You should not go where there are snakes" he said. I admit, in the weeks prior to the beginning of the hike, I was apt to agree. But you never know what something is going to be like until you try it. So I'm trying it.
I'll keep you all informed as to how it is!
I'll keep you all informed as to how it is!
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