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Any excuse to take a hike! I went this week for a day hike and did a bit of survival, E&E, and OUC training. Or at least that is what I told myself. I was in the Angeles NF on a semi abandoned FS road that passes through a campground closed in 2002. Access is by foot or by the FS since they control the gate at each end. Loadout was a day pack with a quart of water, lunch, survival kit, first aid kit, small flashlight, cell phone. I wore a GI pistol belt with M1912 holster and GI web mag pouches with two loaded magazines for the ChiCom T54 in the holster. The belt also had a Kbar knife on it and a quart canteen and cup in a carrier. I had a wood walking staff. Me and the pups crossed that creek 6x in each direction. My boots are waterproof which meant that once water got in, it wasn't coming out!
The creek was too wide and running too deep to hop across at each crossing. This picture shows the road and the creek which are one and the same at this point. The first 3 times I crossed the boots came off and back on but after that I just waded across. and dumped the water out when I got across. The crossings were slimy and slippery and the walking staff was a great aid for stability.
In some crossings the water was fast enough that if I had gone down I probably would have gone over the side.
When we were about a hundred yards from the abandoned campground I smelled smoke faintly. I approached quietly but not doing a Daniel Boone sneak through the area. I saw a primitive campsite way off in one corner and stayed clear. I stayed alert, wrung out my wool socks and enjoyed the warmth. Pretty area and a nice place for a quick lunch.
Started back as the temperature was starting to come down a bit. The water felt colder going back. A dry pair of sock would have been nice once I was done with the water crossings. I usually carry some but not this time. Lesson learned. Be prepared!
I met several state workers at the far end of the road close to the closed gate. They greeted me in a friendly way, asked me about my hike, praised the dogs for being good and wished me a good day. No comment about the holster.
Don't know how much survival training value the hike was but it is a good excuse to talk about a great day!
The creek was too wide and running too deep to hop across at each crossing. This picture shows the road and the creek which are one and the same at this point. The first 3 times I crossed the boots came off and back on but after that I just waded across. and dumped the water out when I got across. The crossings were slimy and slippery and the walking staff was a great aid for stability.
In some crossings the water was fast enough that if I had gone down I probably would have gone over the side.
When we were about a hundred yards from the abandoned campground I smelled smoke faintly. I approached quietly but not doing a Daniel Boone sneak through the area. I saw a primitive campsite way off in one corner and stayed clear. I stayed alert, wrung out my wool socks and enjoyed the warmth. Pretty area and a nice place for a quick lunch.
Started back as the temperature was starting to come down a bit. The water felt colder going back. A dry pair of sock would have been nice once I was done with the water crossings. I usually carry some but not this time. Lesson learned. Be prepared!
I met several state workers at the far end of the road close to the closed gate. They greeted me in a friendly way, asked me about my hike, praised the dogs for being good and wished me a good day. No comment about the holster.
Don't know how much survival training value the hike was but it is a good excuse to talk about a great day!
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