Day 34: Decisions, decisions
So we spent today in the hiker-friendly town of Tehachapi. We have a difficult decision to make over the next week. 2019 turns out to be an unusual year wrt the weather. There has been about double the usual amount of snowfall in the Sierras and ongoing snowfall throughout the California section with colder than usual temperatures and increased rainfall.
We will reach the Sierras before it is safe to pass, even for those accustomed to snow hiking. Once the snow starts to melt the river crossings become dangerous.
One option is to skip past the Sierras to somewhere in northern California but unfortunately northern CA has received 4 times the usual amount of snow and is also hazardous.
We only have a forecast for the next few days and we are expecting thunderstorms here tomorrow followed by 80% chance of rain over the next day or so with temperatures dropping to about 15 degrees.
We have booked to stay here in the motel for another night and then our plan is to hike on to Lake Isabella. We will probably then go north to Dunsmuir (near the northern border of California) and commence a southbound hike at least for a short section of trail, keeping our options open should conditions become unsafe. We think we will then be able tackle the Sierras later in the season.
Having walked so far now, what’s your verdict on your rations & equipment?
Thinking of you both as you work through these difficult decisions. Love from all of us!
Flexibility is a good asset in hiking – flexibility of both mind and body 😉
You’re right. We met a hiker with the trail name Semper Gumby. He explained: I am always flexible.
I appreciate this man a lot, and I didn’t even meet him hahahahaha
Your safety always comes first. You have had an amazing journey so far, and tackling the Sierras later in the Season is a wise decision.
Well I’m a bit interested in what those decision decisions end up being!
There’s a whole lot of reasons why I’m sad to be missing out on the Sierras but I can cope because I’m taking a large amount of comfort from realising I won’t have to cross those rivers.
Unfortunately the snow keeps coming. Even places we have already been past are now getting snow.
Also very glad you are being cautious as I read in the paper yesterday of all sorts of bad weather further north in USA.
14’ min here in LC this morning but to go as low as 9’ during the coming week.
It must have been a difficult decision but it sounds like you chose safety, which is great. Just letting you know that it is getting a bit chilly here too – we went down to 13C last night!