Out There
Backcountry ventures
Since the first cold blast of winter arrived with that so-called bomb cyclone in late November, I’ve taken to walking the Dragoon Gulch trail two or three times a week.
I’ve been walking it in all conditions, sometimes in rain, sometimes in the cold, sometimes in the dark, in the mornings and evenings. The exercise is what motivates me, especially now in the thick of heavy-eating holidays season.
Last time I walked Dragoon Gulch in daytime was Dec. 2 and it was raining. I texted some friends a photo and wrote, “We ain’t sugar, we ain’t gonna melt.” Dec. 4 and Dec. 7 I walked it in predawn darkness when it was raining in the morning. Dec. 10 and Dec. 12 I walked it in after-sundown darkness with a few evening rain showers the second time out.
I’ll focus here primarily on the early morning walks, because starting in the dark means you finish with the sun coming up, or at least some sort of daylight breaking through. You can see better where you’re going and you may begin to see the rest of your day more clearly.
Walking in the evening means going from light to darkness, and that’s fun, too. The City of Sonora manages the trail and says hours are supposed to be dawn to dusk. These days it gets dark so early in the afternoon any evening walk is almost certain to be entirely in the dark.
I discovered a few months back it’s possible to start in downtown Sonora, walk down Stockton to Woods Creek, pick up the Dragoon Gulch trail there, do the summit trail, exit on Alpine Lane, and complete the loop back downtown in 90 minutes or less. It’s about 4 miles even and most people can walk it in that time easily.
Walking the gulch loop in wet, dark conditions means embracing the fact you’re going to get wet no matter what. And you’re going to need a light source for when it’s full-on dark in some spots. From the ground up, here’s a few tips on what to wear.
Pick your favorite, sturdy walking shoes or boots and make sure to wear thin socks under thicker socks. Regardless of how waterproof you believe your shoes are, you’re going to sweat and some moisture is likely to get to your feet. Using liner socks under thicker socks is a time-tested trick to reduce blisters in all conditions.
I don’t own rain pants and when it’s cold I prefer
lightweight long underwear bottoms under sturdy shorts with plenty of pockets. I know my legs are going to get wet and I know I’ll be moving fast enough to stay comfortable.
Up top for your torso, your core, and your head, you want to wear layers that wick moisture and retain body heat when wet, and a hooded rain jacket. Some days I wear a wool hat and two hoodies. Light gloves are useful if temperatures are dipping into the 40s. Top it off with a headlamp — a small flashlight strapped to your noggin — or keep your fully-charged cell phone handy to use the flashlight on the phone when you need it.
Carry at least a quart of water and take some snacks you can eat while walking. Leave fancy, watervulnerable cameras and electronics at home, or pack those things in a water-resistant pockets or a waterproof pack.
The two times I went in the morning last week, I started walking at 6:10 a.m. Dec. 4 and 6:05 a.m. Dec. 7. It was dark walking down Stockton past lower Save Mart. There were street lights and glare coming off the parking lots and off Stockton, all the way to Woods Creek Drive and further.
It’s about a mile to where the trail leaves urban lighting behind. By that time you’ve been walking downhill at a steady clip and you’re already sweating and damp, whether it’s raining or not, so it’s time to unzip and open up those layers so you don’t sweat too much.
It’s also time to remind yourself you’re way bigger than most mountain lions and you have nothing to fear in this gulch or up on the hill above. Sure it’s dark but you’re making a lot of noise, a virtual racket, just walking in the dark, and all the wildlife that care to notice know you are there.
By the time you get to the first switchback heading uphill, it may be getting light enough to switch off your headlamp but leave it on anyway. Keeping a light glowing will ensure all critters will notice you and it may also be the one thing somebody on a fast-moving mountain bike coming down the same trail can see.
Mountain bikers are allowed on all Dragoon Gulch trail segments. They’re supposed to yield to pedestrians. Pedestrians who walk in the dark need to know they are accountable for making sure other people can see them.
By the time you get up to the highest points on the summit trail, you’ve walked the hardest uphill parts, you’re at least two miles into your walk, you are full-on sweating, and you may be soaked if it’s a rainy morning. Depending on what time you started, you can probably see a lot of daylight by now.
For me, I prefer to skip the views and rest stops up here because I’m soaking wet and it’s important to keep moving. I’ve seen the views before and I don’t need to waste time fiddling with gear or a camera or anything else. I want to keep moving to keep generating body heat, especially if it’s a windy morning. Allow yourself time for one or two photos at most.
Heading downhill to the trail exit, it’s essential to ensure you can see where you’re placing your feet with each step. Sprained ankles, unnecessary trauma to your heels, slips and falls happen all the time in the dark on descents. If you can’t see exactly what’s underfoot, keep your headlamp or phone flashlight on, especially under dense manzanita canopy arching over the trail. Go slower if you have to. Pace yourself to finish with no injuries.
Once you get to Alpine Lane you’ve walked three miles and you’ve got one left to go. Keep walking a steady pace and save energy for a few uphill efforts near the Red Church.
Whichever way you finish, you’ll enjoy the last stretch downhill on Green Street or Washington Street. The key to a fun, early morning Dragoon Gulch walk is to start early enough so you leave plenty of time to get cleaned up and have a decent breakfast. You’re going to be hungry and you’ve earned it.
fender teens, court-ordered children and adult Cuban refugees. I am in my late 50s and anyone who walks OK on their own can keep up with me.