Day 6: Jackrabbit Lake to Pacheco Camp
Another day of solitude. A very enjoyable 11-mile ride from Jackrabbit Lake (1300 feet) down Orestimba Creek Road (1080 feet), up over Mississippi Ridge (1950 feet), down into Mississipi Creek canyon (1600 feet), Pacheco Ridge (1950 feet), then Pacheco Creek canyon (Pacheco Camp) at 1689 feet.
I am expecting significant uphill segments to be unridable, but they turn out to be few and far between, so the trip doesn't take nearly as long as expected.
These trips are always much better after the first few days. One becomes much stronger and comfortable after several days of living outdoors.
However, I do get a bit of a scare when I have a crash on Orestimba Creek Road.
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Date: August 31, 2007, 07h58
Size: 23 items
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Jackrabbit Lake campsite, morning. Time to get out the iodine tablets.
To my amazement, it rains ever so lightly for about one minute. My first mouthful of iodine-treated water makes me gag and feel like I might vomit.
Date: August 31, 2007, 07h48
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The Orestimba Creek Trail veers off the Orestimba Creek Road to the right. I'll stay on the road.
I left Jackrabbit Lake around 11h and now I'm enjoying backtracking on Orestimba Creek Road on the same route I took to get to Jackrabbit Lake.
Date: August 31, 2007, 11h38
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Aha, here's the trail to Kingbird Pond.
I didn't see this trail when I passed by on the way to Jackrabbit Lake even though I intended to take a look at it.
Date: August 31, 2007, 11h54
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I walk a few hundred feet up the Kingbird Pond Trail.
I walk past the first bend in the trail to see if the lake is visible, but it isn't.
Date: August 31, 2007, 11h52
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A bit further up Orestimba Creek Road, I notice Will's Pond.
Will's Pond is really drying up! This pond is a few hundred feet from the road and I didn't notice it on the way to Jackrabbit Lake.
Date: August 31, 2007, 12h08
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Taking a breather at the Orestimba Corral to assess our condition after crashing on the way down the hill from Will's Pond.
I'm a little shaken up right now, but trying not to be.
Date: August 31, 2007, 12h27
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Heading up the County Line Road grade toward Mississippi Ridge, stopping by a trap for wild pigs.
I'm a bit sore, but I think I'm mostly OK (still not sure about my ribs). The real surprise is that I'm actually riding up a lot of this road, rather than dragging the bike as expected.
Date: August 31, 2007, 12h57
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At the top of the County Line Road grade, it's time to begin the short descent down Coit Road into the Mississippi Creek canyon.
Wow, it only took me a little over an hour to make it up the County Line Road grade! I have one more ridge to climb over today (Pacheco Ridge), and a small canyon between here and there.
Date: August 31, 2007, 14h03
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After climbing out of Mississippi Creek canyon to Pacheco Ridge, I look down into the canyon that will be home tonight.
Great, it only took me an hour to go down into the canyon and come up the other side. The hot weather isn't bothering me at all.
Date: August 31, 2007, 14h04
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