LAS VEGAS DAY THIRTY FOUR December 14, 2020
Bristlecone Trail
Up early, after a fine Sunday, hiking Lone Mountain, it was to do something new. I walked for breakfast, with a few businesses that refused convenience payment. One eatery was closed, despite the sign. Going further than I expected, I finally got food. Back home, I added blueberry jam to the biscuit and pancakes.
I needed power, so motored to the Supercharger and wandering about the promenade, I declined more eats. Some places can deliver food by the time the charging completes. Using the restroom, I shortly left to motor to the government benefits office to get a new card. They require appointments, so this all was a waste of time. To go to a supermarket to use the restroom, I bought a donut and English muffins.
Finding an easy hike to do, I zoomed northward on U. S. 95. Taking the turn to Lee Canyon, I saw old Charlie in clouds ahead. Cold, with warming sun, the restroom at the campground was locked up. I used my pee bottle, with two campers in the far distance. Then to motor back down to the Lower Bristlecone Trail parking lot, as the road to the upper trailhead was closed. The ski resort reports a three foot base with man-made snow. I’d have loved to watch the skiers and boarders, but this was forbidden due to Covid.
Starting the hike, there was the dirt road to go up, then with ice. Stepping on fresh or old powder, this gave some traction versus slippery ice. The road turned up the hill, then in the sun, the snow/ice was gone. Another hiker reported “too cold,” so she had turned back. I had on four layers, with a cap, so was toasty warm. More warm clothes in my pack, for immobilization emergencies, and then I used the old used water bottle to relieve myself into. I forgot my regular bottle, and had lost the usual one. Fact is, I had to relieve myself into the watershed, for Pahrump, perhaps, as I filled up the water bottle, with two more in my pack but I wasn’t thirsty this whole hike.
There was no cellular, so my maps didn’t work. Getting to a trail junction, I misread the sign. I thought that the trail would loop back to the car, but it looks to go on to somewhere. This trail had snow and ice, so caution was needed. I stepped over a fallen tree, versus going off the trail. I climbed with switchbacks, then came to the wilderness boundary.
Pretty, with bristlecones and snow, I gained desert views. With icy trail, I didn’t ever slip to fall down. Crunchy powder with bare spots in the sunny slopes made it safe enough so I didn’t turn back. I sure enjoyed this, camera work and beautiful snow scenes with bristlecone pines. Windy and chilly, I made it some 2.5 miles up the trail, when I decided to turn back, as it was getting late, and the trail climbed up ahead, and I was maybe mistaken in assuming a loop back to the car. Looking at Maps later, if I had gone on, I would have come to a junction, and the trail right goes back to the original dirt road that I had walked up.
With more photos, I began to get worried. If I slipped and broke a leg, I only had the PLB. I stepped over the fallen tree, and shortly was back to the dirt road. Encountering two other hikers, one with a dog, I knew then I had it made. A clear, colorful sunset was to be captured, but I was in a rush to get back by dark.
Back to the car with still light to see by, I motored off in the dark and freezing cold. With similar conditions, a moron came only with shorts on a long past Club lead of mine. Comfy with my bottoms and long pants, I motored off with the range/charge to get greater as the car warmed up. With the extreme cold, I feared that the car wouldn’t work. I turned on the car heat, and there was some glitch with the car screen. I couldn’t see to enter my code, but tapped about the numbers anyway to about where the numbers were.
With me out of the dark and cold, I opted to get out the water bottles out of my pack, and rehydrate as I drove. I headed for the Strip, with energy to do more captures with my dash cams. To the free parking garage, I used the restroom urgently. I saw some Chinese food op with only one table filled, so ordered a plate. Despite the 11 days to Christmas, the Mall was near empty.
Losing $15 at roulette, as the minimum was $25 at the card tables, I pitied people who have to wait for the vaccine, due in Spring. I should get my shot earlier, as I’m a senior with an underlying medical condition. Getting a shake for dessert, I didn’t see any great showgirl models. Then to get back home, and to be safe with my camera work, fearing another robbery.
Too tired for webwork, I took a shower and went to bed. I recall my turn around miles as 5.66, so a good 11 mile hike. I lost the Watch data, as I forgot to stop the app as I got back to the car. Probably about a thousand feet of gain, as there were ups and downs.
BACK TO PETE'S THOUSAND PEAKS HOME PAGE