The Aqueduct.

[chaska]

Did I spell that right?

Okay, so I got this crazy idea. Is there any reason I couldn't hike the entire length of the aqueduct (450 miles I understand)? I figure roughly 2-3 weeks.

[shraby]

1. Water.

I've seen rescues on t.v. of people getting caught in the water.

edited for tpyo.

[chaska]

7. What am I Jesus? I don't walk on water ... yet. I'm practising, though.

[Sirveri]

2. You might want to clear it with someone first.

In theory the government should be watching the stupid things, though they probably aren't. But Hey I'd love to go with you, I need to lose a bunch of weight.

[Richard D]

3. I believe

that a portion of the Pacific Crest trail runs next to it.

[illflem]

4. Some portions

are open to bicycles and hikers. Most of it is so boring that I don't see why anyone would want to hike next to it.

[chaska]

6. This is a concern. I'm new 2 CA and still pretty ignorant of the Aqueduct.

[BrotherBuzz]

8. LOL, drive I-5 first to get a feel of what it would be like...

Then, I would suggest you look into the newly created California Coastal Trail. Lots to see, and people to meet. Rainforest to desert, and everything in between. An internet search might even connect you the a group that does the hike every year.

The Pacific Crest Trail might be another interesting option to look into. I did the PCT over twenty years ago but, all in all, I feel the CCT has more to offer...perhaps I should start doing it in sections.

[LWolf]

12. 2 great alternatives

I've ridden some of the PCT, and never seen the coastal trail. Both appeal.

Chaska, the aqueduct runs through my area. I lived a mile away from a section for 12 years. These days, I can see a long stretch of it when I ride my horse to the top of a local ridge. The ridge top is a better trip. There are springs, dry creeks, rock outcrops, and plenty of flora and fauna. The aqueduct is one long concrete river surrounded by chain link.

[Historic NY]

5. The several that feed NY City are much nicer, your out in the counrty....

etc...a real engineering marvel.

[bemildred]

9. Frankly, you can do a lot better than that. nt

[Xithras]

10. Why would you want to?

Most of it winds through dry, uninspiring, treeless foothills and farmland. It's 105+ along much of it in the summer, and a foggy, muddy mess in the winter and fall. There are few road crossings for getting resupplied, and 90% of the adjoining land is privately owned and off-limits to camping (it's illegal to camp in the canal right of way itself). There are also sections near the lift stations that are closed to the public.

I've gone fishing in the Aqueduct before (years ago, before the fish guards were put in place on the intakes) and can't imagine walking the whole thing.

[LWolf]

11. We still have people fishing

out of the aqueduct locally. I assume their still catching, or they wouldn't be there. ;-)

[Xithras]

13. There are some fish, but not like there used to be

When I was a kid 20 years ago we used to pull largemouth, steelhead, various trout, and even the occasional salmon from the aqueduct. Nowadays it's 95% catfish and stripers, with the only the rare smallmouth or trout. The intake screens are doing their jobs by keeping the majority of the fish in the Delta where they belong, but it means that we northern valley fisherman lost our favorite fishing spot. Fishing the aqueduct used to be simple...drop a line under a bridge on a sunny summer day and you were guranteed a good hit within a minute. Now you're trolling for the bottom feeders...which is too much work for an inedible (IMO) fish.

I see you're from Antelope Valley though, isn't that near Pyramid Lake? I recall reading somewhere that the lake is stocked, so your local fishermen might also be catching fish swimming into the canal out of the lake.

[LWolf]

14. Not that close to Pyramid;

locals catch stripers. I've never heard of them catching catfish, although they probably do. It's still a pretty common sight to see people sitting on the bridge dropping their lines.