Miles: 00
Kelso Valley, Very Remote and Very Empty
I accidentely deleted my Txt file for this day while trying to free up space on my tablet so I will reconstruct the day's events to the best of my recollection.
Kelso Valley Road PCT Trail Crossing, Onyx, CA
After a waking from a good sleep and a nice visit with last night's hiker trio who were eating and resupplying at the site next to mine courtesy of Ann's husband Joe I packed up and drove the 40 miles to the Kelso Valley trail crossing. After sitting and writing some Blog material I left for a bike ride about 2:00. As the paved road coming up from the north was much steeper than I remembered I decided to ride to the south. The pavement ends at the PCT trail crossing so I rode down the hill to the south. After a few hundred yards of moderate grade the road got very steep for about a mile and was hard packed clay with a cover of sand which I equate with slipping and sliding and falling and getting skinned up so I kept it slow and sane most of the 5.5 miles to the turnaround point at Jawbone Canyon Road. I passed the Kelso Valley Airport, a grass affair perhaps maintained for use by aerial firefighters. At Jawbone Canyon Road is a sign for a "Family Resort" which is probably defunct.
Kelso Valley Airport
Kelso Valley Family Resort Sign
The return was a reasonable uphill grind until the last mile and one half when it got pretty steep. I rode up the first very steep pitch in the last 1/2 mile. My heart rate went off the chart so I walked the last 2 very steep sections then rode the last few hundred yards to the top and the car.
The Steep Part. The Car is at the Left Most Notch
On the way back I was surprised to see a large green meadow I had not noticed on the way down. It is populated by quite a large herd of cattle (the cows are barely visible in the photo).
When I got back to the car about 4:00 a couple from Oregon were resting at the water cache which is well stocked with at least 100 gallons of Costco brand spring water. I offered them a cold Diet Coke and the man accepted. We had a good conversation. He is 75. I cannot recall his trail name. He and his wife, trail name Uber Bitch, finished section hiking the trail at the Canadian Border last year and are attempting a though hike this year. They started at the Mexican Border on April 14 and are making a pace that will allow them to finish this by October 15 (Kelso Valley Road is at mile 614), the generally accepted end of hiking season in Washington State, if they can keep it up. While we were talking Daniel came in, about 5:00. He had come 52 miles since 10:00 AM the day before and was tried and hungry. He sat down and started snacking. The couple left to hike another 2 miles to their night's camp spot.
As there is no really good camping site in the area accessible by my car I suggested that perhaps Dan would like to skip the next 38 miles and go ahead to Walker Pass. He agreed and we drove back to the pass. I cooked us dinner of bacon, Potatoes O'Brien, and for Dan 6 eggs, in a gale. The wind died down a some after sunset but it blew all night. I slept out again. It was cooler but we both did OK.
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