So Saturday, March 9-2019 in my never ending quest to try to get a picture of a California Condor in the wild, I went to a new site. Drove up to Pinnacles National Park which is like 35 miles SE of Hollister CA.
Day was nice and got an early start (4:30 am) and once I got there, did a quick recon then went and got me a spot for the tent.
After getting the ten set up, drove around trying to find a Condor, even did a 1.7 miles hike up to Condor Gulch and to High Peaks (damn I need to work on my cardio). No luck unfortunately.
Drove the scenic route HWY 25 through a very hilly and green valley with lots of cattle farms as well as some Vineyards all to get breakfast (Hollister was the closet town BTW). Shovel down some Egg McMuffins, top off the fuel tank and headed back to the National Park.
Once I got back to the park did manage to see a Condor way off in distance riding some warn updraft. Unfortunately it was too far off to get any real shot, though I tried.
So no Condors this go round, but I did see some deer, wild turkey, some partridges, lots of Turkey Vulture and even some lovely brown bird with gorgeous wings of Blue (no idea what it is called-anyone know-please pass it on).
So got my fire going, fired up to the MSR Whisper Light burner and made some Ramin Noodle, they hit home.
Stayed up until around 10pm looking at some great stars and clear skies and then hit the bag in the tent.
So around midnight it starts drizzling and it is cold, very cold! Toss and tumble in the sleeping bag thinking, Tim why the hell didn't you bring a winter bag with you from WV instead of the spring bag.
It only got worse, the cold was below freezing and the next thing you know the tent fly is iced over. Still trying to get settled in the bag, and go to sleep-Not for long though.
Sure as can be, about the time tiredness hits in, I find myself shivering bad. I turned on the light in the tent and notice my bag is frosting up and basically it is like snow INSIDE THE TENT.
Evidently it is so cold and the tent is so tight, that the moisture from breathing is freezing. So between the less than desire bag, freezing weather and just miserable, decide, screw it the truck has got to be better.
So off to the confines of the Tundra back seat for some rest.
It was better than the tent, but still cold, however for the most part I got a few hours of sleep off and on, mainly waking up for my one hand that was outside the bag got very cold and woke my old butt up.
Finally around 6 am, got up, started the truck and headed to a trail. Manage to once again go up the Condor Gulch trail, half of which was in the dark. Got to the top just a little after sun rose and enjoyed the site, but still no Condors.
After hiking it back down, got in the Tundra, put the seat warmer on high, crank the heater up and warmed the bones up. Finally got to campsite, broke the tent down (it was covered with ice-so just through it in the PU Bed and will deal with it this week.
Overall still was better than looking at the walls of the RV and another adventure for the old memory. Next time though, may have to get Gerry to send me the mummy bag or make a stop at REI.
Here is a few Pictures, one of these days, may have the Condor, oh and talking to the biologist, she told me there is around 276 in the wild at last count.
