April 23
We left camp around 6:30 knowing that we had a long 27 mile ride today. Gil dropped us off at the base of the Upper Shake Trail. We enjoyed the view of incredible vistas as we followed a small dirt road and climbed from 3900' to 6000' over 5 miles.


The Tehachapi Mountains, known as the precursor for the Sierras were easily recognizable with their snow and canyons shadowing the Antelope Valley below.

We had to stop several times for the animals to get their breath so photo taking time was optimal. Jim seemed to have less trouble than Issy who started to gulp and swallow indicating to me that he was using up his reserves. I jumped off and held up for several minutes until Issy started to think more about grass than air. We finally got to the ridge of Sawmill Mountain and the trail leveled out at about 5,600’.

We stopped at Sawmill Campground & found plenty of graze. Since water had been available for the entire way we relaxed for a good bit letting the animals eat and rest. Camping anywhere along this area would have been great this time of year but it was only 10 AM and we had promised to meet Gill 20 miles down the trail.

We rode the crest passing the way to Atmore Meadows known to be another good camping spot for horses.

We continued along the trail until we got to a big tree which Dick had to cut. Dick had cleared several trees and large limbs along the way but this one required both of us to drag it off the trail.

I had been holding Jim and Issy who were happily munching, so I lightly tied them with enough lead to reach the grass and went to help Dick. We tugged and heaved the fire burned oak. Dick put so much effort into it that his momentum caused him to slip when he stepped over the edge of the trail. I was horrified when he fell realizing our precarious hold to safety was out of balance. Even though I had my SPOT(a personal locator and beacon for emergencies) and my satellite phone, I was slapped in the face with the realization that every day was serious and dangerous. We were miles from help and I sobered up from my dream of just sight seeing.

Luckily, Dick being fit and athletic jumped right up and never missed a beat, but I heeded this warning as often happened on this endeavor. The entire PCT trail cannot be taken with complacency.

While this realization set in Jim decided to head home, back the way we came. I had tied the lead too loose and he pulled himself free. Issy started to paw with envy at Jim’s escape and I ran to be sure we didn’t have two running back down the trail. I secured him and went after Jim who found an especially desirable patch of grass just 500 yards away. Another warning sunk in, knowing that when Issy gets loose he just waves adios!

We mounted up with Dick throwing a cracker in his mouth and continued on passing several snow patches but nothing worth dismounting for.

At almost 5,800’ elevation we left the ridge of Liebre Mountain and started the descent to Pine Canyon Road going through washes and leaving the Black Oaks and fairly level terrain behind.

Spruce and pine fence us in with most scarred from a forest fire a couple of years prior. The dead fall is horrendous and now tinder for yet another fire. We both walked since the erosion was very severe and the tread switchbacked through thick chaparral and brush.

I got stopped on a very narrow portion of the trail by a small tree lying diagonally across the track blocking our way. It was shoulder high on the up hill side and then dropped off over the cliff downward. The tread was far too narrow to turn Issy and let Dick come up and cut it so I pulled out my saw and begin the arduous task of sawing. I dreaded this type of work since I broke my collar bones and every pull was a reminder of Port’s fall 400 miles and a year behind us.

Mercifully, the tree succumbed to my Fiskar in short order. We passed several more impediments and got to 3,900’ where we found a very good flat area for camping that the trailers could have accessed through Pine Canyon Road.

It was 3:30 so we continued on looking for Cow Spring and were rewarded with a wonderful, fresh flowing creek.

Issy and Jim pulled us to the cold pool with Jim almost taking Dick for a swim. We crossed Pine Canyon Road to the trailhead and decided to rest and allow the animals to graze for 30 minutes.

I was confused by the trail location since it appeared to go up the road. It actually took off northwest (which Dick located with the help of a cyclist who came along.)

From this point we had what I thought was an easy 6 miles but it turned out that I had misjudged the elevation changes and we worked our way up and down several sand trails until we finally shot straight to Gil who had Dick’s trailer waiting at Barnes Ranch Road. By now it was 7 PM and Dick and Gil still had to go get Jed and my trailer. A long day, ended safely at 11 PM, with all of us very tired.