Tehachapi – Acton – Day 131 – Thurs Nov 2nd

Day 131 Thurs Nov 2nd 
Tehachapi – Tent site 2 – The Oasis
2088.7 – 2106.2
Approx. 4039 ft ascent 1654 ft descent
17.5 Miles

We had a late night making sure our packs were ready for the trail and all ship shape. 

Poor Sarah was up to 3am scheduling blog updates and sorting out the last bits of blog admin.  What a trooper! 

Colin had told us that trial conditions should become easier now + that we should easily be able to maintain higher mileages.  This was music to our ears + helped put a pep in our step for this next section. 
This morning we were up early.  Abel rustled up some breakfast burritos.  Poor Peso patiently waited for us to finish, before being allowed to go for his morning walk. 

Finally, we were ready and Abel kindly ran us back to the trial to the same point we had got off trail.  Abel and Peso then went further down the trail and we agreed to meet again at the top of the climb to say our goodbyes. 

 Able told us in approx. 17 miles we would find a tent site called “The Oasis” and we should aim to get there tonight and we wouldn’t be disappointed!  Apparently, there is a sizeable water cache + also a seating area for hikers to chill.  He also said there may also be some trail magic waiting for us! 
As we left Highway 58 we noticed Roadrunners darting through the sage bushes and undergrowth.  They are funny looking birds with long legs and tail feathers + they look more like mini dinosaurs when they run. 

 As we hiked towards the summit of the first climb we could just make out Abel and the large silhouette of Peso in the distance.  At the top we said our goodbyes + took in the spectacular views surrounding us. 

Tehachapi was one of our favourite trail towns and stops on the trail.  We’ve met some lovely trail angels, but we can’t emphasise enough how kind and decent Abel had been to us + he rightfully deserves the title of a trail angel! 

We then passed a wind farm made up of a multitude of wind turbines all of different shape and sizes.  Some of them look like they belong in a Star Wars movie. 

The addition of the wind turbines makes the landscape look both beautiful and futuristic + I wouldn’t say these are a blight on the landscape.  Instead I can see how they benefit our environment by producing electricity.   

There’s also evidence of mining with the tops of some of the mountains seemingly chopped off. The ground is tiered with tracks cut through the landscape, allowing large heavy vehicles to access the mountains. 

 

As the morning progresses it becomes hot + maybe this is a taste of what this final section is going to be like. 

As one last gesture of good will and kindness Abel had left us a couple of litres of sweet aqua  at Willow Springs Road, which is eight miles from Highway 58. 

We both filled our boots drinking both protein powders and Gatorade to make sure we are probably hydrated for the next 10-mile climb over 2500 ft. 

 Here we also found some information boards that told us all about the history of the wind farm in Tehachapi and why the wind farm had been located here.    

It explained how the mountains funnell the air creating a venturi effect and increasing wind speeds as the earth spins.  Making it a perfect environment to station wind turbines. 

We also found out information about Lenticular cloud formations that helped explain some of the interesting cloud shapes we had witnessed. 

 As we left Willow Springs and crossed the highway we came across a picnic bench with more water and a box containing apples and chocolate bars.  They had been left by another trail angel called Jason.

As we started to climb the sun burnt strong on the backs of our legs + our sun umbrellas were flapping in the wind, but were essential to help deflect the beating sun.

Sarah is carrying two pairs of trail runners.  In addition to her Topo’s she picked up her old Altera Lone Peaks in town + is keen to see if they offer any relief from the foot pain she is suffering. 

The 10-mile climb seems to go on forever and some of the last parts were pretty steep! Although our eyes were firmly focussed on getting to the Oasis, even if it involved hiking into the night.

We arrived under the light of our head torches to find a bohemian shabby chic kind of arrangement with bits of driftwood forming chairs and tables.  It was very cool + there were also sweet sheltered tent sites nestled in amongst the buckthorn and sage. 

 
We found a small locker in the “kitchen area” which had some food supplies.  There was also a metal trash can so we could get rid of any rubbish we had collected / built up before leaving.
As we set up the tent we could see the twinkling city lights from what we later found out was the city of Lancaster and its surrounding solar panels and wind turbines.  The city seemed alive, almost like some large electric organism living at the foot of the mountains.  It was beautiful to look at + almost mesmerising.  Sarah commented that I am like some kind of magpie + thought it strange that even with my love of the mountains I also found this so appealing.

It seemed to get cold pretty quickly tonight.   

Sarah snuggled up and her sleeping bag in the tent.  As the water boiled for our dinner I placed my hands around my cook pot to keep them warm, whilst starring at the city lights beneath.  

On tonight’s menu was a Pad Thai ramen number.  Adding some packet chicken, peanut butter, cashew nuts and chilli flakes can really transform some lifeless noodles into something special. 

We can only imagine what this Oasis would be like in peak hiker season, but tonight we have it to ourselves.