[pct-l 53] adventures on section D east of Mill Creek Summit

[David Hough reading PCT-L]

Continuing my efforts to rehike what I can, I started east from Mill Creek
Summit today.

Surprise!    There's water flowing across the trail about 3/4 mile from 
the trailhead.     But that doesn't matter because (probably much better)
water is available from the Mill Creek Fire Station, along with a restroom
and picnic table, in their Pony Park Day Use Area, which is just before the
gate to the Mt Pacifico Road.

As of today, 420 day, the gate was closed.    Not clear to me if it is ever
open, a matter of concern to PCT dayhikers who might want to get to the
tailhead at 6650' on the Mt Pacifico Rd.    I came down that road from that
trailhead, and there wasn't anything an SUV with 4WD or AWD couldn't handle
easily.

But back on the trail starting at Mill Creek Summit, 
after the water, there were at least a couple dozen
trees on the trail.    They weren't big, none as large as 18", most less than
12", but the first three miles of the trail east from Mill Creek Summit is
on very steep, loose, brushy terrain which discourages bypasses.     You 
have to go over or under.    A couple of trees might be troublesome to
one with an artificial hip, but at 2.75 miles there is a tree which I 
suspect is absolutely blocking to equestrians.    It's lying along the
trail, rather than across it, with sharp broken branches protruding at all
angles.    No problem at all for through hikers that started in Campo, but
tricky for others.

Interestingly, after reaching the first switchbacks and the firebreak and
campsite CS0415 (halfmile 2015), there was only one more minor tree, no
problem, until CS0413, where I bailed onto the Mt Pacifico road to
return to the car, not wanting to repeat my uphill tree experiences.

The gate at Mill Creek Summit didn't discourage a couple of dirt bikers
that roared by me on the road on their way to the summit of Mt Pacifico.
The PCT doesn't go there; the campground has no water.     High clearance
is advised for those who would go there and can get past the gate.

PCT dayhikers should also be aware that as of 420 day, the road to Mt
Gleason was gated shut at Mill Creek Summit.    Presumably the gate will
be unlocked at some point, as it has in previous years.

Several hikers on this part of the trail today, but only one or two looked
like they might have started at Campo.     Late May would be the traditional
time for through hikers to reach Mill Creek Summit/North Fork/Soledad Canyon/
Agua Dulce.

Astonishingly, there were stil bits of snow next to the trail in sheltered
northern exposures at around 6400'.