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All Geared Up!

  • Samuel Emigrant
  • Jul 2, 2017
  • 2 min read

I'm all geared up and ready to go. I'm a one man backpacking product placement advertisement!

Just add clothes and go. I have 7-8 days planned in July on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in California, Section K to be specific, a total of 61 miles south to north from Echo Lake Summit off of Hwy 50 to Donner Summit off of Hwy 80. The first two days with longtime hiking buddies, Mark, Wayne, Jim and Mike. The remaining days on my own. The entire section lies in the Sierras just to the west of Lake Tahoe. I will pass through Desolation Wilderness and Granite Chief Wilderness. For a view, Google Lake Aloha (8134 ft), Dick's Pass (9377 ft), Tinker Knob (8948 ft) and Anderson Peak (8683 ft), or just wait for my pictures. I will pass under the upper ski lifts at Alpine Meadows, Squaw Valley and Sugar Bowl ski resorts. The majority of the trip will be spent along the Sierra crest above the tree line.

You may have heard the snow pack this year in the Sierra Nevada has been legendary with pack too deep to measure in places. The sun has been shining brightly and quickly melting the snow exposing most of the trail. However, northern facing areas have been stubborn. Other than snow, the biggest concern will be trail conditions from the historic winter and crossing what are usually just creeks at the mountain origination point of a number of rivers that feed the lakes and reservoir's at lower elevations. I'm no hero, if too dangerous to pass I will select one of my bail out points down to Lake Tahoe and call my emergency Tahoe contact for a ride to my car.

 
 
 

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About Me.

I'm a double hip recipient approaching 60 but I'm not ready to stop exploring the wilderness.  I'm documenting my goal to be the first of my kind to hike the state of Oregon on the PCT, July 2018.  Subscribe below to follow my progress.  Thanks! 

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Keith means "Lover of Nature and the Outdoors"

I was introduced to Backpacking in 8th grade by Mr. Landfear, who taught Horticulture-Ecology.  He would take a group of kids a couple times a year backpacking in Yosemite or Desolation Wilderness. He knew Yosemite like the back of his hand.

 

His first lesson was always leave your campsite in better condition than you found it.  That man could spy an aspirin size piece of foil in the dirt from 25 yds. I never forgot the lesson. I've packed a sizable amount of garbage out over the years that wasn't mine to begin with.  

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I have been backpacking with the same group of guys in one combination or another now for 43 years. We all experienced the same 7th and 8th grade Science department at Mendenhall Junior High School in Livermore, CA. (Mr. Carlson also lead trips to Yosemite.) Quite remarkable when you think about it. There were a couple years when injuries or ailments shut someone down and we picked another adventure together (Salmon Fishing at Deception Pass followed by Car Camping in the Northern Cascades or there was the year we fished King Salmon on the Kenai and Halibut on the Cook Inslet in Alaska.  

 

There was a period of backpacking with friends I met while attending CAL, including a few trips combined with guys from both groups.  For the last 30 years it's been just the original Moles from Mendenhall.  We have been all over the Central Sierras, including Yosemite, Emigrant Wilderness, Desolation Wilderness and the Stanislaus National Forest. During the years living in WA State there were Cascade trips into Alpine Wilderness and North Cascades National Park. Recently, while living in CT I have explored a bit of the Appalachian Trail packing the MA and CT sections.

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A great new pair of Vasque boots has given me a new lease on my packing life. I plan to keep going. Next year at age 58 (after my second Hip resurfacing) I have a few trips in mind for CA, WA and NH on both the PCT and AT.  And then the biggee at age 59, 380 miles of the Oregon PCT.  The guys are skeptical but, of one thing there is no doubt, I know they will have a hard time not showing up for at least part of the ride.

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Remember, be nice to Mother Nature!

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