Update on my hike plans, big change on the horizon

I went back to Topeka for my step-daughter’s graduation and to take care of my identity theft issue with the thought of restarting my hike where I left off in Tehachapi. I really enjoyed seeing my family again!

My trip back to Tehachapi was on a 30 hour cross country Amtrak train ride from Topeka to Los Angeles, then other metro/transits to Tehachapi. I’ve never experienced a train ride of this magnitude, so I wanted to try it out. It was a scheduled 30 hour ride, starting at midnight!! It was also cheaper than a last minute airline ticket.

The train took me through Dodge City, Pueblo, Albuquerque, Winslow, Kingman, Needles, Barstow, and into L.A. In hindsight, 30 hours is a bit long to be assigned to the same seat. The train did have an observation deck. I could have ate their rather expensive meals, but my wife graciously packed me enough food for the trip!

The train had seating that was arranged two seats next to each other on each side of an isle (4 total seats per row). There was more room between rows than in an airplane. I sat next to a friendly, young Hispanic fella from Bakersfield, and a young 21 year old black basketball player living in east St.Louis (a really bad part of town). He had some really interesting conversation about living in E. St. Louis. He was at a party awhile back when rival gangs got into a shootout! He said it made national news, but I’ve been on trail and knew nothing about it. Apparently, over 200 she’ll casings were recovered, 13 injured and 2 killed. He talked about the craziness that followed when shots began to ring out. The police arrived, but would not get close as they would be no match for the gangsters in a shootout because the gangs are much more heavily armed with more powerful automatic assault weapons. He was saying these gangs recruit from junior high and high schools!!

The scenery was great traveling between Albuquerque and Raton, New Mexico.

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I decided to get an update on the weather forecast as the train made its way into California. My jaw nearly hit the floor as I read the extended forecast. Tehachapi was expected to receive a cold rain on 4 of the next 6 days, highs in the upper 40s-lower 50s, and lows in the 30s, and high wind warnings, and winter storm warnings up higher in elevation!! The snow line could drop as low as 5500 feet! This is unheard of in So. Cal in mid-late May!!! The trail from Tehachapi to Walker Pass goes above 7,000 feet!

There are 3 snow storms approaching, the first dumping 2 feet of snow above 8,000 feet, the second hitting this Saturday, and another next Tuesday! Their talking like next Tuesday ‘s could be historic, AGAIN!! See this surreal forecast!

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Preliminary reports from the Facebook PCT group are that Tahoe and some of the north Sierras have seen at least 3 feet of snow already!

This means temperatures could land into the 20s up in elevation north of Tehachapi, with strong winds and some snow.

I’ve also been following reports of the condition of the PCT north of the Sierra Mountains. There is no section free of snow. My friend, Oli from Switzerland messaged me. He’s one that has forged ahead into the Sierra Mountains and said it’s miserable! They start hiking at 2AM and quit by 10 as the snow gets too soft. It’s around 20 degrees with a strong wind, and snow storms have forced them off the mountains!

So, I’ve made a decision. I’m going to take at least a month off the PCT. I’m now going to hike the entire Oregon Coast Trail southbound from Washington to the Redwood National Forest in North California!!!! This will be about 430 miles. Oregon is world renowned for it’s picturesque beaches, cliffs, sea stacks, marine wildlife, light houses, and seaside communities. I’m going to carry my professional camera and photo-document everything!!! I’ll continue to update my blog. It’s become apparent to me that a complete thru hike of the PCT just isn’t going to happen and that’s extremely disappointing to me, but the PCT has already taught me to be open to unexpected changes. I must be open minded and adapt to changing or unexpected conditions. I realize that I need to be open minded and allow this adventure to pull me in directions I may not have envisioned even a few months ago.

I’m looking forward to learning as I go as I attempt to thru hike the Oregon Coast! I will be alone on this hike, and I’m looking forward to the solitude! I am currently evaluating my pack and contents! I won’t have large elevation changes, water concerns, bears, or nearly as long in between civilization, but will have to contend with more rain/moisture, learning and following tide charts, fewer available areas to camp, and a trail not nearly as well maintained as the PCT! But the views should be breathtaking at times!

I’m also excited because I can’t find any evidence of a photographer having already thru hiked the O.C.T. in its entirety, or a photographer even blogging it! I’m sure it’s happened, but can’t find anything on it! My goal is to do it in 40-45 days. This will be somewhat different than my PCT hike. I’m going to let my camera and the scenery dictate my hike. If I’m getting a fantastic sunrise, I may spend the entire morning photographing and admiring it, or if it’s gloomy, Ill try to put in the miles hiking! On the PCT, I felt like I needed to keep moving.

I have included some pics on the crazy snow on the PCT in 2019! These ARE NOT my pics, but pics shared from the Facebook 2019 page. Some forest rangers are even saying that parts of the PCT will remain snow covered all year! Mammoth Ski is saying there could be skiing into August!!

I will re-evaluate the PCT in a month when I complete the O.C.T. If the PCT is still under snow, I’m contemplating another crazy twist to this adventure. Here’s a hint…. it includes a bicycle! 😉