Sulphur Pots backpacking trip

Last weekend [September 22-23, 2013]. I went on a quick overnight backpacking trip here locally with some friends. We have a small bushcraft group called CENTRAL COAST BUSHCRAFT [Facebook]. We selected a campground in the Santa Lucia Wilderness called Sulphur Pots and started from Upper Lopez Canyon. The hike in took about 2 hours and involved multiple creek crossings and some brush-busting.

I used a FOX TACTICAL 72 hour assault pack for load bearing. Total pack weight went about 30 lbs. Shelter was a plastic poncho rigged with one raised corned. bedding was a leaf litter mattress. I rolled up in a GRABBER Space blanket and a wool USGI blanket. Temps overnight were about 50, so I was very comfortable. 

We were under a Level IV Fire restriction so there was no chance for a hot meal. Cold food was the order of the day. Good thing the weather was warm...made it somewhat palatable.

For water treatment I used a CAMELBAK U/V bottle. The water here was mildly odorous [sulphuric] and tasted poorly. I did not care to drink too much of it.

We did not seen any wildlife beyond a couple of tree squirrels. We did see some scat from the usual suspects...coyotes and bobcats. There was a profusion of insects, especially those annoying tiny black flies that love to insert themselves into your ears and nose.

The hike out took about an hour and 55 minutes. Overall, it was a fun and quick overnight outing.





 
© 2013, MANNY SILVA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED