[pct-l] more questions from the rookies...

[Halfmile]

Amanda,

I hiked from Lake Hughes (Section E) to Kelso Valley Road (Section F) last week.

I had about 2" of snow the first night. Most nights the temperatures
dropped below freezing. Daytime was probably in the 60's and sometimes
very windy. The trail was mostly snow free except for a few miles
around Cottonwood Creek (mi. 604) where the trail was still covered
with several feet of snow in canyons or on the north slopes of
hillsides. It was hard-packed and not difficult to walk on, but does
slow you down a little.

Unless you arrange someone to pick you up I think your only practical
start/end options are Hwy 58, Kelso Valley Rd, and Hwy 178 (Walker
Pass). All the roads going toward Hwy 14 are little used dirt roads
except for Hwy 58 and Hwy 178.

I have twice successfully hitched from Kelso Valley Rd to Bakersfield,
but would only try this on a weekend and expect to be there awhile. I
doubt this road gets much/any traffic on a weekday. Yesterday
(Saturday) I waited there almost 2 hours and 3 cars drove by. The 3rd
car gave me a ride to Hwy 178. I had similar luck in January. Kelso
Valley Road is paved to the NW (toward 178) and dirt to the SE of the
PCT.

I would explore parking in Bakersfield and looking at the Kern transit
bus system:

http://www.co.kern.ca.us/roads/kernregionaltransit.asp

-Halfmile





On Sun, Mar 23, 2008 at 10:23 AM, Amanda Gardynik <aggardynik at gmail.com> wrote:
> My boyfriend and I are new on the PCT and need some help. We will be
>  flying to San Luis Obispo from the Midwest to visit family and plan on
>  hiking section F in the beginning of April (5-10). We are wondering
>  about transportation to and from the trail?  We have limited time and
>  are not sure if we are going to have enough time to complete the whole
>  section.  Where might be a good place to stop? We were thinking
>  possibly Willow Spring because of the road that connects to highway
>  14. Is there transportation from 14 back down to highway 58 in
>  Tehachapi? What about from SLO to Tehachapi and back, etc.? Bus, taxi,
>  train, safe hitch hiking? Are there any transportation services in
>  local towns, etc.?
>
>  What can we anticipate weather to be like in this section at that time?
>
>  We read that we need a fire permit, does that include one for using a
>  stove only? Where should we get this and what is the price?
>
>  I'm sure we'll think of more...!
>
>  Amanda
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