Friday, May 28, 2010

Goodbye Desert Sky

It had been three days since I last spoke with Zac. He has been in a remote section and had no phone service. This afternoon I got a short call from him and he is doing fine. He had hiked 21 miles today. His total so far is around 650 miles. This morning he said he had hiked 9 miles before 9 am. Must have been a very early start. He said the trial was very sandy and very windy. For every two steps he was blown back one. His feet were sinking in the sand like he was walking on a sand dune. He met up with a hiker named "Freebird" from California. Freebird was a retired professional windsurfer who had hiked the PCT three times already. While they were going up a ridge, Freebird told him to look behind him, it would be the last time he saw the desert on this trail. He was leaving the desert and moving into the the Sequoia National Forest. He could also see for some distance south, all the way to the San Jacinto Wilderness near Iydllewild. He said he was glad to be out of the desert and ready for a new type of landscape. He is camping tonight with a group off hwy 178 about 21 miles from Lake Isabella. When he called me, Golden Child and himself had hitched a ride into town to recharge phones and get some supplies. Zac was in a pizza place filled with elderly grandmother types who were all playing bridge and having a grand time. He was way out his element here I could tell. He had eaten and was planning to buy a few pizzas to take back up to the trail where he had left some of his gear with a few hikers who were also camping there. After he reaches Kenendy Meadows,he will be out of phone service for quite a few days. Blog entries will continue but with very little details other than spots and land marks. The last spot I received tonight was 35.62768,-118.0773

Monday, May 24, 2010

Mail Call

Today in Tehachapi Zac met a man at the post office named John who was retired. They began to talk about the trail and Zac told him some of the more interesting things that had happened so far. To make a long story short, Zac and the man hit it off and he offered Zac a ride all over town. He had his own personal shuttle. When Zac told him about losing his gloves, John gave him a brand new pair of ski gloves with the tag still on them. He gave them peanut butter and other treats for the trail. Zac really enjoyed his company and all of his help. John even gave Golden Child and Zac a ride up to the trail head. Zac shared some of his brownies with John that he had gotten from Nana and G Daddy. The life expectancy of a shipment of homemade brownies is greatly reduced in the presence of hungry hikers. This was no exception. These Brownies met their fate rather quickly and no mercy was shown. It was probably not a pretty site. R.I.P
The last spot I received from him was (35.11411,- 118.25778) He said from his tent he can see a bunch of windmills turning. There are many wind farms in this area. He is camping tonight in a small grove of Joshua trees.
He wanted to say a special thanks to the people who have taken time out of their day to send him something by mail. The Aquino's from New York, Helen and Brent from Yellowstone, Monty and Granddaddy from Pendergrass, Dwight and Lou from Chester SC, Rachel from Yellowstone, and the Greenville Millers.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Tylerhorse Canyon

Last night at Tyler Horse Canyon, the wind was such a powerful force that it was impossible to pitch a tent. The skies were clear so the group decided to cowboy camp. The wind was howling a steady blast of frigid air across their sleeping bags all night. Zac said that some time in the night, he thought he heard something hitting his sleeping bag. He didn't feel any moisture seeping into his bag so he thought it was just a sprinkle. He could live with that. That morning when he woke up his sleeping bag had about a half inch of snow covering it. The group set out after breakfast towards Tehachapi. The ridge trail was narrow and the wind was so bad it was difficult to walk without being blown into cactus or some small bush. His glasses were blown off his face a few times he said. When they were off the ridge they met some rangers who were checking on hikers along the trail due to bad conditions. They told them that the winds gust last night and today were up to 50 miles an hour and the wind chill last night was close to 15 degrees. They had gone 17 miles today. While hitching into town he lost his best pair of gloves. He said they are either on the trail somewhere or in the bed of the truck that picked him up. He was having a bad day. The town of Tehachapi is spread out in such a way that the post office is 2 miles from the hotel where he was staying. They did find an all you can eat Chinese buffet which might change their policy after that group went through. He was planning to take in a movie "Robin Hood" tonight. He got his sister, Erin, to look up show times from her computer here in Ga. He will check his mail in the morning and then keep heading north. Be sure to check for new videos I have slipped in this blog. I am trying to put them close to they entry because I get the videos about three weeks after they actually happened. You may have to go back to his first day on the trail. his next mail pick up is: Kennedy Meadows 96740 Beach Meadows Road Inyokern Calf. 93527

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Don't tell Monty! shhhhhhh!

500 miles

Thursday night Zac and company hiked the 0.6 miles off the trail to the Uppershake Campground hoping for a nice place to pitch a tent and relax a bit. When they arrived, they found the camp grounds in bad shape. The brush was overgrown, every site was on a hill, the water was undrinkable and the bathrooms were so bad Zac said he would have rather found a bush or tree. For Zac to say a bathroom was that nasty, there must have been a family of raccoons or skunks living in there or something. The campground was closed. The trio, Golden Child, Mango, and Zac decided to stay anyway. There were no good places to set up a tent so they all cowboy camped.
There was a group of PCT volunteer trail workers camped on the other side of the campgrounds. They went over to enquire about trial conditions and were invited to dinner and all the water they could carry. They had fajitas and re fried beans. They "Yogied" their dinner. This a term used when they are invited eat with someone. Sort of like when Yogi Bear would eat out of someone's picnic basket but without the part of being chased by the local ranger. (I hope)
He had crossed the 500 mile marker.
On Friday they hiked from a 6000 ft. to a 3000 ft. elevation. They reached the town of Lancater. Their goal was to camp at a place called Hikertown. A place built for through hikers with small plywood cabins, showers, Internet,and a hot meal. According to Zac, it was set up like an old western town. Almost like some kind of movie set.
When I spoke with him this morning he said he had not slept well. It was cold and they had to keep the window open so the cat could get in. He said he received some good trail information from Tarzan and Zelda this morning. He was going to have a pancake breakfast and get back on the trail. The weather there this morning was cold and looked like it might rain.
Today they will follow the Los Angeles Aqueduct, jeep trails and dirt roads. They are planning to hike the 16 miles to the Cottonwood Creek bridge and fill up on water then hike the additional 6 miles to Tylerhorse Canyon where they plan to camp.

UPDATE: The toe nail fell off two days ago. Not sure but I think he will make some kind of necklace out of it to ward off evil spirits. He has a new hair style or "lack of" hair style. He has cut his hair a short as he could. It was getting too long and the desert gets hot. He was very happy to get an email from Charles Wood, the world famous Banjo picker and turkey hunter. Thanks again for everyone's support and prayers, both near and far.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Have arrived at Casa de Luna, the Anderson's, this morning after staying at their wonderful cache last night. The Anderson's are another awesome trail angel family that welcomes thru hikers into their home. The Anderson's are a bit more on the wild side compared to the Saufley's though. And Tom, yes, I will get more videos of the "human element" and scorching heat of th Mojave. They should be up soon. My parents have encountered some problems uploading more videos, but seem to back to par with things in the next few days. Going to help Terry Anderson make up some Taco Salad for now. Happy Trail
-Slim Jim

Monday, May 17, 2010

Morning SlackPack

Slim Jim, here! Managed to find some time on an open laptop at trail angels, the Saufleys, house today. At mile 455, the trail enters downtown Agua Dulce, where most hikers detour about a mile up Darling Road to the Hiker Haven of the Saufley home. Donna and Tim Saufley have been dedicating much of their lives for a few months each year to PCT thru hikers by welcoming myself and others into their home. Everything is very organized. The first thing you encounter when walking through their gate is a large tent with clothes(shorts, jeans, sweats, T's, sweaters, sandals, etc.) to change into while Donna takes care of your laundry while you take care of showering. The Saufley's acre backyard is full of comfy cots to sleep on under large tailgating type tents, a large fire ring, bikes to ride to and from town, numerous dogs of all types, and hikers likewise. Running along their fence in a roomy double wide trailer just for us hikers. It is fully equipped with a giant fridge and full kitchen, comfy couches surrounding a living room with tv, and piano, two bedrooms, and a full bath. We are also open to utilize their deck full of patio furniture and a massive gas grille, which always seems to be cooking up something tasty. The Saufley's place truly is the Hiker Haven. Most of my hiker friends by the end of the day were here. Mango, Golden Child, Hot Mess, Tooth Fairy, Furniture, Bojangles, Ishmael, Rally, Shawn, Patchwork, Zorro, the Israeli Gear. Others are showing up today: Smiles, Duff, the Mayor, Richard Wizard, Uncle Tom, General Lee, Train, Apricots, Phsyco, Smile Train. All hikers go to Hiker Haven!
Yesterday was full of good trail magic. With about five miles left of the 45 mile road walk detour, trail angels, Law and Order, pulled over to offer cold drinks, brownies, and good advice. They suggested taking the current road I was traveling a mile further than I had planned to reach the town of Acton, CA and then another road to a KOA campsite to save my legs and time. After taking their advice and planning on camping in the KOA, another car pulled over to offer further services when I was just shy of end of the day's destination. Tom, who had previously helped me out about three weeks ago at Warner Hot Springs Resort by paying for my nights fare, hopped out of his car to recognize right away. He was heading to the Saufley's for the night. At this point I had another 11 miles to trail walk before reaching the Saufley's. He offered the idea of letting himself take me to the Saufley's for the night, and taking me back to where he was picking me up the next morning with an opportunity to slack pack back to the Saufley's. I told him I needed a second to consume the idea and consider it. While i was talking aloud analyzing the possibilities, Tom butted in by saying, " I'll start making room in the car." I was sold on the idea.
So this morning Tom drove myself, the Golden Child, and Chuck Norris back to the KOA from the Saufley's to slack pack the 11 miles north back to our Hiker Haven. Slack packing is basically a term meaning to day hike a section of the trail without carry your usual full pack load. So, after being picked up and driven to the Saufley's yesterday, I had skipped 11 miles of trail that I would need to hike. Being at the Saufley's, I left my entire pack their, knowing I'd be back. I only needed to carry a liter of water, camera, SPOT, and a couple cliff bars back to Hiker Haven. The morning was full of fog climbing into Vasquez Rocks. It seemed like King Kong would be tumbling over the misty hillside at any moment. The Vazquez rock section remind me of Arches National Park, with towering red rock sandstone conglomerate rising sideways from the sandy floor. Tom got me back to the trail by 7:30am this morning, so without a backpack on, and only 11 miles to walk, I was back here at the Saufley's by 11:00am. Mango, Golden Child and I went to a Mexican restaurant in town, and did some grocery shopping for dinner over the grille tonight. It still early, and I'll be staying here at Hiker Haven again tonight, with some time to relax and do more homework about the trail ahead.
Maybe I'll find time to get back to the blog later this afternoon. Thanks again for everyone's support and prayers. I love getting the mail. Thanks to all who have written already, some more than once. It is a needed surprise at the post offices! Happy Trails- Slim Jim

Saturday, May 15, 2010

All Caught Up

Zac was working hard to catch up with the group this week. Wednesday night he was hiking along a jeep road on his way to Wrightwood. He said that he was up on the ridge and he could see to the north, the lights of the town of Wrightwood and to the west, he could see the lights of Los Angeles. He said that the lights of L.A. made a perfect outline of the coast. He hiked about 5 miles in the dark wearing his head lamp for light. He cowboyed camped (camped along the road under the stars without a tent) about 2 miles from Hwy 2. In all he had hiked 29 miles that day.
The next morning he caught a ride when he reached the hwy from Dejavous, a fellow hiker who had rented a car and was planning to leapfrog ahead. He got his name from the fact he is seen everywhere on the trail again and again. Zac arrived in Wrightwood about 7 a.m. He met Mango and Golden Child at the Grizzly Dinner for breakfast. PCT hikers get 50% off there. He spent the day restocking some supplies, doing some trail research at the library and visiting the P.O. A zero mile day but well deserved. He had caught up with the rest of the group. The group consisting of Apricots, Psycho, Tooth Fairy, Hot Mess, Train, Megatex, Golden Child, Uncle Tom, Axzilla and Slim Jim. They ate dinner that night and watched basketball at a local bar. Uncle Tom’s team won and that meant he would be treated to a free beverage. The beverage of choice that night was called an “Irish car bomb”. A local in the bar was asking all about the group and their travels. He ended up buying a round for the entire group. The car bombs were lined up in the bar and were disposed of in unison. That night the group stayed with Susan and Ray, trail angels, who invited them into their home. They had extra rooms and beds as well a large space for camping in the back yard. They were very nice people according to Zac. He has met some incredible people on his journey. I believe they are answers to a lot of prayers from people who love and care about Zac from all over the U.S.
On Friday he went to the Post Office to check mail one more time before hitting the trail again. He was very happy to get mail from his Aunt Lou and Uncle Dwight, Aunt Beth from New York and his Monty and Granddad from Pendergrass Ga. He always likes to get mail. It is like Christmas for him when he does. He hiked with the group to the South Fork Camp Ground. They camped next to a family that invited them to share their dinner. They had burgers, corn on the cob, watermelon, and wine. Zac also mentioned they had Thousand Island dressing. Not sure why that stood out to him but he puts it on everything. Their two year old daughter, Julie Ann, was fun to have around, Zac said. He let her wear his head lamp and walk around the camp. Her father was very interested on the PCT and walked about a mile with him through the park before turning back.
Today he was starting on the detour around an area that had been burned a few years back. The forest service says the trail in that area is unsafe due to falling limbs from dead trees. The detour is about 45 miles long along paved roads. Last time I spoke with him he was at a McDonalds in Little Rock Creek Calf. The group was waiting for the sun to go down a little before going on. They plan to hike into the night perhaps 10 more miles. Zac said he had bought a kite at some little roadside tourist trap so he could play around with it during the walk tomorrow. I’m trying to picture that in my head and I think I’ll leave you with this image: Zac, walking down a desert road with a 40 pound pack wearing a doo rag, sun glasses, full beard,and a big smile, holding a string, while flying high above him in the sky like a guardian angel watching over, a giant Sponge Bob Square Pants kite smiling down on him and his group. Carry on Slim Jim!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Moving Right Along

5/11/10

Zac slept pretty good last night as soon as the wind stopped roaring around his tent. He said that sometime in the night he was awaken by critters of some sort rustling around in his dinner trash. He had a cold can of chili and some chips on top of the snicker bar and peanut butter for dinner. He turned on his headlamp and yelled at whatever it was and the commotion ceased for the remainder of the night. He began packing up his gear around 5:00 this morning and was on the trail by 6 am. By the time he reached the end of his hike today, some 11 hours later, he had traveled 29 miles and was planning his carnivorous assault on the local McDonalds in Phelan California.

The terrain today was a mixture of ups and downs as well as flat trail. During the course of the day he lost some 2000 feet in elevation. He saw his friend “Long Toe” who he had not seen since Warner Springs. He also passed the
Megatex group. This is a group of 7 experienced hikers who Zac had walked with a few times before. He saw three snakes. None of which were of the rattling brand. He said that this evening his feet and legs felt fine but his shoulders and back were letting him know they were there. He was in very good spirits and excited about his progress for the day.

Just to satisfy anyone’s curiosity about what was consumed at the McDonalds…One Big Mac, Two McDoubles, one Angus Burger, one chocolate shake and an ice cream in a cone. I’m sure women were pulling their small children away as they walked past him for fear of having a little one’s arm or leg ripped out of their socket and dipped in some McBar-B- Q sauce before being gobbled up. Zac said he was in a food coma. I guess it beats a Snicker bar and cold chili.

Tonight he was contemplating sleeping arrangements. He could sleep under the interstate 15 bridge with an unruly group he did not know, hike another 8 miles to a campground, or wait for some familiar hikers to come through and see if they wanted to pitch in and split the cost of a room. At the last minute an elderly gentleman graciously put up some cash for him to stay at the local Best Western. He took him up on his offer and will be enjoying the spa and continental breakfast as well as a nice quiet, cozy room all to himself. Quite a change from the rooms resembling the Jonestown massacre he had shared before with bodies all over the floor. The walls shaking with the vibrations from 15 or more hikers snoring their way through the night. Sleep well my friend. You only have only 2,285 more miles ahead of you.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Eagle Rock

The Naked Trail

5/10/10 Zac slept inside a forest service truck in a shed on the outskirts of town last night. When he got moving this morning he went to check to see if a package he had been waiting for had arrived. The postal worker gave him a post card from his Aunt Lou and Uncle Dwight from Chester S.C. and told him that was all he had. He was thrilled to get word from loved ones and that alone was worth the trip to town but that package was needed and was the main reason he hiked the 4 miles off the trail in the first place. He asked her to check again and she suddenly realized that his package had been put in the wrong bin. “Ahhh, here it is” she said. And with that the day began on a brighter note and he was on his way again. He was unable to hitch a ride back to the tail head so he hiked four miles before actually starting the trail. The day started out foggy but turned into a nice warm day and Zac made good time. He went by Deep Creek Hot Springs. He would have spent some time there but there were too many naked people there. Everyone was running around skinny dipping he said. He also said he didn’t recognize anyone. Ha ha. I guess that was a good thing. He decided to move up the trail some before stopping to eat lunch. He caught up with a group of eight hikers he knew and walked with them for a while. He crossed Deep creek later in the day and the water was up to his waist. He said he more concerned about falling in that he was about freezing. He crossed in good fashion and after changing into some dry shorts he continued on. (He was mailed a small box of clothes this morning) About 500 yards down the trail he saw a place to cross that was only ankle deep. Oh well….He made good time hiking today, almost 20 miles, and was trying to cut the distance between the group he left the day before and himself. He did talk to the Golden Child by phone today and their group was still about ¾ of a day ahead of him. Tonight he was camped in the bottom of a canyon in a boulder field to try to get out of the harsh winds that were whipping around. The wind made it difficult to set up the tent. Zac said it took thirty minutes to tie it down to the rocks. He smoothed out the sand between the rocks to make it as comfortable as he could. The big boulders around his camp were blocking some of the wind. He was eating a dinner of peanut butter and snicker bar because it was just too windy to light his camp stove. He plans to reach Wrightwood by Friday. He wants to get an early start in the morning to make up even more space between himself and the group ahead of him.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

M-I-C-K-E-Y--M-O-U-S-E

Still Truckin'

Dad: “Zac, where are you?” Zac: “I’m in the hospital.” Dad: “What??!!” Zac: “I’m at the hospital in Cedar Glen taking a break. The weather is pretty bad right now and I came in here to charge my phone and rest a little.” Dad: “Not funny Zac.”

Zac left his hiking group and took a detour to Cedar Glen to check his mail and to see if his clothes arrived. He said he had been wearing the same T shirt and long sleeve shirt for the past week and a half. He did wash it once he said. He plans to check his mail then head out as soon as he can tomorrow. The nurses there were very nice to him. They let him hang out in the waiting room and even watched his pack while he went into town to get supplies. They told him he could shower there too before leaving, which he gladly took them up on. Camping was going to cost him $18 and that was too steep for just one little tent. He said that there was an old National Forest service building/shed on the edge of town that he might stay in. He checked it out and said the roof has some big holes and it looked like it has not been in use for quite some time. He also said he might just camp in the woods depending on the weather. He said it looked like the weather was about to dump on him. He said that the shed looked sort of spidery. And if you know Zac you know how he feels about spiders, the camping in the woods might be where he sleeps tonight rain or no rain. He also told me that there was a forest service truck in the shed that was unlocked and he is considering sleeping in the cab. His last spot sent was 34.25416,-117.17288.

The other day Zac was getting water at the well at Doble trail camp. He was trying to pump the water from the old well and noticed it was making a hissing sound. As he leaned down to see where the noise was coming from he realized the sound was not coming from the well but from a rattlesnake that was situated himself between Zac’s feet. He was saved by his catlike reflexes. OK.... they may not be catlike, remember he was a catcher, but I am sure he was making good time away from that drinking hole. That will be last time he cuts in line at the water fountain.

There are many home town friends who I run into to ask about him. Tim F. and Greg C. said they were pulling for him every step of the way. Tim F. said he was going to meet him on the AT and put in some miles with him. Mike H. says he reads the blog every chance he gets. Relatives are always asking how Zac is getting along and trying to keep up with his trek. Granddaddy keeps up with every bit of information he can squeeze out of me. Steven C. keeps up with the spots and follows along. “Hike Forest hike!”

Desert Flowers

Friday, May 7, 2010

Mystery Box

Zac is having some wardrobe malfunctions. He wanted to lighten his load and mail a box of clothes he did not need to the next P.O. location. It would have been a good plan if the box had actually arrived there. He has tried in vain along with the Postal service to locate the box. He lost a lot of trail time trying to work this out and today he set out without his wardrobe. he has asked the Post office to forward any boxes to the next P.O. office at Cedar Glenn. He has some clothes to wear. There is probably some law against hiking nude and besides that, he could scare away the animals not to mention other hikers. The last spot I received from Zac was 34.28961,-116.88374. He shared a hotel room with a few other hikers last night in Big Bear City. He started out early today trying to find his package and didn't get on the trail until 12:00. I think he will make much better time tomorrow.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Another Video

On The Road Again

After a couple of days off from hiking, Zac is back on his way. This time he is heading north again. He hitched a ride from Idyllwild to interstate 10, Zac hiked the 4 miles to the trail head. He is hiking with a thru hiker from Ga. He told me that a large number of his friends that were in Idyllwild have gone a couple of hundred miles north to leapfrog to the desert. As of the last spot I received Zac was at spot 33.98863,-116.6556. This is very close to Mission Creek Road for those of you with a play book. He plans to be at Big Bear City in three days. His next postal pick up will be in a week at Cedar Glen, Ca 92321. Last time I spoke with him he was in very good spirits and ready to be back on the trail north. I am not sure when I will have Phone contact with him again. I am using the spots he sends me, Google maps and the trail guide book. Putting all three together and calling my nephew from Ga Tech to help correlate my formula, I will give you the best up to date news of his progress I can muster. I have asked for Federal assistance through NASA but I have not heard back from them as of yet. Thank you for keeping an interest in his journey. Next post stop: Zac Finley General Delivery Cedar Glen, Ca 92321