Lost Knife Camp
So, it has been some time since my last post. I recently underwent a radical life change, started a new career in the commercial fire alarm industry and moved up to Northern California. Currently you can find me living in San Ramon under the shadow of Mount Diablo. Do I miss the LP? Tremendously I do. Not a day goes by without thought of it. Miss my few good pals? Indeed with everything I got. Will I return? Absolutely I will, as soon as I can make it happen. I needed out of Hollywood and La County. My job was forever stuck there. If I was to ever leave I would need a new career, so after years of discussion with my brother who is in the Fire life safety industry I finally made the jump. As I figure it I am up here training, learning the ropes. The company I work for was flirting with the notion of maybe opening an office in San Luis Obispo. At least that is what I was told before I committed to going up. If it happens you can bet I'll be the first to go. Anyhow that's my update for now, sorry for the long absence between posts. Now to Lost Knife.
1938 LPNF Recreation Map showing Lost Knife (M46)
Drop in point from Sierra Madre Ridge.
It's no secret my admiration for the 38 map. Hell I love the damn thing. So many obscure camps made a single appearance on it, never to be seen again on newer additions. The idea of locating them just always excites me to no end. What I thought would be neat is to put out posts highlighting the ones we can find. I'm calling it the 38 special series. Unlike past write ups with my endless babble the pictures will tell the majority of the story for these. No step by step directions here, occasionally during a more amiable moment I may provide GPS coordinates. Generally these sites will be very remote and not something most will want to try for anyhow. The hardy ones that do will figure it out with the photo clues. If you have a copy of this map and want to collaborate on future missions I'm all ears, just shoot me a message or leave a comment on the post.
Target drainage in the distance
Beautiful meadow midway down
Yucca in these parts be relentless, no one came out unscathed. Yo Nate how's your ass cheeks feeling?
At Lost knife we found a single Ice Can stove, tipped sideways, atop an old axe and covered in brush. The photos below show the exact location and the surrounding area. Where the stove was found did not seem like the ideal spot considering there was a much nicer flat just before it and another across the creek where the fire ring with old cans was observed. Perhaps at some point it was moved or maybe in the past there was multiple camp sites and this Ice Can is the sole survivor. Without a site record one can only speculate. Regardless it was a lovely spot and we look forward to returning when we go after Blanco (M45), Cone Spring (M44) and Live Oak Spring (M28).
Larger flat just across the creek.
Admittedly we did get a late start and could have done a much better job searching the vicinity for more clues. I can all but guarantee we missed a few relics. Unfortunately "daylight wasting time" (stole that phrase from Flemming). Did not afford us the opportunity to loiter for vey long. Nevertheless this was a win, and hell of a good trip. Felt great to be back in the forest I adore so much with my pals.
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