Let's Go Hiking!

That's right! It's time for another backpacking trip. It's a short one...75 miles in Joshua Tree National Park. I'll be hiking the California Riding and Hiking Trail which is only 37.5 miles long. So I will YoYo the trail, hiking from one end of the trail to the other end and then back again to where I started. I might take a couple of detours along the way that add a few more miles, but more about that later.

The California Riding and Hiking Trail (CRHT) was envisioned as a 3,000 mile network of trails looping through the entire state of California. The California Riding and Hiking Trails Act was approved by the state legislature in 1945. By the 1960s about 1,000 miles of trail had been constructed, but the project was abandoned in 1974 when the money ran out and priorities changed. One of the few remaining sections of the original trail still bearing the name exists in Joshua Tree which became a national monument in 1936 and national park in 1994. 

This trail has no natural water so hikers are allowed to cache water at locations along the trail accessible by vehicle. The day I start hiking, I'll spend the morning caching 5 gallons of water along the route for me to drink and cook with.

I'll begin at the trailhead close to the North entrance near Twentynine Palms and walk West to Blackrock Campground just outside the park, turn around and walk back. I plan to climb Ryan Mountain and visit Lost Horse Mine if time, water, and weather allow. I'm planning on the whole thing taking 4.5 days with a travel day on each end. On my way to Joshua Tree, I'm excited to stop in Fresno and meet an old friend for lunch. And there is a gluten free bakery in Fresno which I plan to check out! 

ASICS Gel-Venture 9

I've got some new hiking shoes and orthotics I'm going to demo on this hike. I don't need to carry a water filter since there will not be any water to filter and I don't anticipate any bugs so no bug spray or headnet. 

And exactly when is this all happening you ask? I'll drive to Joshua Tree on Thursday, February 15th, cache water and start hiking on the 16th, finish on the afternoon of the 20th and drive home on Wednesday the 21st! Stay tuned for a couple of blog posts, a review of my new shoes, and lots of pictures!

Thanks for following along!

Loren