does anyone know the mile # for tehachapi, CA?
jess
Tehachapi, CA - Pacific Crest Trail
system
#2
Tehachapi Willow Springs Rd. is at mile 555 but you could also go left at the Hwy. crossing at mile 563. If this is for a hitch, you’re going to have a much better chance at the road vs. the highway. If it’s for a meeting or pickup point, the Hwy might be a better place.
Little John
system
#3
As of this year, the road no longer goes into Mojave Fwiw, seems like a lot more hikers went to Tehachipi than Mojave this year because of this. The highway would be a hard place to hitch into either town, it’s like an interstate.Check out the Apple Shed restaurant while you’re in Tehachapi, fantastic food and the owner is a trail angel.
Doodlebug
system
#4
You can get to both Tehachapi and Mojave from either Tehachapi-Willow Springs Road or Hwy 58.
MOJAVE via Hwy 58 is still possible. I just drove it last week. You would stay on the PCT till Hwy 58, hitch toward Mojave on 58, take exit 165 to Mojave. There is plenty of traffic on the exit.
As far as deciding which town to go to, my vote is still for MOJAVE. In Mojave, you can stay at White’s motel which is near the PO — then the grocery is a mile away. Or you can stay at Motel 6 which is near the grocery & library, but the PO is a mile away. With either motel, you’ve got one mile to travel to do your chores.
In TEHACHAPI, most hikers stay at the Best Western (expensive) or Santa Fe Motel (cheap). They’re 0.5 miles apart. The problem with Tehachapi is that the PO is 1.2 miles from the Santa Fe Motel, and the grocery is 1.5 miles in a different direction. You’re walking over a mile to BOTH the PO and grocery. So unless you find a ride, you’ll walk more in Tehachapi than in Mojave.
One last thing — although there is less traffic on Tehachapi-Willow Springs road than on Hwy 58, the road is probably a better option than the highway. Cars on the highway are blazing past at 65 mph, and cars on the road drive much slower — better chance for them to stop.
mile 558.3 = Tehachapi-Willow Springs Road
mile 566.6 = Highway 58 (actually, this is a freeway)
yogi
yogi
system
#5
I would definitely go in to Mojave, and I would do so from T-WS road rather than HWY58. I’ve only driven through Tehachapi, as I hitched in to Mojave in 03. TH is a better town, but not if you are on foot. In MO, the PO is close to Whites, but the library and grocery store are about 3/4 mile walk from whites. Hitching from HWY58, if you are a solo dude, isn’t going to go well. I tried for about 90 minutes before the Whites people showed up to pick up some slackpackers. I’d much rather try the small road.
However, if I was going to do it I’d simply stay on the aquaduct (leave the PCT) and hike most of the way in to Mojave through the desert, then hitch out on HWY58.
Suge
system
#6
I agree with Yogi and Suge. I hiked the desert section twice ( I know, I know… it’s an illness). First year to Tehachapi, second to Mohjave. Tehachapi was an interruption, something to be endured. Mojave was a “town trip,” a place where magic happened.
No Way Ray
system
#7
FYI: the above mentioned Apple Shed retaurant in Tehachapi has a long list of trail angels who are anxious to help out thru-hikers by driving them to the PO or supermarket and back to the trailhead… so this makes Tehachapi a lil more attractive now, especially if its HOT in Mojave. I stayed in both the Sante fe Motel & the brand new Best Western Hotel this year. The Sante Fe is cheap and noisy, the Best western is a splurge price-wise, but worth it if you can afford it. If you like Hot desert towns with plenty of meth labs and fast food on a big noisy highway, then by all means go to Mojave instead.javascript:smile(’;)’)
freebird