[pct-l] Campo to Morena Day Hike (was 16+ mi. dry stretches)

[MWallace at Stutman.com (Wallace, Mark S.)]

Sorry for this off-topic post.  The Listserv doesn't distribute any message I send it; the only way I can get a message out is to reply to someone else's message.

PCT Trail Conditions

I hiked the PCT from San Francisquito Canyon Road (mile 477.6) to Elizabeth Lake Canyon Road (mile 485.2) and back on February 5.  The trail was in very good shape with the exception of a four foot nearly vertical drop off leading down to a wash just before Elizabeth Lake Canyon Road.  The drop off was all soft dirt and impossible to climb on the way back (I had to detour a little).
 
The water cache just before Elizabeth Lake Canyon Road is intact and has water (presumably from last season).  Water was running in four or five places along the trail and I took the opportunity to fill up.  These water sources (not shown in any guidebook or handbook I've seen) undoubtedly will dry up by May 1.  (There wasn't a whole lot there even now).
 
The only person I saw on the hike out and back was a mountain biker.  The trail is really deserted this time of year.
 
Mark     



-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net]On Behalf Of Mike Saenz
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 11:22 AM
To: dsaufley@sprynet.com
Cc: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: RE: [pct-l] Campo to Morena Day Hike (was 16+ mi. dry
stretches)


Somebody once described the condition something like, "inversion
zone"??? "conversion zone"???
Something about the way the topography creates a "cold sink", trapping
colder air while warmer air is close and all around...

I had hiked the better portion of miles from Morena to Mt Laguna with a
jacket on. Partially because of the tiny bit of rain that was spitting
on us and mostly because of the bitter cold wind that was whipping
around us between the I-8 and Cibbet's Flat. We had camped at Cibbets
and it began to rain steadily after dinner. The temps chased us into our
tents. I wore every stitch of clothing and I was still chilly...
I was surprised the rain didn't turn to sleet.

In any case, I've been there when It's cold and I've been there when
it's hot. No telling what you'll encounter.
 
BTW- I remember the first night of ADZ last year: A fog thicker than
most I've seen before!


-Oilcan



M i c h a e l   S a e n z
McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, Inc.
A r c h i t e c t u r e    P l a n n i n g    I n t e r i o r s
w  w  w  .  m  v  e  -  a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s  .  c  o  m


-----Original Message-----
From: dsaufley@sprynet.com [mailto:dsaufley@sprynet.com] 
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 10:53 AM
To: Mike Saenz
Cc: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: RE: [pct-l] Campo to Morena Day Hike (was 16+ mi. dry
stretches)

Are you thinking of the term "microclimate"?

The terminus is at a substantially higher elevation than San Diego,
which probably accounts for a good deal of the temperature differential.
Also, the mountains tend to create weather patterns that differ greatly
from one side of the mountain than the other.  I work in Pasadena elev.
200 ft., and live in Agua Dulce on the other side of the San Gabriels at
elev. 3000 ft.  Even though it's only 30-35 miles as the crow flies, the
weather can be radically different. Even the Santa Clarita Valley,
approximately 15 miles away from us, has temperatures on average 10
degrees warmer than us.

-=Donna Saufley=-

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Saenz <msaenz@mve-architects.com>
Sent: Feb 7, 2005 9:59 AM
To: Bighummel@aol.com, elisenme2@gmail.com, blisterfree@isp01.net
Cc: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: RE: [pct-l] Campo to Morena Day Hike (was 16+ mi. dry
stretches)

If you have the good fortune to hike Section A in
cool/cloudy/kind-a-rainy conditions, it's a real treat!
 
My Morena to Cuyamaca stretch was wonderfully cool/cloudy with a short
overnight rain at Cibbet's Flat.
 
The hike from Cyamaca to Scissors, however was horribly hot and
dry...and that was in early March!
 
 
Someone once told me that the area around Morena was a special
climate/topographical zone that caused particularly cold spots. I forget
the specific term used to describe this, but I've been at the Southern
Terminus when it was at least into the mid-30's, while San Diego was in
the 60's.
 

M i c h a e l   S a e n z
McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, Inc.
A r c h i t e c t u r e    P l a n n i n g    I n t e r i o r s
w  w  w  .  m  v  e  -  a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s  .  c  o  m


 

  _____  

From: Bighummel@aol.com [mailto:Bighummel@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 9:37 AM
To: Mike Saenz; elisenme2@gmail.com; blisterfree@isp01.net
Cc: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Campo to Morena Day Hike (was 16+ mi. dry
stretches)


On the day prior to the 4th ADZ, several of us slack packed from the
border to Lake Morena.  Uncharacteristically, the weather was very cold,
and rained on us most of the way, making for a rather unique hike of
this typically dry and hot section.  The manzanitas are beautiful in the
rain, making their red and black bark look like it has been varnished.
 
Conditions can vary.
 
Greg
_______________________________________________
pct-l mailing list
pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
unsubscribe or change options:
http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l



_______________________________________________
pct-l mailing list
pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
unsubscribe or change options:
http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l




*******************************************************************
This Internet e-mail contains confidential information 
which is intended only for the addressee and which may
be privileged under applicable law.  Do not read, copy
or disseminate it if you are not the addressee.  If you
have received this message in error, please notify the
sender immediately and delete it.  Thank you.
*******************************************************************