[pct-l] Campo update- live/Feb. 18th, 2016

[Mel Tungate]

Dear Paint.

Thank you for the great description.  Sounds delightful.  I will be a month
behind you.

Some have their permits.  Some do not.  They did NOT do the permits in order
of when one was leaving.  Some leaving in May have their permit.  Some
leaving in February and early march ( us two among others ) do not have
their permits.

Mel

-----Original Message-----
From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Paint YW
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2016 5:29 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Campo update- live/Feb. 18th, 2016

Cheers Everybody-

Just crawled to Lake Morena, from the border. As always... using the train
as you hike strategy. I do not recommend this tactic, for it is extremely
difficult, and gives one pause for defection. That being said- I am at
ground zero plus 20 miles (from the epic center) which is to say that I am
at Lake Morena County Park/Camp Ground.

The Southern Terminus Monument was recently replaced and it is in as
pristine and dignified a condition as could be imagined. Thanks to all hands
for this treasured icon's restoration.

The trail register, compliments of Scout and Frodo, was bristling with
entries from as far back as Dec., 2015. It contains an amalgation of hiker
types, with like script, requiring a handwriting expert's interpretation for
many of the entries. The register is ensconced in the historical repurposed
metal first aid box, sans one of it's locking clasps.

The monument inscriptions face east, and bear the carved out trail length-
adjusted to reflect the most recent mileage measured (shout out to Half
Mile) of 2,650 miles.

The usual and customary military aircraft fly overhead; day and night. USN
and/or USMC Pave Low MH-60 helicopters fly the Hauser Canyon corridor,  in
an east-west vector, along with V-22 Ospreys flying a bit higher profile. A
bit higher than what the helos. operate at, fly the F-18 Hornets... fighter
attack aircraft of the USN and USMC. Most of these aircraft will accompany
you- the hiker, far up into the Sierra mountains. This meet up will scare
the dickens out of you when you least expect it. Expect to be buzzed in
Washington state, in an unforgettable way- many times over, by F-35's, of
the USAF.

Commercial transportation jets ferry passengers to and from San Diego,
daily- and like clockwork, start about 5 am, tapering off around midnight.

Signs of illegal aliens are sparse but obvious- a frying pan discarded here,
a heavy canvas coat there, a pair of jeans tucked under the brush, leather
boots left along the trail, and a shirt strewn elsewhere. I heard footsteps
in the night on three different occasions down in Hauser Canyon.

Many other familiar sounds reached me- both day and night. Ravens, hawks,
flickers, turkeys, doves, and countless songbirds pulled the dayshift.
Night time  brought out the sound of owls, coyotes, and occasionally dogs
sounding out warnings of danger and self preservation.

The manzanita are blooming, but not much else. The trail is lined with wild
plum, ceanothus, ribbon wood, scrub oak, lilac, prickly pear cactus, sage,
and a multitude of other plants familiar to the avid desert wanderer...

Mosquitoes were out in force in Campo, and the pesky gnats were out and
about with what seemed like a personal vengeance. A few bees buzzed about,
as did butterflies, and now and then a curious hummingbird would drop by to
say hi. A few colonies of red ants stirred to life on the trail, and an
occasional suicide lizard shot across the pathway, and those red velvet
covered insects made their way to and fro.

There is no water whatsoever- from the border to Lake Morena, save for
Campo. The juvenile facility is closed, so I'm unsure if water can be had
there? To the west of the Gaskill Brothers Stone Store/ Museum, in Campo,
exists a small green belt paralleling the railroad tracks and Campo Creek,
and is behind/north of the "green store." About 100 yards west of the museum
is a camping area with a picnic table. A spigot offering potable water is
adjacent to the table. How do I know this? I camped there in March, of 2014,
for five days, and again in December, of 2015, for fourteen days.

The "green store" lies at the intersection of CA HWY 94 and Forrest Gate
Road. They are very hiker friendly, stocked with ample hiker supplies, as
well as a great variety of craft/high test beers and licquors. Father and
son dynamo- Steven and Lance, operate the store; 8am-8pm, seven days a week.

I was fortunate to be able to retrieve water out of Hauser Creek, in 2012.
Since then- it's been bone dry. This year, I left the border with 6 1/4
liters. That was about 2 liters too little for my needs and pace. Due to
driving a friend 5,500 miles round trip from the west coast to back east,
then straight to Campo, I was out of shape and definitely not climatized. I
suffered under the heat- 75 to 88 degrees, and left Hauser Canyon empty of
water. Upon reaching Lake Morena, I consumed 4 liters of water between
arrival and cooking dinner, which was a 2 hour span of time.

Lake Morena is all but vacant, with the exception of me and a hiking
partner, a solo car camper... and a couple of RVs. As reported earlier, the
showers are coin operated. A minimum of 5 quarters gets the user 10 minutes
of water, of which 5 minutes are whatever the mean temperature is at the
time. On Feb. 17, it was damn cold. The maximum time is acquired with 15
quarters.

Down the street from LMCG, sits the Oak Shores Malt Shop. Hiker friendly in
every aspect. Matthew is the owner and manager. Lots of acceptable hiker
foods, great beer and licquor selections, and a deli that knocks it out of
the park. They will mail your package, arrange for a ride, and bend over
backwards to assist hikers, one and all. How do I know? I just presented
myself for the sixth time.

Hiking up from the border Tuesday... it appeared that a fairly robust fire
burned in the direction of Mt. Laguna. Not sure what was up but it's out
now.

I sent in my application for a permit... being either the fourth or fifth
applicant for the season. I see that the PCTA blog makes mention of issuing
permits starting on the 17th of Feb. No word yet? Anybody else gotten their
permit? I see where the PCTA has begun issuing the held back 15 permits a
day allocation within the last day or so.

I'm sunburned.
I'm sore as heck.
I'm cold.
I'm hot.
I'm stoked.
I fight despair.
I struggle.
I toss and turn in my sleep mode.
I loathe my pack weight.
I am one of the luckiest people on earth.
I am in love.
I am with my mistress.

Her name is- the PCT.

Get ready to get your ya ya's on everybody. Have your own kickoff when you
reach mile 20!

See ya' up the trail.

Best regards,

Paint Your Wagon
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