Dan's Hiking Blog

Garcia Trail to Glendora Peak - January 29, 2012

2012-01-29T22:34:00.000-08:00

See Garcia Trail Description on Dan's Hiking Pages

Rarely do I hike twice in one weekend, but Sunday was another gorgeous day. I couldn’t resist. Yesterday’s hike to Monrovia Canyon Falls was enjoyable, but weather like this calls for climbing a peak. So I arose early and headed to Garcia Trail, my de facto scrappy hike, five minutes from my home in Azusa.

7:05 - Begin hike. The thermometer says 47 degrees, but it seems warmer than that. The sun is barely above the eastern horizon and casting a warm light. I soon take off my long sleeves. Lots of people on the trail today. I run into my friend Art, a fellow Azusian. There is not much in bloom. The Santa Ana winds have cleaned up the air making good visibility. I climb steadily and enjoy the beauty of the day. I reach the ridge and Glendora Ridge Motorway at 7:43, turn east, and head to the summit. Six guys in sleeping bags are camped out on the water collection slab.

7:50 - Azusa Peak (2081’). Three young ladies are sitting separately and quietly reading. A man, a young girl, and a dog sit on the bench. It’s peaceful here. The wooden cross has been repainted white sometime since January 1. I snap a few pics and leave the summit at 7:54 heading east.

I have no specific plan for the hike, but I have to be home by 10:00. I figured I’d wander up the road a bit. There is a slight breeze. There is virtually no snow visible on the high country to the north and east. At 8:07 I decide to veer right onto the use path that climbs the broad ridge east toward Glendora Peak. It starts gently but then gets steep as it approaches the summit. The weedy grasses are low and green and pose no problems.

8:24 - Glendora Peak (2596’). The large round summit provides commanding views, but they are partially obscured by vegetation on the north and south. I’ve hiked here numerous times over the years. It offers a nice five-mile round trip with 1,800 in elevation gain starting from Garcia Trail trailhead. It’s a convenient conditioning hike for me. There are two primary routes to this peak. The other climbs a short distance (3 minutes) from the east from Glendora Ridge Motorway.

I post a photo to FB and leave the peak at 8:46, retracing my steps. I meet a man named George. He says he has seen mountain lions eight times in this area. I reach the road at 9:04 just as George catches me. We walk together and talk hiking. He completed the Sierra Club Hundred Peaks Section list last year. Quite commendable! We transition to Garcia Trail at 9:15. Lot of people lingering about (for many, this is their destination, without making the final climb to Azusa Peak). After a few minutes I say goodbye to George and slow down a little. The warm sun feels good. Excellent visibility today. Lots of people on the trail: young, old, large, small, couples, solos, groups, families, dog walkers, runners, and out-of-shape folks who are barely dragging themselves up the trail. At “Razor Ridge” a Boy Scout troop from West Covina stands resting. I hear the leader polling the boys to see if they want to abort the hike. That seems odd to me...quitting with less then a quarter mile into the hike. Run into Barbara, an old friend from our CFC days.

9:53 - End hike. The thermometer reads 67 degrees, but it feels warmer.

Epilog - What a blessing to have such a splendid trail so close to home! Gorgeous weather! I get satisfaction out of seeing so many people enjoying the outdoors. And as is typical, heading east from Azusa Peak almost always offers a degree of solitude and serenity.

See Garcia Trail Description on Dan's Hiking Pages

Monrovia Canyon Falls Hike - January 28, 2012

2012-01-28T22:06:00.000-08:00

See Monrovia Canyon Falls Description on Dan's Hiking Pages

The forecast of gorgeous weather and a few weeks off from hiking demanded that I hit the trail today. A full plate for the weekend meant a hike close and short. The clear visibility suggested a peak but I decided on beautiful Monrovia Canyon. It’s been a couple years so I was eager to return to one of my favorite waterfall hikes.

After a 15-minute drive from Azusa to Monrovia, I park on Canyon Drive just south of Ridgeside Drive. I park here to avoid the $5 parking fee in the park. There a few cars.

7:10 - Begin hike. It’s a brisk 47 degrees. In a few minutes I reach the park gate and am surprised to see it open. The sign indicates that the park opens at 7 a.m. on weekends. It used to be 8 a.m. I continue the half mile up the road to the park entrance. Chat with entrance station attendant.

7:25 - Begin on Bill Cull Trail. The narrow, well-traveled trail climbs through rich chaparral. I love the early morning. The sun lands on the ridge tops and the valley below. The morning aroma is pleasant. The nice rain last Monday certainly aided the greening up of the vegetation. The deciduous trees and shrubs like big leaf maple, sycamore, alder, and poison oak are mostly leafless. There is not much in bloom...a lone wallflower, some everlasting, wild cucumber, wishbone bush. Views over the canyon open up. A gentleman passes me heading up the trail at a little faster pace. Soon a lady passes me. I cross the creek and switch back southeast. A couple ladies pass me going the other direction.

7:44 - Falls Trail junction. Turn left and head north up canyon. Two ladies are not far behind me. Their incessant, loud jabber spoils the quietness of the setting. In a couple minutes I pass the first of five “Lincoln log” check dams. The evergreen leaves of oak and bay stand in contrast to the leafless deciduous trees. There is such a beauty to this canyon. The park staff and volunteers do a great job in maintain the trail and keeping the park nice. At 1.7 miles from the entrance station, the canyon narrows as I approach the falls. A group of five is leaving.

8:02 - Monrovia Canyon Falls. I’m the only one here. It’s a peaceful setting but I know the solitude won’t last for long. The falls are flowing nicely, tumbling 30 feet in two tiers. A sign has been posted prohibiting climbing the rock faces and falls. After a couple minutes the noisy ladies arrive and turn the site into their gym. More people arrive. More loud voices. I don’t linger long. Leave the falls at 8:14.

My stroll back is leisurely and mostly peaceful, interrupted occasionally by noisy-voiced people heading to the falls. At the junction I veer left and take the two-minute walk to the nature center. The grassy picnic area is serene. Early morning sun filters through the trees. There is no one here. I look around. The last time I was here there were deer grazing, but none today. I linger about 15 minutes then head back down the trail. When I reach the Bill Cull Trail junction I continue on the main trail for another few minutes to the road and the middle trailhead. I retrace my steps to Bill Cull Trail junction for my return. People traffic is increasing. I’m now in full sun with expanding views over the canyon.

9:17 - Arrive at junction of a trail that heads northwest. I’ve been on that trail before coming over from Clamshell Truck Road from the west (August 2006). It’s fenced off now and a sign reads, “Do Not Enter, Restricted Area.” Another sign says, “Closed for re-vegetation.” This area has not burned in years and the native chaparral is healthy and robust. There is no need to re-vegetate. Somebody is not being truthful here. I’ll take the 5th regarding what I did for the next 40 minutes.

10:03 - Bill Cull Trail trailhead. I talk with a park employee about the “restricted area” and he says that they are studying the area for the visibility for a trail. After using the restroom I asked another park employee about the current condition of Ben Overturf Trail to Deer Park. He said it was excellent. They’ve been doing a lot of work on it. It’s been 16 years since I hiked it. I keep thinking I should do a write-up on it but it has not had a strong enough pull to get me back. I guess I’m more drawn to peaks and waterfalls. I leave the entrance station at 10:16 and walk the road back to the car, enjoying the sunshine and the beauty of the day.

10:30 - End hike at car. The temperature is 77 degrees.

Epilog - Very enjoyable outing. Despite some obnoxiously loud people, the beauty of the canyon, the crispness of the early morning, green plants, flowing water, flowers, warm sunshine, blue sky, and good exercise makes for a splendid hike.

See Monrovia Canyon Falls Description on Dan's Hiking Pages

Garcia Trail to Azusa Peak Hike – January 1, 2012

2012-01-01T22:09:00.000-08:00

See Garcia Trail Description on Dan's Hiking Pages

Gorgeous weather in So Cal calls for a New Year’s Day hike. The temps were unseasonably warm, so I decided on a late afternoon hike to my beloved Azusa Peak via Garcia Trail. It didn’t really feel like New Year’s to me, since the Rose Parade will be held on January 2 this year because New Year’s falls on a Sunday. I drove the five minutes from my house to the trailhead. The thermometer reads 84 degrees.

3:00 PM - Begin hike. The sun is really quite warm. It’s not rained in a while so the trail is dusty. The air is clear and the views are great. Lots of people are on the trail but I still can enjoy a sense of solitude. There is virtually nothing in bloom. I stop to photograph the tiny wild cucumber blossom and the little purple wishbone bush flower. I try to think philosophically about the new year but my mind drifts to plants, fresh air, blue sky, splendid views, and the simple joy of just hiking. I reach the ridge at 3:40. There is not much snow left on the high county mountains. I turn right (east) for the final climb. Someone painted “Jesus Saves” on the side of the water collection slab. That is a two-word truth I agree with, but I don’t suspect that Jesus would condone the practice of defacing property.

3:50 - Azusa Peak (2081’). I love this site. I’m the only one here right now so I savor a few minutes of solitude as I sit on the new bench. It’s peaceful. A gentle breeze feels good. The wooden cross is constantly changing with its hodgepodge of graffiti. The muted din of city noise accompanies the panorama of human sprawl. I post a pic on Facebook. Others arrive.

I leave the summit at 4:20 and retrace my steps. The sun reflects off the ocean. The late afternoon lighting is warm. People are still coming and going. I’m enjoying the beauty of the day. I think about my hike on June 21—the first day of summer—where the sun set behind the mountains to the west. Today the sun sets far to the south and invites me to photograph the first sunset of 2012. The last sliver of sun dips below the horizon at 4:58. I saunter down the trail as day turns to dusk and a sea of twinkling lights emerges.

5:13 - End hike. The thermometer reads 74 degrees. What a nice way to begin the new year! I am always so thankful for the blessing of being able to hike.

See Garcia Trail Description on Dan's Hiking Pages

Burbank, Cahuenga, and Lee in Griffith Park - Dec. 30, 2011

2011-12-30T23:41:00.001-08:00

See Burbank Peak, Cahuenga Peak, and Mt. Lee Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages

Burbank Peak remained as the final named summit I had yet to climb in Griffith Park. Actually, along with Cahuenga Peak, Burbank Peak was added to Griffith Park in 2010 thanks to the efforts of The Trust for Public Land. They raised $12.5 million to save 138 acres from development to preserve as open space.

I had climbed to Cahuenga Peak a couple times before from the east approach and had eyed the path heading west toward that lone tree at the end of the ridge. I had not seen any write-ups for the route from the west, so after studying the aerials, I was ready to bag Burbank Peak. And it seemed to be a fitting end-of-the-year hike.

The skies over Azusa were clear and beautiful when I arose on Friday morning, but as I drove into L.A., the marine haze murkied the sky. Driving north on the 101, I exited on Barham, turned right onto Lake Hollywood, meandered through the residential area, and arrived at the intersection of Wonder View Drive. I love the bird’s eye view on Bing maps. I had gotten so thoroughly familiar with the area from flying around on Bing, that when I drove up, it seemed like I had already been there before.

10:00 AM - Begin hike, walking 0.2 mile up Wonder View Drive to the locked vehicle gate. I walk around the gate and up the dirt road, passing a large water tank on the left. Just short of the power tower, the route cuts to the right (east). Climbing the narrow, rugged trail feels like actually hiking compared to the wide dirt roads in other parts of Griffith Park. The sun is warm. I love the aroma of the chaparral. The thick haze choking the city makes for very limited visibility. There is virtually nothing in bloom but plants are greening up from the rains. At 10:29 I reach the switchback and make the final pitch to the ridge. A young man and woman pass me coming down. At 10:35 I arrive at the ridge and get my first look at the Tree, about 60 yards to the left.

10:37 - Burbank Peak (1690’). Two men and a dog are standing by the tree taking pictures. This summit provides stunning views of the human sprawl, but thick haze shrouds visibility today, particularly to the south. The panorama of the expansive San Fernando Valley to the north is not as obscured. The Hollywood Hills Fire of March 30, 2007 incinerated more than 150 acres on the northern slopes of Burbank Peak. Aerial images from Bing show horrific damage, but thankfully the chaparral is recovering nicely. Another 15 years and it will be as good as ever.

The icon of Burbank Peak is the lone, round pine tree. It’s commonly called The Wisdom Tree and also referred to as Ginger Rogers Tree (dating back to the 1940s when the famous actress was romantically involved with Howard Hughes, who owned the land and wanted to build a mansion on it for the two of them). The fascination over the tree is almost cultish. It even has a website (http://www.t2k.com/mytree/). I enjoy browsing the summit log...signed by a very different clientele than those who climb typical peaks in the mountains. I leave the peak at 11:10 and count 77 steps to the junction. I continue along the well-beaten path up the ridge toward Cahuenga Peak. Evidence of fire abounds.

11:24 - Cahuenga Peak (1820’), the highest summit in the Hollywood Hills. This approach from the west is much more like a real hike than coming up the paved Mt. Lee Drive. Most of my hikes in Griffith Park are in the late afternoon when the lighting is warm and rich. Today’s midday lighting is not great for photos and the murky skies are not particularly appealing. But I’m enjoying the outdoors and the winter chaparral. I value the solitude and am always amazed that I can be alone on a splendid peak like this in the view of human sprawl of a gazillion people. A Farmers blimp floats over Hollywood.

I leave the peak at 11:30 and head east on the narrow, rugged path. As I approach the saddle I can look west and see the Tree on Burbank Peak. To the east tiny figures gather on the summit of Mt. Lee. The rugged, mature chaparral below me to the north stands in stark contrast to the dense human development beyond, with Forest Lawn providing a pastoral margin. I now climb and at 11:42 I reach the predominate knob on the ridge. I had pondered the idea of descending the long ridge southwest from here, but fence blocking the route a half mile down surrounds what appears to be a steep hillside vineyard. Soon I get a glimpse of the Hollywood Sign as I continue east along the ridge. Reach paved Mt. Lee Drive at 11:48. The portion of the chain link fence that used to block this trail is now removed. I’m guessing officials opened it up since the property is now public.

11:50 - Mt. Lee (1680’). Actually I’m not at the summit quite yet, as I’ve stopped to look at people looking at the famed sign, just below the road. Lots of people are coming and going. Views beyond the local hills are virtually non existent. I scamper to the top to join more people. I see sightseers on the dirt road far below, no doubt seeking the best shot of the 50-foot tall, 450-foot wide Tinseltown icon. Toward the west my line of sight toward the Tree is block by the prominent knob on the nearby ridge. A young lady arriving on the summit complains of the “smog.” I gently point out that 90% of it is marine layer, not smog, albeit not really a consolation for the dismal visibility.

I leave Mt. Lee at 12:05. When I get to the trail junction, I momentary ponder continuing down Mt. Lee Drive for an alternate return, but decide not. I retrace my steps on the rugged path along the undulating ridge. A young lady passes me in the opposite direction. I pass over Cahuenga Peak and continue west. When I arrive at the junction I take the remaining steps to the summit of Burbank Peak again. After lingering a few minutes I head down. A young man and women pass me heading up. All totaled for the day on the trail (not including Mt. Lee) I encountered only eight people in five parties. That is surprising sparse considering the massive population that surrounds these hills.

1:28 - End hike.

I now drive south on Lake Hollywood Drive to Tahoe Drive to Canyon Lake Drive to the end near Innsdale Drive. From here, a dirt road penetrates an undeveloped portion of Griffith Park below the Hollywood Sign. I climb the ridge some and observe new fence polls installed at intervals of about 100 feet up the mountain side. Judging from the map, they appear to be marking the park boundary. I snap some shots of the Hollywood Sign then head back down. I follow the dirt road east with more views of the sign. I’ve not explored this portion of the park before. The road terminates between two house on Mulholland Hwy. I walk along the street past the junction of Ledgewood Drive. The road becomes dirt and I arrive at the location where I could see sightseers from above. Signs clearly forbid parking and hiking to the sign. I’m ready to be done. I retrace my steps and arrive back to the car at 3:02.

Epilog - Fun to finally conquer Burbank Peak and its iconic tree. The hikers’ route to Cahuenga Peak and Mt. Lee will make a good hike description. The poor visibility for the day leaves me wanting to return when the skies are clear. It’s been a very satisfying year of hiking. I’m always thankful for the health and means to enjoy our wonderful outdoors.

See Burbank Peak, Cahuenga Peak, and Mt. Lee Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages

See blog posts from other hikes in Griffith Park:

Foothills and Peaks Hike - December 4, 2011

2011-12-04T21:23:00.000-08:00

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From my home in Azusa I can see a number of peaks in the nearby San Gabriels. One peak has eluded me for years, and this fair-weather weekend occasioned the opportunity to conquer that peak. Saturday was spent cleaning up debris from the big winds this week. So on Sunday morning my wife dropped me off at the trailhead and I was ready to hike.

10:00 - Begin hike. It’s about 63 degrees and the warm sun feels good. I’m excited to be on a trail I’ve not hiked before. The hillsides are greening up from the rains. The sky is blue and cloudless. There is virtually nothing in bloom. The red berries of toyon add a splash of color. As I climb, views of the San Gabriel Valley spread out before me, but somewhat muted by haze. There is a quiet peacefulness here...very relaxing. Several deer graze. Soon views toward the high county to the north and east open up. Snow covers Baldy. I climb at a pleasant pace, soaking in the beauty of the rich chaparral. I love the aroma of sage. My destination comes into view. The route becomes steeper as I approach the peak. I’m eager to arrive.

12:00 - Summit (3100+'). What a spending peak! I wander around to experience the views, which are partially obscured by vegetation. A rock serves as a suitable spot to sit and enjoy lunch. The breeze is cool and I put on a long sleeve shirt. I get my binoculars out to get a closer look at landmarks in the vast human sprawl below, including my house...well I can’t actually indentify my house, but the imposing Target store a few blocks from my house provides a definitive reference point.

I leave the peak at 1:00 and choose a different route back. I take a side jaunt to climb another prominent summit. This one has a better view with a commanding 360 degree panorama. The sun glistens off the distant ocean. I stay less than 10 minutes. As I descend through the chaparral-covered foothills, I’m really enjoying the solitude, the pleasant weather, and the beautiful scenery. It’s fun to experience new territory.

2:43 - Paved Road / Civilization. This formally ends the hike. Now a mile-and-a-half walk down the street delivers me conveniently at a bus stop. Soon the bus comes and a comfortable ride delivers me back home.

Epilog - What a pleasant hike! About 1,800 feet in elevation gain and a total of about 8 miles. Certainly not as grand as the high country, but a very satisfying outing none the less. And it sure beats Christmas shopping! What a blessing to have such wonderful mountains close at hand to explore and relish their beauty!

See Dan’s Hiking Pages

San Gabriel, Disappointment, Deception - November 25, 2011

2011-11-25T20:23:00.000-08:00

See San Gabriel Peak Hike Report January 6, 2006 at Dan’s Hiking Pages

An extraordinarily beautiful day following Thanksgiving and a day off work was the perfect occasion to hit the trail. And my hike to Mt. Wilson last week piqued my interesting in returning to the area. I had several goals in mind. One was to bag Mt. Deception, a peak that is not labeled on the USGS topo map or Tom Harrison map, but is on the Sierra Club Hundred Peaks list. I also wanted to hike the JPL trail, which I’ve not done before. And I wanted to get a feel for the extent of the Station Fire damage. Finally if I had time left over, I’d drive up the road and bag Occidental Peak.

Leave my house in Azusa at about 8:35 and head east on the 210. My eyes are drawn to Mt. Wilson and its neighboring peaks. As I wind along Angeles Crest Highway I stop several times to take some pictures. Turn right on Mt. Wilson Road and drive the half mile to the junction (2N52). Up the road about 80 yards on the left is the where the trail starts. A yellow sign warns of potential hazards in the burned area. It’s a brisk 51 degrees and I’m eager to hit the trail.

9:45 AM - Begin hike (4750’). The trail zigzags up a draw and begins to meander south up the broad ridge under a canopy of mature oaks. I’m delighted that this area was not destroyed by the fire. The trial is beautifully built with a comfortable grade. My pace is moderate as I enjoy the splendid setting. Views toward the eastern high country open up. Manzanita is thick and green. The trial passes near the road in several spots. Patches of snow linger in the deep shade.

10:34 - Road (5750’) (1.3 miles from the start). A signpost marks the trail. A metal plaque indicates JPL 88. Now for a stroll up the road traversing the east flank of Mt. Disappointment. The warm sun feels good. As I approach the junction, blackened trees announce the entry into the fire zone. Reach a junction and am rewarded with striking views into Bear Canyon. Take a hard right to proceed up the steep road to the summit.

10:52 - Mt. Disappointment (5994’) (1.9 miles from the start). The array of structures makes for a less then ideal peak experience, but a fine rock out cropping on the southwest edge of the summit provides a nice place to sit and take in the views. Mt. Deception stands prominent below to the west and invites me to conquer it. Massive fire damage dominates the landscape, for miles. I’m grieved by the senseless destruction of one third of the Angeles National Forest which could have been avoided if not for the politics, bureaucracy, and misguided policies.

I sit on the rocks, have some food, upload a photo to FB, and attempt to call home. The weather is fantastic. The solitude is an amazing contrast to the crowds swarming the stores on this Black Friday. The downtown L.A. skyline pokes above the haze blanketing the human sprawl. Closer south, Mt. Markham and Mt. Lowe bring memories of my most excellent adventure in January 2006. Well, I’d like to linger longer but San Gabriel Peak calls me higher. I leave the summit at 11:30 and take a cross-country shortcut southeast down the ravine to the road. Works well.

11:37 - Junction - Meet a gentleman named Dennis. Chat for a few minutes. He is heading to San Gabriel Peak too so we walk together. Leave the road and transition onto a trail dropping to a saddle where it passes the trail coming up from Markham Saddle. We begin our ascent. The fire damage is heartbreaking. What used to be a mature forest blanketing these slopes is now nothing but black sticks and the invasive poodle-dog bush (Turricula parryi). It’s a poisonous plant with similar behavior to poison oak and grows abundantly following a fire. We zigzag up the mountain in full sun. As the trail rounds to the shaded north slopes, patches of snow remind us that we indeed have seasons in So Cal. Much of the forest to our immediate east was spared by the fire. I am always a huge fan of the gallant firefighters who battle the blaze on the front lines.

12:13 - San Gabriel Peak (6161’). The summit offers an amazing 360 degree panorama. It’s easy to see why this peak was a strategic location for a fire lookout tower, which stood here from 1928 to 1937. The last time I was here the views were partially obscured by dense vegetation. Not any more. Dennis and I linger on the summit and enjoy good conversation and the beauty of the day. I upload a photo to FB. There’s not summit register to be found. We leave the summit at 1:01.

We pass a hiker heading to the top. I’m still numb over the horrific fire damage. This used to be such a magnificent forest. We pass another hiker. He has some clippers and is trimming poodle-dog bush along the way. Arrive back at the road at 1:26. It’s cool in the shade. We reach the trail junction and say our good-byes as Dennis heads down the trail and I head west down the road. Careful steps safely get me past a shaded stretch of road covered by ice. At a hairpin turn, I take a shortcut by descending off trail and hit the road again in a few minutes. It worked well. At 1:50 I reach a saddle where the road turns north and a climbers’ path heads west up the ridge toward Mt. Deception. The route looks steep and brushy, but Hundred Peakers do it, so we’ll see. Begin the climb. The route is actually pretty decent and free of brush, and untouched by the fire. It is steep but not unreasonable. After 8 minutes I reach the ridge and the route mellows out. Shortly I transition into the land of the incinerated with blackened vegetation and abundant poodle-dog bush. After passing a “false” summit the ridge bends northwest and in a few more minutes I pass through some brush and arrive at the summit.

2:13 - Mt. Deception (5796’) - My biggest thought is why is this peak on the Hundred Peaks list? It’s really not a summit I’d write home about. There is a good view west into Bear Canyon but the other views are mostly obscured by brush, burned as it is. I proceed down the ridge a little more to a spot with better views northwest. I pull up a rock, sit down, and eat the third course of my lunch. It’s peaceful here, even with the sound of vehicles 1,200 feet below on Angeles Crest Highway. I try to upload a pic to FB but the signal is not strong enough. I wander back up to the summit and find the peak register, placed here by Mars Bonfire on August 13, 2011. Only 17 people have signed it, with 9 of those in one party.

I leave the summit at 2:44 and begin to realize that maybe I’ve not left enough time in my day to drive over and climb Occidental Peak. We’ll see. I retrace my steps. When I get to the section that drops steeply east, I decide to turn left (north) and descend via another ridge. In studying the aerials before hand, I observed a clear route that looks like it may work well. Down I go. It gets pretty steep but the soil is soft and easy to descend. I would not want to climb this way. The route works fine and I reach the road at 2:56.

My pace now is relaxed. It’s nice to be back in unburned territory with living trees and green vegetation. The shade is cool. I’m pretty much resigned that Occidental is out. At 3:12 I leave the road and get back on the trail and enjoy a pleasant stroll through dense manzanita and oak. A man passes me heading up—only the forth person I’ve seen all day. As I approach the trailhead, I’m a little surprised that I’m here already.

3:31 - End hike. It’s a brisk 47 degrees.

I jump into the car and head to Mt. Wilson. When I get to the trailhead for Occidental Peak, I impulsively decide to give it a try. It’s supposed to be one mile to the peak, and I figure I can do that in a half hour and be back to the car by sunset at 5:00. I make it past the communications installation and helipad, but the route becomes rough and somewhat indistinct. I hack through it for awhile but finally I realize that there is no way I can safely make it to the summit and back before dark. As Kenny Rodgers says, “You gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when fold ‘em.” And it’s definitely time to fold ‘em. The peak will always be here for another day...but there is no guarantee that the beautiful mature forest will still be blanketing its slopes.

Epilog - Splendid day of hiking! The weather was absolutely perfect. Enjoyed good company with Dennis for a bit. Had lots of solitude and appreciated going my pace and soaking in the experience. The horrific damage from the Station Fire was somewhat depressing. I don’t know if it would be better to have not experienced the wonderful forest before that fire so that I don’t have a frame of reference to compare it to, or to have experienced the pre-fire forest and have good memories of its beauty. Maybe it’s a moot point since I did experience the forest before it was destroyed and value the memories. However, as I sit here looking at photos from my hike to San Gabriel Peak in 2006, I find myself getting angered that the bureaucrats didn’t allow for the firefighters to hit the fire hard enough and fast enough in its infancy. Oh well, if you enjoy black sticks and poodle-dog bush, head to the Station Fire burn area...there are millions of them!

See San Gabriel Peak Hike Report January 6, 2006 at Dan’s Hiking Pages

Mt. Wilson via Kenyon Devore Trail - November 19, 2011

2011-11-19T15:52:00.001-08:00

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For several years I’ve been on the email list for the Hundred Peaks Section of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter and have contemplated going on a hike with them sometime. Finally, everything came into alignment and I decided that this would be the hike. I emailed the hike leader, Peter Doggett, and he was quick to respond with answers to my questions. The hike was one of two hikes summiting Mt. Wilson that day to rendezvous at the top to celebrate the accomplishment of hike leader Ted Lubeshkoff in having led Sierra Club hikes to all the peaks on the HPS Peak List—284 peaks! That is an amazing accomplishment! And to think that I have climbed to only 33 of them!

I arise bright and early and head to the rideshare location in La Canada for the 6:45 a.m. meeting time. The group gathers. There are seven of us: Peter and his wife Ignacia (the hike leaders), Larry, Brook, Asher, and the two newcomers, David, and me. We climb into four cars (I ride with David) and head up Angeles Crest Highway and arrive at the top of Mt. Wilson at 7:23. It’s really cold and foggy...very wintery. We leave two cars there and shuttle back to Red Box junction in the other two cars. It’s quite cold and I’m eager to hit trail and get my blood flowing. But one of the things about hiking with a group is that you have to wait for everyone to get ready.

7:52 AM - Start hike. We climb down the rock stairs and begin our descent on Gabrielino Trail east into West Fork San Gabriel River. It starts off in open chaparral and soon becomes woodsy. Evidence of the September 2009 Station Fire abounds. The golden leaves of bigleaf maple, sycamore, and poison oak paint a picture of autumn. The fog of low clouds obscures visibility. My hands are cold but putting on gloves makes it too hard to use the camera. We cross the growing creek several times and I consider how this little trickle will become the roaring San Gabriel River miles down canyon.

Along the trail someone has attached orange plastic ribbons to trees and bushes to mark the route. I suspect that it was done by trail run organizers. It’s really a visual blight and I am angered by the practice. I remove most of them as I hike along and plan to petition to the Forest Service to crack down on such littering of our trails.

There are occurrences of poodle-dog bush (Turricula parryi), a poisonous plant with similar behavior to poison oak. It grows abundantly following a fire. Our leaders make sure everyone is alert to it, probably for the sake of David and I, since the others are veteran “HPSers.” In fact, over the course of the hike, I’m amazed to learn that between the five HPS veterans, they’ve accumulated many thousands of peak accents.

8:09 - Cross Rincon Red Box Road. There is a real beauty to the setting. The creek volume increases. We pass several charming cabins. Many of the trees have no leaves and I remind myself that it’s not because it’s approaching winter, but because they were killed by the Station Fire. At 8:49 we pass the junction of Valley Forge Trail, which ascends south to Mt. Wilson Road. We veer left and meet a trail maintenance crew from a local Scout troop.

8:53 - Valley Forge Trail Camp (2.3 miles from the start). What a pleasant setting! Perhaps the autumn leaves and the freshness after the rain add to its beauty. We take a short potty break. Peter had explained that the trail section that connects from here to Kenyon Devore Trail is overrun with poodle-dog bush, so we are taking a detour along Rincon-Redbox Road to West Fork Trail Camp and then doubling back, adding 2.2 miles to the trip. We transition to dirt road now. It’s not as nice as a trail, but the scenery is still splendid. Clouds obscure the mountain slopes above. The creek—now starting to look more like a river—crosses the road at several points. We cross gingerly. At 9:29 we reach the signed junction to Kenyon Devore Trail (2.7 miles to Mt. Wilson). Our leader tells us that that route has vanished. We continue on the road. Fire damage is more prevalent here.

9:44 - West Fork Trail Camp (4.5 miles from the start). This is also a splendid setting and very inviting. We stop for a little break. We have now descended 1,580 feet and from here we begin our 4.5-mile climb, ascending 2,660 feet. Ignacia now takes the lead. The pace is brisk, faster than my preference. Soon we transition from a beautiful forest to a horrible scene of massive fire damage. A mature forest has been reduced to blackened sticks. I want to cry. I lament over the politics, bureaucracy, and misguided policies which allowed the Station Fire to consume one third of the Angeles National Forest.

A mountain biker passes us heading downhill. One minute later a man and women come down the trail. They came via Gabrielino Trail, using the section we avoided because of the poodle-dog bush. Hmmm.

10:27 - Gabrielino Trail junction. Take a brief break. Asher now takes the lead. His pace is a little more moderate, but still the climb seems relentless. We ascend Strayns Canyon beyond the major fire damage. The forest is quite pretty here. Golden leaves continue to provide a pleasing splash of color. Dense fog hangs on the mountainsides. This trail is beautifully designed. Big-cone Douglas-fir reach tall into the sky. I so wish we could just stop for a moment to enjoy the beauty. But the goal is to reach at the summit by noon to rendezvous with the others and celebrate with Ted. So we press on.

11:53 - Junction about 100 yards shy of Mt. Wilson Road. Peter, Ignacia, Brook and I veer left and continue along the trail en route to the summit snack bar. The others head up to the road, retrieve the cars, and park them closer to the snack bar. It’s cold and visibility is limited to a few hundred feet. Peter leads at a fast pace.

12:06 - Mt. Wilson (5710’), arrive at the snack bar parking lot. We’re done! I think this is my first hike ever where I’ve had a car waiting at top of the mountain. We walk up to the snack bar. Asher and I walk over to the high spot about 50 yards east for a summit photo. We join the other group in a picnic area. There are about 25 of us and a dog. A table of food is inviting. We stand around and eat. It’s really cold. I put on my fleece, scarf, and beanie, but leave my hands bare to eat. Ted makes a heartfelt speech. I finally put on my gloves but my frigid fingers are already aching. The warm car feels so good! We drive away at 1:04, pick up the other cars at Red Box, and head down the mountain.

Epilog - What an interesting hike. Hiking with a group certainly has its pros and cons. On the upside, it’s nice meeting some good folks and enjoying their company. And having a car shuttle is a real plus. On the other hand, in hiking with a group, one gives up some solitude and the freedom to choose a comfortable pace and to soak in the beauty. One of my concerns coming into the hike was pace. These peak baggers are in great shape and are known for racing to the summits. I had the lungs and legs to keep up, but I am definitely a sauntering guy who loves to stop and smell the roses. And in fairness, the objective of this hike was to celebrate with Ted Lubeshkoff, so it was necessary to drive a pace to arrive on time. But I probably would have skipped the 2.2-mile detour and pressed through the poodle-dog bush.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to experience a portion of the San Gabriels that I’ve not hiked. In spite of the horrible fire damage, there is still of plenty of beauty in the upper West Fork and north slopes of Mt. Wilson to provide a most satisfying outing. Hiking in frigid weather with foreboding clouds is a sobering reminder of the crucial importance to exercise vigilance in wintertime hiking. It’s easy to understand how hikers die on mountains like Mt. Baldy (nearly double the elevation of Mt. Wilson).

My hat's off to Ted Lubeshkoff for his accomplishment and my appreciation to Peter and Ignacia for leading us to the celebration.

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Rubio Canyon Hikes - November 5, 2011

2011-11-05T22:05:00.000-07:00

See Rubio Canyon Hike Description on Dan’s Hiking Pages

An email from the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy (AFC) announcing a docent-led hike by Paul Ayers piqued my interest. It read: “Join local trails expert and railroad historian Paul Ayers on a strenuous loop deep into Rubio Canyon, along recently restored trails.” I had been exchanging emails with Paul for years related to various Rubio Canyon issues, so I thought it would be fun to do some hiking in Rubio with the expert. As it ended up, the hike wasn’t “deep into Rubio Canyon,” but only up the mountainside at the mouth of the canyon. So before the day would end, I ended up doing a second hike, and this time it was deep into the canyon.

A sunny and nice Saturday sandwiched between a rainy Friday and Sunday turned out to be ideal for hiking. I arose Saturday morning and headed to Altadena for the hike beginning 9:00. There were seven of us who met at the intersection of Loma Alta Drive and Camp Huntington Drive, just east of the bridge crossing Rubio creek.

Hike One: Historic Trail Loop
9:17 AM - Begin hike: Historic Trail Loop. The air is brisk and everything is fresh from yesterday’s rain. We head up canyon and a shortly transition to the old SCE Tractor Road (built in 1926) heading east past the covered reservoir. Paul and other volunteers have been working at restoring the route. It’s still a little rough but passable. Paul points out things along the way. Views out over the human sprawl are hazy. The sun feels good. There were recent efforts to remove the invasive, non-native fountain grass.

9:51 - Reach a gap in the ridge marking the boundary between AFC property and Angeles National Forest. We continue east along the along the brushy trail on the steep mountainside. Shortly we double back and continue our climb.

10:12 - Arrive at the junction of Lone Tree Trail just below the power towers. We climb the few steps to the towers for a good view into Rubio Canyon. Paul points out various landmarks. We have a great view across the canyon toward the old incline tram bed heading to Echo Mt. We leave at 10:31 and begin our descent on the old Lower Lone Tree Trail (1888), which was been recently roughed out in the early stages of restoration. It’s quite steep. At 11:04 we reach the junction of the SCE trail near the covered reservoir and retrace our steps back to the start.

11:09 - Finish Hike. A very pleasant outing. Good company. About 3 miles round trip with 800 feet in elevation gain. Paul was good docent providing lots of interesting information. Most everyone leaves and Kevin, Marilynne, and I linger and talk. I mention that I’m still up for more hiking. So Kevin suggests hiking up Rubio Canyon to Leontine Falls. Sounds good to me. We’ll do it. Say goodbye to Marilynne, get into our cars, and drive the few blocks to the trailhead at the intersection of Rubio Vista Road and Pleasantridge Road.

Hike Two: Rubio Canyon to Leontine Falls
11:46 - Begin hike. We pass between the two houses and head northwest on the old trolley rail bed (Rubio-Right of-Way Trail). We can look across the canyon and see the trail we were on earlier. Kevin has lived in the area all his life and has hiked all over these mountains. He shares lot of interesting tidbits. The trail is in good condition. Fluffy white clouds garnish the blue sky to the north.

11:57 - Reach the old Rubio Pavilion foundation and reflect on times past. Climb down to the creek bed and begin to follow it upstream. There is no water flowing, which is a huge contrast from when I was here in March and had to navigate dicey creek crossings.

12:17 - Ribbon Rock/Moss Grotto Falls. Water is flower over the falls, but it’s not gushing as in the spring. It’s still beautiful, though. We linger and enjoy the splendid setting. So far, we have had the canyon all to ourselves. At 12:37 we head up the ravine on the right (east). In about 100 yards we pass the beginning of the path that leads to the base of Grand Chasm Falls, but we continue about 100 yards more to the route that cuts left and will take us higher. A fig tree marks the spot. The path is rough and steep but not precarious. A narrow view opens to the civilization beyond the canyon. As we wade through the invasive fountain grass we debate the impacts of non-native plants.

12:52 - Outcropping with views into chasm below. Dramatic topography! We scramble over the rocks to the Thalehaha Falls Overlook to view one of the most dramatic waterfalls in the San Gabriels, deep in the canyon below. We hear voices down there. A bee stings me in the neck...ouch! After soaking in the beauty, we leave at 1:13 and continue north up the ridge. The path is still rough and steep but not too precarious. It’s a little brushy in places but the efforts of those who have trimmed make the route doable. We get a glimpse below of a group (5 men) in the canyon above Thalehaha Falls. It looks like they are equipped for canyoneering.

1:35 - Reach the ridge overlooking Leontine Falls. The falls are only partially in view from this point, but the scenery is breathtaking. Now comes the adventure. The route cuts back northeast toward the falls and drops precipitously 120 feet to the canyon bottom. It’s perilously steep. Ropes attached to trees make the descent doable. I have to admit, it’s a little scary, and definitely not for the faint of heart. Kevin has been here recently so serves as a good guide as he leads the way down. Gloves would have been good.

1:52 - Reach the canyon bottom below Leontine Falls. Wow, that was a trip. We cross the creek and make our way up the rocks and along the bare rock canyon wall toward the falls. It’s really dicey and a misstep could result in a top story on the evening news. Kevin’s experience proves helpful in getting through safely.

2:01 - Arrive at the base of Leontine Falls. What a splendid scene! Water is flowing down the sheer rock face. We can see only to the top of this bottom tier, maybe 50 feet. Two more tiers are above that. This sylvan sanctuary is free from litter and graffiti...no doubt, the arduous adventure getting here deters the yahoos and idiots. We sit on a rock next to the pool, chat, and enjoy the tranquil setting. Finally we carefully negotiate our way back to the start of our climb out.

2:38 - Begin our climb up the incredibly steep slope, hand over hand on the ropes. This is not hiking! Actually, the climb was not as bad as I anticipated and it takes us only 10 minutes to reach the ridge. Gray clouds creep in over the southland staging themselves for tomorrow’s forecasted rain. We retrace our steps back to the Thalehaha overlook, over the outcropping, through the fountain grass, and arrive at the ravine at 3:21. We continue to retrace our steps back past Ribbon Rock/Moss Grotto Falls and take more photos in the changing light. It is still curios to me that we are the only ones on the trail in such a beautiful location on such an ideal hiking day.

As we pass over the locations where Bay Arbor Falls and Maidenhair Falls stood previously before being buried, Kevin reflects on the changes in this canyon over the 40 years he’s hike here. At 3:47 we reach the pavilion site. Kevin asks if we would want to return by hiking down the canyon bottom. I am a little reluctant because I know such routes can become quite brushy and riddled with obstructions and surprises, and it was getting pretty late in the day. But he assures me that he had hiked it just two weeks ago and it is a quite doable route. So I agreed to the added adventure.

3:58 - Leave the pavilion site and head down stream. It’s quite beautiful. Had to carefully dodge some poison oak, but it wasn’t bad. Lots of white alder and mule fat. Bigleaf maple sports its fall colors. There is some water in several pools, but certainly this route would be a completely different scene when the creek is full and flowing. I’m thoroughly enjoying our ramble down this delightful canyon. At 4:41 we reach the junction of Camp Huntington Trail and in another 100 yards intersect the trail we were on with the group this morning, to complete the connection. We double back to Camp Huntington Trail and climb back to the main trail on the rail bed (the climb took about 8 minutes). I love the warm lighting this time of day. We linger a bit. A young man and women pass us coming down...the only people we directly encountered for the entire hike. We walk up the trial a short distance to get some views up canyon to where we were earlier, then head down.

5:18 - End hike.

Epilog - What a thoroughly enjoyable day! Two hikes. Good company. Historic Rubio Canyon always offers a splendid experience. I reflect on the diversity of the San Gabriels. Just last week I was climbing 9,500-foot peaks in spectacular high county (which now has snow) and this week I’m rambling through the rich chaparral and canyons of the front range. I suspect that the front range will now be my primary hiking venue until the snow melts in the late spring.

Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy (AFC) - Much of Rubio Canyon, including the land that the hike to the falls passes through, has been preserved by the AFC, a local nonprofit land trust. Visit their website for lots of helpful and interesting information about trail restoration, volunteer opportunities, docent-lead hikes, events, news, history, membership, and how to make tax-deductible contributions to their important work.

See blog posts from other hikes in Rubio Canyon:

See Rubio Canyon Hike Description on Dan’s Hiking Pages

Pine Mountain and Dawson Peak Hike - October 29, 2011

2011-10-29T20:53:00.000-07:00

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After climbing Mt. Baldy from the south, east, and west this summer, I figured it was time to climb it from the north approach over Pine and Dawson from Blue Ridge. I hooked up with my new friend Don and off we went. We had planned to leave my house in Azusa at 5:30 AM but that got delayed until 7:30. We headed east then north through the Cajon Pass, west through Wrightwood, then started our drive on Blue Ridge Road (3N26). It was recommended that high-clearance vehicles be used on the rough road, so Don’s big four-wheel-drive pick-up served us well. After 7.2 miles of back-roading we arrived at the trailhead for the North Backbone Trail, aka The Other Devils Backbone. The pointed summit of Pine Mt. loomed high above us to the south.

10:03 AM – Begin hike under beautiful sunny skies with a chilly breeze. A sign indicates that we are entering Sheep Mountain Wilderness, in which we will spend the entire hike. A trio of young backpackers are a few minutes ahead of us. The trial begins at an elevation of 8240’ and steeply drops 130 vertical feet to a saddle then begins a climb of 1,500 vertical feet to Pine Mountain. This rugged high country is stunningly beautiful. Massive Mt. Baden-Powell looms to our west. Looking back toward the trailhead, we notice a large group of hikers beginning down the trail. Razor-like sections of the trail that drop steeply to both sides bear resemblance to Devils Backbone Trail. Mature pine and fir dominate the landscape. We catch up with the three backpackers and I am recognized by Eric, who emailed me awhile back with questions about this trail. They are heading to Baldy Ski Lifts.

We climb up and over a bump in the ridge (8555’) and face a really steep section with jagged rocks and loose footing. We are sharing the trail now with the large group as we negotiate this dicey section requiring hands and feet. Cross another razor section and meet the leader of the group. They are from OC Hiking Club. The topography widens out some as the trail climbs the northwest face of Pine Mt.

11:38 - Pine Mountain (9648’)—second highest peak in the San Gabriels. I’m a little puzzled in that the topo map shows the trail skirting along the west flank 200 vertical feet below the summit. I did not see any trail bearing to the right, rather, the trail lead us directly to the top. The group from OC Hiking Club are enjoying lunch. There are great views south, west and north while views toward the northeast and east are obscured by trees—perhaps the reason for the name, Pine Mt. The huge mass of Mt. Baldy dominates the view south. Tiny figures can be seen on its summit and climbing its east ridge. We notice that the portion of our summit to the east is a little higher so we wander over there and find the summit register among the rocks of the horseshoe-shaped wind barrier. We sign the register and soon the others join us in signing in. They leave and we explore the summit some more. Meet up with Eric and company.

Leave the summit at 12:27 heading due south. The trail soon gets steep and it drops straight down the ridge. I never did detect any route coming in from the west as shown on the maps (USGS topo and Harrison map). As we descend I ponder having to climb this steep route back. The large, broad summit of Dawson Peak to the southeast invites us to climb it. As we approach the saddle, low brush nearly envelops the trail and nastily scratches the legs. Trail maintenance anyone?

12:41 - Pine/Dawson saddle (9151’). Now we start a climb of 424 vertical feet. In a few minutes we pass the junction (9200’) of Dawson Peak Trail heading west to Fish Fork. Soon the trail mellows out as it begins to climb the arm extending northwest from the summit. The scenery is stunning. Trees are gnarled from the harsh winters. Dark gray flagstone covers the ground.

The ridge descending from Dawson to the Dawson/Baldy saddle is in full view now. The climb to Baldy looks intimidating. Our trail passes along the west flank 80 vertical feet below Dawson’s summit. We almost miss the faint path that veers left toward the summit approaching from the south.

1:17 - Dawson Peak (9575’)—third highest peak in the San Gabriels. I think about my friend Keith Dawson—his grandfather, Ernest Dawson (1882-1947), was the one who this peak was named after. Mr. Dawson founded Dawson's Bookstore (1905) and was an influential early member of the Sierra Club. The broad, rounded summit is mostly bald with views in all directions except east. A remnant of the group from OC Hiking Club linger about but soon leave. As we have a bite to eat we evaluate our options. Our goal for the day was to climb Mt. Baldy, but we decide that it’s too late in the day now to continue. We don’t want to risk of running out of daylight and particularly navigating the precipitous rocky section in the dark. And the night-time temps will drop toward the 30s. Good judgment wins out. I console myself that in spite of not reaching Baldy, we conquered the second and third highest peaks in the San Gabriels today. That’s a respectable accomplishment. A gentleman from Australia arrives and we visit. I explore around the summit.

Leave the summit at 2:20 continuing south. We figured we would at least head down toward the Dawson/Baldy saddle before turning back. I’m loving the breathtaking scenery of this grand high county. At 2:47 we decide we have descended far enough, maybe 250 vertical feet above the saddle. We pause for a few minutes and then begin our climb back. At 3:17 we pass the junction to Dawson summit and begin the mild descent traversing Dawson southwest flank. At 3:37 we reach the Dawson/Pine saddle and take a refreshment break before the last steep climb of the day. We pass through the nasty brush getting our legs scratched up again. The climb is steep and the cool breeze feels good. The Mt. Wilson country to the distant west stands as hazy blue silhouettes. We keep pressing on. We still don’t see any trail skirting the peak’s west flank as shown on the maps. Our route leads straight to the summit.

4:18 - Pine Mt., again. The vast Mojave Desert spans the north horizon. We linger for a few minutes soaking in our final moments on this splendid peak then begin our descent. It’s quite cool now. The lighting is very different than this morning.

The steep, rocky section is more difficulty to climb down than up. Reach the saddle and begin our final ascent of 130 vertical feet to the trailhead.

5:43 - Finish Hike. We’re done, 20 minutes before sunset. It was a good decision to not continue to Baldy.

Epilog - What a thoroughly enjoyable day of hiking—Sunshine, blue skies, fall temperatures, amazing scenery, two commanding peaks, a splendid route, about 6 miles round trip, 3,000 feet in total elevation gain, and great company!

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Garcia Trail Hike – October 23, 2011

2011-10-24T21:32:00.000-07:00

See Garcia Trail Description on Dan’s Hiking Pages

After a few weeks off from hiking, it was time to hit the trail. And local Garcia Trail above Azusa was just the venue for a late afternoon scrappy hike to exercise my legs.

4:20 PM - Begin hike. The trail sign is missing. It is a warm day but the temps aren’t bad now. In spite of the one-day rain from the other week that started some grass growing in the shade, everything seems dry and dusty. Hardly anything in bloom (just a few occurrences of cliff aster, fuchsia, sunflower, and buckwheat). The marine layer from this morning leaves a thick haze over the valleys. I press along at a work-out pace. Several parties of other trail users are coming down. It’s disappointing to see litter and graffiti along the trail.

Soon I catch up with and pass a gentleman named Tommy. He follows along as he shares about his workout regimen on Garcia Trail. At 4:54 we reach Glendora Ridge Motorway. Stop only briefly as Tommy and I proceed east to Azusa Peak.

5:02 - Azusa Peak. Someone has constructed a brown, wooden bench near the cross. Tommy explained that the cross had been toppled recently and then re-erect. The vandalism is disconcerting to me. Tommy suggests that there should be trash cans along the trail. I disagree. This is natural open space, not a city park. We linger briefly and leave the peak at 5:05, continuing east. As we walk along the wide dirt road, I point out various plants and Tommy is an eager learner. I gaze north toward Crystal Lake Basin and Hawkins Ridge and lament that the hike I had planned three weeks ago was sadly aborted for my wife’s need of the car.

5:37 - Reach the wide road bend north of Glendora Peak. This will be our turnaround point. I introduced Tommy to my friends along the eastern skyline: Ontario Peak, Telegraph Peak, Thunder Mt., Baldy Notch, and Mt. Baldy. His friends George and Tina arrive. We chat. Head back at 5:44. The sun is beginning to set behind the marine layer. I love the warm colors of this hour. We swap stories as we walk toward the setting sun. A tarantula sits on the road.

6:09 - Arrive at the top of Garcia Trail and begin our descent. George and Tina are well ahead of us. Tommy and I enjoy good conversation as the twinkling lights of the valley below announce the arrival of dusk. It’s hard to capture the beauty of this time of day with a camera.

6:36 - End hike. It’s pretty much dark now and quite a bit cooler. Tommy and I chat for a few more minutes and say our good byes.

Epilog - Very pleasant outing. Good to be on the trail. Always a pleasure to meet new people. Four miles round trip isn’t a strenuous work out, but at least it was something. I am always thankful for such a splendid little trail so close to home.

See Garcia Trail Description on Dan’s Hiking Pages
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Mt. Bell and Mt. Hollywood in Griffith Park Hike - Oct. 6, 2011

2011-10-06T20:13:00.000-07:00

See Hiking Griffith Park on Dan's Hiking Pages

I love hiking after a good rain. And yesterday’s first storm of the season delivered superb conditions for hiking. I had been planning an after-work hike in Griffith Park for today, so I was delighted for the meteorological serendipity.

I leave my office in Echo Park at 3:00 and head for Griffith Park. My plan was to begin at the Bird Sanctuary in Vermont Canyon, but a Furthur concert at the Greek Theater created traffic and parking chaos. So plan B was to begin at the Vermont Tennis Courts on Commonwealth Canyon Drive.

3:30 PM - Begin walking north through the tennis courts on the wide dirt road into the unnamed canyon (bordered by Vermont Canyon on the west and Aberdeen Canyon on the east). The sun feels good. I love the chaparral aroma after a rain. My pace is fast. I see walkers on the trails above. Pass the junction of Riverside Trail and keep heading north, now on a narrow path. Hogback Ridge looms ahead. In a few minutes the nice path ends and a steep use trail cuts right and climbs the east canyon wall. I’ve been here once before and purposed to come back and hike that route.

So up I climb. Foot steps have been cut into the granite making the climb quite doable. It’s a fun hands-and-feet scamper (maybe not suitable for novices or the faint of heart) and in 10 minutes I reach Hogback Trail. What beautiful vistas...from Glendale to Downtown L.A. to Hollywood to Pales Verde Peninsula...and my friends: Glendale Peak, Beacon Hill, and Mt. Hollywood. There is a cool breeze. Clouds loom over the San Gabriels. I continue northwest on Hogback Trail. It is steep but my “Mt. Baldy legs” climb well. The clouds cast blotchy shadows. I’m enjoying the sun and the bird’s-eye view of the park’s east end. Soon more friends come into view to the north and northwest: Bee Rock, “Baby Bell,” and Mt. Bell.

4:07 - “Hogback Peak”...as I call it. I’m soaking in the beauty of the rugged park and vast human sprawl beyond. I have a nice view of the route I came up. Keep pressing on and soon I reach Dante’s View and the junction. The rain freshened up the garden and I am tempted to just sit and enjoy it, but I press on continuing west.

4:23 - Four-point junction north of Mt. Hollywood (#33). More friends come into view to the west: Mt. Chapel, Mt. Lee, and Cahuenga Peak. I upload a photo to Facebook. I decide to head north to Mt. Bell, my most-climbed peak in Griffith Park. Walk along the ridge and enjoy expansive scenery. The late afternoon sun illuminates Bee Rock against a background of dark green. I take the route straight up the south ridge of “Baby Bell,” as I call it, and arrive at the summit at 4:42. I still wonder what the story is behind the octagon cement structure. I follow the path down the northwest ridge and in a few minutes arrive at the main trail and in another 50 yards to the Bell/Baby Bell saddle. Now I scramble up the narrow path to Mt. Bell. It’s odd to see bare-foot human foot prints.

4:54 - Mt. Bell (1582’). Surrounded by 20 millions people, I enjoy solitude on this splendid peak. The late afternoon sun casts a warm light on the surrounding hills. Mt. Lee to the west stands in silhouette. Upload another photo to Facebook. I’d like to linger but I must be back to the car by 6:00. Leave Mt. Bell at 5:12 and retrace my steps. I skirt “Baby Bell” along its north and east flanks and soon head south along the ridge. Pass the four-point junction (#33) and head to Mt. Hollywood. Lot’s of picturesque images to capture.

5:29 - Mt. Hollywood (1625’)—the crown of Griffith Park. There are always people here. Clouds loom. Griffith Observatory stands regally to the south with the downtown skyline rising as an island in the vast human sprawl. The iconic Hollywood sign adorns Mt. Lee to the west. The air is cool now. I say goodbye to Mt. Hollywood at 5:35 and head straight down the path steeply descending the south ridge (the route I climbed on my last visit to this summit). Soon reach the five-point junction at Charlie Turner Trail and continue straight south. In minutes I say farewell to my last view of the Hollywood sign and swing east into Vermont Canyon. The narrow path is a nice contrast to the wide dirt roads. A crowd is swelling at the Greek Theater below. The sun still sits on the crest of the west ridge. Near the canyon bottom a chain-link fence restricts access to the Bird Sanctuary which was badly burned in the May 2007 fire.

5:58 - Vermont Canyon Road. Lots of activity for the Furthur concert. Now the 10-minute walk back to the car.

Epilog - What a splendid hike! Griffith Park is such a treasure for Angelinos. Everything was so fresh from the rain. Clouds, sun, breeze, chaparral aromas, beautiful scenery, some solitude, good exercise, and exploring a new path—all contributed to a thoroughly enjoyable outing.

See Hiking Griffith Park on Dan's Hiking Pages

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Day with the San Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders - Oct. 1, 2011

2011-10-01T22:24:00.000-07:00

A day working with the San Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders is always satisfying. It’s been a while since I’ve been out with them, so I figured it was time for some trail work. The project for the day was Windy Gap Trail. When I hiked the trail in July I counted 19 deadfalls, so I was eager to help clear them.

8:00 AM - Leave from the San Gabriel Canyon Gateway Center in Azusa and head up Hwy 39 to Rincon Fire Station to load the equipment. There are 10 of us today: Ben, Bron, Brain, Bob, Jeanette, Kimberly, Greg, Lou, Tom, and me. With equipment loaded, we continue the drive up to Chrystal Lake basin. Normally when the Trailbuilders work on Windy Gap Trail, we drive up the Hawkins truck trail to where Windy Gap Trail crosses it a second time. The first task of the day is to remove several large trees that have fallen on the road blocking vehicle accesses to the trail. While driving up the road we encounter a new deadfall blocking our route. We attack it with vigor and soon we are back in the vehicles on our way.

10:25 - Arrive at the work site. The jumble of large trees piled on the road is daunting. But we go work. The Crystal Lake basin was incinerated by the 2002 Curve Fire, destroying a mature forest, reducing it to dead sticks reaching into the deep blue sky. The Trailbuilders remove tons of trees from the trails every year, but more keep falling.

The weather is great today. In spit of the horrible destruction from the fire, there is still a beauty here. We are surrounded on three sides by soaring ridges 1,000 feet above with dramatic slopes falling into the basin. Wildflowers around us add a splash of color.

We finish clearing the first big tree and break for lunch. We sit in the shade. There’s always good conversation. Back to the deadfalls, everyone works hard and there’s a real camaraderie among the seasoned veterans and the newcomers alike.

We make excellent progress and nearly complete the task of clearing the road. We had hoped to have started on removing dead trees from Windy Gap Trail, but they will have to wait until next time. Wrap up at about 3:00 and head back down the mountain.

Epilog - It almost seems odd that arduous physical toil is enjoyable. But there is a sense of satisfaction in a job well done. And as a hiker I always value the opportunity to give back to the sport. If you would like to serve those who love the outdoors, come out and spend a day with the San Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders. It’s a great group forks and everyone is welcome. Workdays are on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of each month. Visit the San Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders website to learn more.

See Windy Gap Trail hike description at Dan’s Hiking Pages

Farewell to hiking author Jerry Schad

2011-09-25T11:11:00.001-07:00

I was saddened to learn that beloved hiking author Jerry Schad passed away on Thursday. He was only 61 and succumbed to kidney cancer.

His book, Afoot and Afield in Los Angeles County has helped thousands of Angelinos hit the trails for wonderful hiking experiences. I purchased my first copy on March 31, 2005 and it has been a real treasure in finding and exploring new trails. He has written 16 books, which primarily focused on outdoor recreation, including two other well-regarded "Afoot and Afield" books, on San Diego County and Orange County.

He had a passion for the outdoors and had a huge generosity of spirit in spending his life to help others enjoy outdoor recreation.

Jerry’s hike descriptions are clear, concise, accurate, colorful, and always have interesting tidbits to pique interest in hiking the trail. In my review of his work, I write, “He was written up so many hundreds of trails for hiking, biking, and running in Southern California, I have a hard time imagining he has a life outside of his trail ventures and writing.” Jerry was simply prolific in producing a huge body of work.

Outdoor enthusiasts have lost a great ambassador and true hiking guru. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family. Jerry, you are greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

Read more:

Tribute by John McKinney
Article in LA Times
Article in Signonsandiego.com
skyphoto.com - A showcase of astronomical and sky photographs by Jerry Schad
My review of Afoot and Afield in Los Angeles County

Visit Dan's Hiking Pages

Mt. Baldy via Mt. Baldly Trail from Village - Sept. 17, 2011

2011-09-17T19:57:00.001-07:00

West Baldy / Mt. Baldy / Mt Harwood

See Introducing Mt. Baldy and Bear Canyon Trail hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

What a remarkable hike on a superb route to Mt. Baldy! This has been a summer of amazing hikes in the San Gabriel Mountains high country. So it was fitting to end the summer with a hike up Old Mt. Baldy Trail from the Village to the summit--6,000 feet in six miles. John Robinson describes the hike as "one of the most strenuous hikes in the San Gabriels." I’ve hiked all over the San Gabriels but this legendary hike had eluded me for years. So it was time to conquer it, my third assault on the grand summit in six weeks. I learned that a hiking group led by my friend Ray was planning to hike Baldy via the Village and so I jumped at the chance to join them.

Ray picked me up at 5:15 and we headed to Upland to the rendezvous spot. After we were all together we headed up to Baldy Village to the Mt. Baldy Visitor Center. Several drove cars up to be parked at the ski lifts for our return shuttle. We ended up with 14 for the day, some of which had no hiking experience and others were seasoned iron men. Finally we were ready to hike.

7:10 AM - Begin hike. Our gang of 14 tromp up Bear Canyon Road the 11 minutes to the beginning of the trail. The temperature is cool. The woodsy charm of this canyon is always a delight. The trail climbs at a moderate grade which is a good warm-up for the steepness to come. Arrive at Bear Flat (5580’) at 8:00 to complete the first 1.8 miles.

After a 10-minute break we cross the flat and begin climbing the steep slope via numerous switchbacks. The sun is warm but air temperature is still pleasant as we climb through the open chaparral that was burned by the 2008 Big Horn Fire. The group now strings out as the iron men and young bucks charge up the mountain and the older guys hang back. A blanket of clouds covers the human sprawl beyond the mountains to the south. I look west toward the Three Tees where I was hiking last weekend.

9:17 - Round the ridge hip and views west open up. The trail now begins to climb the ridge, which will be the primary mode for the rest of the hike. Enjoy conversation with follow hikers. Others hikers pass by. We chat with some. The scenery gets more beautiful as we climb. I love the vanilla scent of Jeffrey pine.

10:28 - Reach the saddle beyond high point 7755’. This is as far as I have hiked previously. This makes a splendid destination if one wants to do a nice 7.5-mile round-trip hike. Runners are coming down the trail. I sit for a nutrition break. Lots of traffic on the trail today. Later I learned that many of those are with the Peak Baggers group from Meetup.com. They have about a dozen in their group today strung out along the trail. I conclude my snack break as Ray, Gus, and Andy, the tail end of our group, catch up with me. Meet a hiker named John who summited in 3 hours 10 minutes this morning. Mature pine and fir provide shade. Massive boulders decorate the ridgeline. The route alternates views east and west. The landscape is breathtaking. Tiny chipmunks skitter around.

11:42 - Arrive at notch in the ridge with a spectacular view west into Cattle Canyon and beyond. Dramatic topography! The others leave me as I pause to soak it in. I leave and in five more minutes I catch up with the others at a large outcropping just off the trail. More stunning views. The others leave me again and I decide to take another nutrition break and savor the amazing beauty. Soon the trail bends east and poses the steepest climb of the route to archive a ridge with the first view northeast toward Mt. Hardwood. Climbing now on what Robinson calls “hardscrabble.”

12:31 - Reach “The Narrows,” a razorback saddle at 9200’, as Robinson describes it. West Baldy, Baldy, and Harwood are now in full view (photo at top). The trail mellows out and continues along the east side of the ridge in open sun through stands of dwarf limber pine and fir. The amazing beauty of the landscape captivates me. Breeze feels good. I take a side jaunt west to an impressive rock formation jutting above the ridgeline and am rewarded with splendid scenery. I continue along the ridgeline above the trail and reach the upper hip of Big Horn Ridge. Wow! Great vantage point looking down into Coldwater Canyon, San Antonio Ridge, and Iron Mountain. I love off-trail excursions. I wander back over to the trail which now heads northeast. I catch up with our tail-end group, which now numbers four. I still feel strong so I decide to pass them and stay at a good pace to afford me time to tag West Baldy. The trail now traverses the broad southeast face of West Baldy. I look for a short-cut route but see none. I reach the Baldy/West Badly saddle at 1:56. Turn left (west) and start the final pitch.

2:03 - West Baldy (9988’)...third time in six weeks. The Peak Bagger group is gathered on the summit and seems to be having fun. I meet Tim, who is a fan of Dan’s Hiking Pages. Chat with some. They leave heading south down the slope. I leave at 2:25 and head for Baldy. I spot the Foursome as “ants” just past the saddle. Ray’s bright salmon shirt and Gus’s bright yellow shirt have made it easy to spot them a quarter mile away. I reach the saddle at 2:28 and begin the final climb to Baldy. I have found that this path that travels along the ridge is more enjoyable than the main trial south of the ridge. This route provides expansive views and pleasant breezes.

2:40 - Mt. Baldy (10,064)...the grand crown of the San Gabriels! The Foursome arrived minutes before. An American flag is flying in honor of 9/11. About 15 people linger on the summit. The rest of our group have already left. People pose for pictures. I have a bite to eat. I soak in the accomplishment of having climbed the “hard way” to Mt. Badly, yet my thoughts turn to planning a hike to reach this summit via the north approach along the “other backbone.” I stroll over to the northern edge to survey the route. Ray signals to me that it is time to leave.

Depart summit at 3:06. I now have my sights set on Harwood...might as well make it a triple crown day since I’m still feeling plenty strong. I try to stretch my lead on the Foursome but it’s difficult to make good time descending this steep, rocky slope. I’m always in awe of the picturesque scenery of this majestic mountain. Reach the Baldy/Harwood saddle at 3:29 and begin to scale the west slope of Hardwood. The climb seems easy even after a long day of steep ascent.

3:44 - Mt. Harwood (9552’) - Wow, I’m always impressed with this peak. The sweeping panorama and lunar-like landscape have such a different feel from Badly. I stop only briefly to snap some pics, having been here just a few weeks ago. I spot Ray and company far below on the trail and give a wave. I proceed east along the crest and in six minutes reach the eastern edge which drops off precipitously 1,000 feet and provides a great view down on the Devils Backbone. No sign of my comrades. I turn south and pick a route down through the manzanita and conifers. I sense some de je vu--I did this route three years ago. I remember to take a tangent southwest to avoid a precipitously steep descent. Reach Devels Backbone Trail at 3:58. My pace is fast now as I try to catch up with the others. Still taking pictures and studying the landscape. I’ve been contemplating a route up Manker Canyon.

Reach the end of Devils Backbone Trail at 4:31. A few minutes later I arrive at the upper chair lift (8600’) and I decide to descend via the Turkey Shoot ski run, figuring this short-cut would catch me up with the others. I forgot how long this route is, dropping 800 feet. Maybe it’s because my legs are feeling the effect of a lot of hiking today.

4:57 - Baldy Notch (7800’). Finally, I’m done hiking. Over at the lodge I find the others. They arrived just minutes earlier. I learned from Ray that they also descended the Turkey Shoot, so that’s why I couldn’t catch them. I pay my $10 and enjoy a peaceful, relaxing ride down the chairlift to the waiting cars.

Epilog - What an incredibly amazing day of hiking! The extraordinary scenery along this route is next to none in the San Gabriels. The trail is indeed steep, but I never found the “unbelievably steep” sections that Robinson describes. The weather was absolutely perfect. The marine layer over the L.A. basin helped created a sense of remoteness. I enjoyed the company of hiking partners and conversations with other hikes. I relished seeing my beloved San Gabriels high country from vantage points I’ve never experienced. Coming into the hike I had the mindset that I would gruel out this ordeal and chalk it up as a one-time experience. But when I finished I thought, I’d like to do this again next week! And as I surveyed the north route over Pine and Dawson, and looked down on old Iron Mt., I had a heightened eagerness to tackle them.

I suppose that part of the reason I avoided Old Mt. Baldy Trail for so long was that I had the impression from the trail descriptions that it was only for the elite super athletes. What I found is that it’s a route that normal folks can enjoy too. One does need to be in good physical condition, be able to carry plenty of water, and have some mental fortitude. I think the key is just putting one foot in front of the other a few thousand times and pressing on to the summit. And having companions with which to share the experience is good too.

See the photo album for this hike - Featuring 88 photos with captions

See Introducing Mt. Baldy and Bear Canyon Trail hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

Three Tees Hike - September 10, 2011

2011-09-10T23:45:00.000-07:00

Timber Mt. / Telegraph Peak / Thunder Mt.

See Timber Mt. hike description and Telegraph Peak/Thunder Mt. hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

What an incredible hike! Cucamonga Wilderness offers spectacular scenery and some of the finest hiking in the San Gabriels. And today I finally got to conquer the Three Tees: Timber Mt. (8303’), Telegraph Peak (8985’), and Thunder Mt. (8587’).

The Three Tees have been calling me for years. Previously I’ve hiked Thunder Mt. and Telegraph Peak from Baldy Notch, and Timber Mt. from Icehouse Canyon. But I’ve not had the opportunity to hike all three summits in one hike. One of the hitches is that it requires a car shuttle. A few years ago a couple friends and I had planned to do the hike and had our cars in place, but ended up hiking to Baldy instead because one friend decided he was not up to the Three Tees.

In the last number of weeks I’ve gotten into a groove of hiking an average of about 9 miles a hike with meaningful elevation gain. In the middle of that an opportunity came up to join a group in hiking to Baldy via Bear Flat on Sept. 17...6,000 feet in 6 miles. So I figured that Three Tees would be a great final conditioning hike with more than 5,000 feet in elevation gain. And heck with the car shuttle! I’ll just try to hitch a ride from somebody at my destination.

5:15 AM - Begin my hike at Icehouse Canyon trailhead (4960’). It is almost a repeat of my hike two weeks ago, only now it is darker and cooler. Stars shine through patches of clouds. My pace is earnest but guarded since I know I have long hike ahead of me. Dawn arrive as I’m in the upper canyon. There is an amazing beauty to the stillness of a new day emerging. I fill a bottle at Columbine Spring.

7:14 - Arrive at Icehouse Saddle (7580’). I had total solitude the whole way. A strong, chilly breeze blows from the east. I pause only briefly as I see other hikers coming up the trail. I head north toward Timber Mt. The expanding views are stunning. As I walk it’s almost like I’m on sacred ground. There is such a special quality about this amazing forest. I look across the canyon toward Bighorn Peak to reflect on my adventure two weeks ago. On the second switchback as I approach the ascending ridge, I look up and there is a magnificent bighorn sheep ram standing majestically on the ridge about 150 feet away. I gasped in unbelief. This is my very first bighorn sighting in all my years of hiking. What a wonderful encounter! Read about my bighorn experience here. Shortly I reach the broad west ridge of Timber Mt. and turn right (east) on the signed junction and climb the .25 miles to the summit.

8:04 - Timber Mountain (8303’), the first of my Three Tees, achieving the first 3,400 feet of my climb for the day. It’s been 7 years since I’ve been here. It’s cool and cloudy. There is an incredible peacefulness. I sit on some rocks on the north edge of the summit, eat, and study the massive southern flank of Telegraph Mt. The maps show the trial going straight up the ridge, but I don’t see any semblance of possibility of any such route. I leave the peak at 8:55 as others have arrived.

Back at the trail junction I turn right (northwest) to begin my 560-foot decent to a saddle. This is my first time on this portion of Three Tees Trail. Telegraph Peak looms ahead. I am thoroughly enjoying the incredible scenery. This truly is a wilderness with virtually no human trappings. The narrow path makes the lightest of impact. Carpets of manzanita cover the slopes and tall pines and firs reach to the sky.

9:26 - Timber/Telegraph saddle (7740’). Amazing beauty! Windy. Views east and west. I review the map and psych up for the 1,245-foot climb ahead of me. Still can’t see any semblance of trial up the steep ridge. I continue up the trail as it climbs northwest past knob 8023’. The manzanita needs trimming along the trail here. Great view down into Telegraph Wash. I reach another small saddle and decide to walk the 100 yards or so south to the top of knob 8023’. Most rewarding. Back at the saddle I hear voices coming up the trail.

At 10:16 I begin to climb the steep ridge to Telegraph Peak. This route had been a mystery to me, but now I see, contrary to the maps, it does not go straight up the ridge. The trail climbs at a reasonable rate using a number of switchbacks as it zigzags up the east flank of the ridge. At several places the switchbacks meet the ridge and provide spectacular views west and down. At one of these points I scramble off trail 30 feet to a rugged outcropping and linger for a bit, enjoy great views, and let the noisy voices of two male hikers pass. I continue up. I’m so enjoying the amazing landscape and thankful for the cool weather.

The trail reaches a wide hip on the ridge below high point 8921’. I pause to soak in the views. A passerby asks for directions. Others are coming up the trail. I run into Andrew with SGV Hikers. He is leading a group of about 20. I met Andrew at Fish Canyon a while back. From here the trail climbs straightway to the gentle saddle between Telegraph Peak and high point 8921’. Just before reaching that saddle, I turn left and take the 5-minute walk to the high point, which stands at the southern edge of Telegraph Ridge.

11:24 - Summit 8921’. Wow! For an unnamed summit that is mostly ignored, this is one the finest peaks in the San Gabriels! The scenery is stunning. I sit on a comfortable rock out of the cold wind, have some lunch, study the maps, and soak in the incredible landscape. There are remarkable places of solitude in the San Gabriels. Nearby thunder prompts me to move my poncho from my pack to my pants pocket. As I leave the summit I decide to explore the dominate ridge that juts west. As usual, it is a most rewarding jaunt. Now off to Telegraph Peak.

12:26 - Telegraph Peak junction (8800’). I’m back at the point where I was with my buddy Drew 8 years ago. Boy, has it been that long?! The scene is familiar because I have a photo of it on my Inspiration page. As I’m walking up the trial to Telegraph I run into Andrew again and with him is Letty, who I met at Fish Canyon awhile back. Nice to see her and meet Jennifer, who is a fan of Dan’s Hiking Pages. The trail gets steep in the final pitch to the summit. The sun is warm now and I’m ready to shed the long sleeves.

12:47 - Telegraph Peak (8985’), the second of my Three Tees for today and 4,000 feet above the trailhead. This is wonderful peak with slopes steeply dropping a thousand feet. Three young men are leaving. The peak register is in stainless steal strongbox chained to a rock. Peaks in view include Timber, Bighorn, and Cucamonga to the south and Thunder, Dawson, Harwood, Badly, and West Baldy to the north. The Cajon Pass, the Mojave Desert, and the San Bernardino Mountains are to the east. Distant views are obscured by clouds and haze. The view west is dominated by the west end of the ridge where I was earlier (8921'). The clouds create fascinating shadows and lighting on the surrounding mountains.

Leave Telegraph peak at 1:20 and retrace my steps to the junction (9 minutes). Turn right (north) and begin the 620-foot descent to the Telegraph/Thunder saddle. Several long switchback legs negotiate the steep slope. I’m loving the majestic scenery of Cucamonga Wilderness.

2:02 - Telegraph/Thunder saddle (8180’). Windy. Stunning imagery looking back toward the “Baldy-Bowl-like” northern slope of Telegraph Peak (photo at top). A lush carpet of manzanita graces the view down into Cedar Canyon to the west. I begin my final 400 feet of climbing for the day as the trail ascends the southern slope of Thunder Mt. At 2:22 I reach the end of Three Tees Trail at the wilderness boundary on the west ridge of Thunder Mt. I bend right on the wide ski-slope swath and walk the final 0.1 mile to the summit.

2:33 - Thunder Mt. (8587’), the third of my Three Tees for today and the culmination of 5,100 feet in elevation gain. The bulldozed summit, ski lift machinery, fences, and other miscellaneous junk makes this peak a homely visit and an anticlimactic final peak to an otherwise fantastic hike. I make the best of it as I sit on the ski lift foundation, enjoy a snack, and reflect on the accomplishment of getting here. The billowing white clouds adorn the sky. Leave summit at 2:55. At the junction I turn right (east) and begin the 1.5-mile descent to Badly Notch. I ponder the possibility of building a handsome trail from the notch to bypass this unappealing dirt road. Almost to the notch, a 4-way signed junction, “Desert View,” provides a glimpse of the desert through the V-shaped canyon to the northeast, but it's nothing compared to the real desert views found on the peaks.

3:42 - Baldy Notch (7840’). I’m done, kind of. Wander around a little more and take navigational notes for hike descriptions. I walk over to the chair lift on the far south and study the north slopes of Thunder Mt. looking for ways to bypass the dirt road. At the lodge I pay my $10 fare for the 15-minute ski lift ride down.

4:32 - Arrive at ski lift parking lot. Now to find a ride. Thankfully, the first people I asked were graciously willing to give me a ride to Icehouse. They are hikers new to the area and were scouting out trails. I arrive back to my car at 4:48.

Epilog - What a fulfilling day of hiking! The spectacular beauty along Three Tees Trail revivals anything that Baldy has to offer. I enjoyed considerable solitude and fascinating weather. Running into hikers I’ve met previously is always nice and I value the positive affirmation I receive from users of Dan’s Hiking Pages. Not being struck by lighting is a good thing. Encountering a bighorn sheep for the first time is an experience I shall savor. Ten miles and 5,100 feet in total elevation gain is good preparation for next week’s hike to Baldy via Bear Flat Trail. I am humbly ready to challenge The Mountain.

See Timber Mt. hike description and Telegraph Peak/Thunder Mt. hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

See the photo album for this hike - Featuring 88 photos with captions

Bighorn Sheep! - September 10, 2011

2011-09-10T21:06:00.000-07:00

Nelson bighorn sheep find their home in the San Gabriel Mountains. They are magnificent creatures. For years I’ve heard lots of accounts of hikers sighting them, but I’ve never seen one. I’ve been hiking these mountains for years and putting myself in locations where they are known to frequent, but they always have eluded me.

Year after year, hike after hike, I go without seeing any bighorns. I’ve been on hikes and met other hikers who have seen bighorn that day. I was at the Bridge to Nowhere and missed a herd by about 3 minutes. It seems that every hiker I’ve talked with have seen bighorn sheep. So how come I never get to see one!?

I’ve seen bighorn scat and footprints. I’ve seen where they have bedded down. I’ve seen the holes they’ve dug. I’m always on the lookout for them. But for some reason I just never get to see any.

Finally, Saturday, September 10, 2011, after 16 years of hiking all over the San Gabriels, my bighorn sighting drought ended! On Three Ts Trail en route to Timber Mt., I finally came face to face with a splendid bighorn.

I got an early start at the Icehouse Canyon trailhead at 5:15 and had total solitude the whole way to Icehouse Saddle. I spent only 5 minutes there and headed north toward Timber Mt. On the second switchback as I was approaching the ridge, I looked up and there was a magnificent bighorn standing majestically on the ridge about 150 feet away. I gasped in unbelief. Thankfully I had my camera in hand and was able to get a shot off before he moved. I got a second shot as he began to leave. I shot some video as he climbed the slope and two more stills as he disappeared.

It was a wonderful encounter! Over the years I’ve seen bear, deer, fox, bobcat, coyote, rattlesnake...but nothing compares to finally experiencing a bighorn sheep. I shall savor the experience.

View Three Tees Hike blog for the whole story of this hike

Visit Dan's Hiking Pages

Throop, Burnham, Baden-Powell - Sept. 3, 2011

2011-09-03T21:16:00.000-07:00

See Mt. Baden-Powell hike report (5-31-04) at Dan's Hiking Pages

What an amazing day of hiking in the San Gabriels’ high country! This time I took the long drive up Angeles Crest Highway with my friend Mark to conquer a couple peaks that I have not had a chance to climb: Throop Peak (9138’) and Mt. Burnham (8997’). And while we were at it, we ended up adding Mt. Baden-Powell (9399’) to cap it off.

Mark and leave my house at about 5:45, head west on the 210 freeway toward La Canada and then north and east on the Angeles Crest Highway. Driving through the Station Fire burn area, I’m greatly saddened to see thousands of acres that were previously magnificent, mature forest, now laid waste. The horrific damage is beyond words.

We arrive at Dawson Saddle (7901’) at about 7:20. The air is brisk. Mark attempts to reach his friend Don who was to meet us here. I survey the trailhead area. We chat with a couple bow hunters. Don’s not coming so we’re ready to hike.

8:20 AM - Begin hike on Dawson Saddle Trail heading south up the ridge. After a few steep switchbacks I suspect that we are not on the right trial. My suspicions were confirmed in about 10 minutes as we reach a junction with the formal trail coming from the left. Soon the climb mellows as the trail ascends the gentle ridge. The mature forest and wonderful views are incredible. The trail was built by Boy Scouts in the summer of 1982 to commemorate the 75th year of world scouting at the cost of 3540 volunteer hours. I am falling in love with this wonderful trail and find it to be one of the finest in the San Gabriels.

I really enjoy hiking an ascending ridge like this because of the varying views. Throop Peek looms ahead to the south while Mt. Burnham and Mt. Baden-Powell dominate the ridge to southeast. Windy Gap and Mt. Islip stand nearby to the west while Mt. Wilson country is seen in the distance. To the north Mt. Lewis pokes up while the vast Mojave Desert consumes the horizon. On both sides of the ridge we see the Angeles Crest Highway below as it meanders through the high county. Occasionally we hear a car or motorcycle. After about 1.5 miles the trail bends east across the north face of Throop Peak. A couple ladies pass us.

9:35 - Junction with Pacific Crest Trail (1.8 miles). A sign greets us. A few more steps to the ridge and we look south down into Iron Fork of the San Gabriel River and the vast Sheep Mountain Wilderness. Beyond is Mt. Baldy, Ontario Ridge and the vast human sprawl obscured by a layer of haze. A slight breeze feels good. We hang out here for a while then turn right (west) and follow PCT. In about a minute we reach a “Y” and veer right to follow the use path to the summit.

10:14 - Throop Peak (9138’). Wow, what a splendid summit! I like it! The scarcity of trees affords great views in most directions. A bronze plaque honors Amos G. Throop, founder of Throop University (now known as Cal Tech). We hang out for a while. A lady arrives at the peak coming from the west. Her name is Debbie and we enjoy talking about hiking. The peak register, housed in a baggy under a small rock, is new and was placed here by Ken Rose. We are the first to sign it. A sailplane glides in the blue sky above. Mt Burnham to the east calls us to proceed.

11:05 - Leave Throop Peak and retrace our steps east. The sun is warm but the temperature is pleasant. At 11:15 we pass the trial junction for Dawson Saddle Trail and continue east descending on PCT. I’m loving the scenery and wonderful weather. In the distance we watch an LA County sheriff’s helicopter land at Dawson Saddle. Wonder what that’s about. The trail follows closely along the north side of the ridge and provides intermediate views south. As we get closer to the Throop/Burnham saddle, Mt. Burnham looks more imposing. Gnarled and twisted trees speak of harsh winters.

11:52 - Reach the junction west of Burnham (8710’). The Harrison map shows the main trail contouring to the left around the north face of the summit and a secondary trail bearing right and heading straight up the ridge. We choose to veer right and begin the steep ascent. The “trial” soon becomes indistinct but we keep climbing. Meet a young man named Kenny who is out pacing us.

12:16 - Mt. Burnham (8997’). Nice peak. Views are somewhat obscured by trees. Chat with Kenny. A man and his 15-year-old son arrive with their little dog. We chat. Kenny leaves. Sign the peak registered, which has no protective home except a baggie. Mark and I decide that we have plenty of hike in us so we continue east to conquer Baden-Powell. Leave summit at 12:48.

12:53 - Reach junction with PCT on east side of Burnham (8900’). That route on the east flank of Burnham would definitely be the easier way to reach the top, but we don’t regret our adventure climb up the west side. Stop and chat with the two ladies we saw earlier. Soon the trail approaches a nameless bump on the ridge (9088’), ascends a switchback on the southern flank, and crosses over to the north side. We opt not to summit the bump as the trail skirts along the north. A prominent ridge descends gently to the north and I ponder cross-country routs. A group of six colorfully glad older hikers approaches from the east. We reach the ridge again and stop for a nutrition break with wonderful views south. Debbie arrives on her way down. We chat. Finish our break and continue and soon the trail traverses below the ridge on the north. I get excited as I see the trail on a spur ridge coming up from Vincent Gap.

2:11 - Mt. Baden-Powell PCT Junction. Wow, spectacular view down into Mine Gulch and the upper reaches of the East Fork San Gabriel River and beyond to Mt. Baldy! This is some of the most dramatic scenery in the range. The “Wally” Walden Tree, a 1,500 year old limber pine, stands majestically on the ridge. We turn right and head south up the trial and several switchbacks for the final 0.1 mile to the summit.

2:22 - Mt. Baden-Powell (9399’). This peak stands as one of the truly grand summits of the San Gabriels. Years ago this bald peak was known as North Baldy. In 1931 the mountain was renamed in honor of Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of boy scouting.

There are about 15 people on the summit, including a group of 5 (Nick and family from Commerce), who we enjoyed visiting with. It’s a little warm but a gentle breeze feels great. I have cell reception to call my wife but can’t connect to the Internet to upload to Facebook. I soak in the spectacular views. The 360-dregee panorama includes the vast Mojave Desert to the North, the vast Pacific Ocean to the south, and the rugged San Gabriel Mountains in between. The human sprawl is muted by haze, giving an ethereal sense of being away from it all. I am delighted we made the choice to press onto this superb peak. I was here 7 years ago, but it is certainly worth visiting more often.

View west from Mt. Baden Powell toward
Troop Peak and Mt. Burnham

3:31 - Leave Baden-Powell. Retrace our steps back. When we reach the east slope of the bump between Baden-Powell and Burnham, Mark continues down the trail and I decide to conquer this peaklet (9088’). Three minutes is all it takes to reach its summit. The west slope is steeper and rockier but soon I reconnect with Mark. When we reach the junction at the east side of Burnham we stay right and follow PCT around the north flank and reach the junction west of Burnham at 4:36. I enjoy taking pictures in completely different lighting than this morning. The trail is gentle here along the ridge but soon begins the ascent toward Throop Peak, our final climb of the day.

5:22 - Junction with Dawson Saddle Trail. Now just 1.8 miles of a pleasant downhill walk to go. I savor how enjoyable this hike has been. Part of me is somewhat tired from a long day of hiking, but part of me is sad to see such a splendid outing come to an end. As we get near Dawson Saddle we stay on the main trail (the portion we missed this morning) and observe that it is a much more desirable route than the old trail section we took this morning. It hits the highway about 250 yards east of the maintenance building.

6:20 - Done...exactly 10 hours from the start. I scout around the trailhead area to collect good notes for my hike description.

Epilog - What a thoroughly enjoyable hike on some of the finest trails and in some of the most incredible scenery the San Gabriel Mountains have to offer! The weather was absolutely perfect and the foot traffic was surprisingly thin for Labor Day weekend. Visiting two new peaks was a treat and climbing Baden-Power is always rewarding. I always value Mark’s companionship and glean from his years of hiking experience. And we had lots of nice conversations with other hikers along the way. Mark and I were probably the slowest hikers on the trial today, but no one enjoyed it more than we did. I’ve long touted the trail to Baden-Powell as my favorite in the San Gabriels, and now I can include the trails coming from the west. On the other hand, Mt. Baldy is a great summit, but I’ve always lamented that one can’t get there without hiking on dirt roads or scrambling up crazy steep use paths. The quintessential trails to Baden-Powell are a hiker’s delight. Today we covered 9.3 miles and climbed 2,530 in elevation gain...a most respectable outing. I am so thankful for the opportunity to hike.

See Mt. Baden-Powell hike report (5-31-04) at Dan's Hiking Pages

See the photo album for this hike - Featuring 88 photos with captions

Bighorn Peak Hike - August 28, 2011

2011-08-28T23:36:00.000-07:00

See Icehouse Canyon to Icehouse Saddle hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

The San Gabriels’ eastern high country called to me again, this time to a summit I’ve not yet conquered: Bighorn Peak (8441’). It does not get as much attention as its taller neighbors, Cucamonga Peak (8859’) to the southeast and Ontario Peak (8693’) to the west. But I’ve had my eye on it for years.

I’ve long pondered attacking Bighorn by climbing straight up the ridge from Icehouse Saddle. And after last week’s climb up Register Ridge, I was feeling ambitious to do another rigorous, unconventional climb. Last year when I was at Icehouse Saddle I did some exploring around the slope but did not find any clear route. I’ve not found any write-ups for it, but the Sierra Club Hundred Peaks Section did mention that it is doable and one of the climbing archive reports mentioned climbing it, but with little detail, and 10 years ago. The topography does not appear to be unreasonably steep, but my main concern was the thick blanket of manzanita. And with an elevation gain of 860 feet, I had to realize that it was like climbing from the Baldy/Hardwood saddle to Baldy’s summit, only with 160 feet more and no trail. But I was ready for the challenge.

With the blazing temperatures for this weekend, I knew I would need an early start to beat the heat. My alarm woke me at 4:00 and off I headed to Icehouse Canyon. There were only a few cars in the parking lot (in the daytime it’s usually packed). The car thermometer read 74 degrees...not cool.

5:30 AM - Start hike at Icehouse Canyon (4900’). It’s still dark and the constellation Orion shines brightly above. A flashlight is necessary to guide my steps. This first mile is one of my favorite sections of the trail with its streamside charm, but this morning I can only imagine it in the dark. Reach Chapman Trail junction (1.0 mi.) at 5:59. I don’t need the flashlight any longer, but it’s still too dark for decent pictures. Shortly I cross the creek and arrive at the boundary to Cucamonga Wilderness (1.8 mi.) at 6:20. I keep pressing on.

At 6:24 I see the first rays of sun landing on West Baldy’s south ridge to the west. I love watching a new day emerge. I am aware that I’m the only one on the trail, a rarity in Icehouse Canyon. I contemplate the possibility of arriving at Icehouse Saddle without encountering a single person. Cross Telegraph Wash, hit the 2-mile post at 6:39, and begin the steep section climbing the north slope. The trail condition is much better here. Pass Columbine Spring at 6:48 and start the switchbacks. Shortly a lone hiker catches and passes me. My solitude streak is broken, but oh well, it’s still quite peaceful. At 7:13 I pass the upper junction to Chapman Trail (3.0 mi.). Only 0.6 mile to go. Views toward Baldy open up and I reflect on last week’s adventure sitting on the rim of Baldy Bowl. I press the pace with hopes of reaching the saddle by the two-hour mark.

7:30 - Icehouse Saddle (7580’) (3.6 mi.). I step into my first sun of the morning. It’s not breezy yet. The lone hiker sits resting. We chat briefly. He leaves as two more hikers arrive. After I look around the saddle, one of the hikers asks if I’m Dan. They are big fans of Dan’s Hiking Pages. James and Bob are hiking the Three Tees today. It’s good they got an early start. Other hikers arrive. I think I’m procrastinating my adventure climb. Leave the saddle at 8:10.

I walk up Ontario Peak Trail about 100 yards and find a spot to begin my climb. It’s steep with loose footing and I am picking my route though thick patches of manzanita. I’m hoping it gets better because 860 feet of this would be quite taxing. I see no human-made paths, but evidence of bighorn sheep is abundant. I follow a bighorn path as it leaves the ridge taking a tangent to the right on the slope of a wash. I soon realize that this route is not going where I need to go. I turn east and start a steep, rugged climb back to the ridge. At 8:46 I achieve the ridge again. This is certainly the better route and the brush has thinned out. I sit on a log and enjoy some food. As I continue, views open up east to Etiwanda and Cucamonga peaks. The route is somewhat steep but quite decent, although I’m negotiating some deadfalls from the fire years ago. I get excited as I see the ridge mellowing out as it gets closer to the top.

9:21 - Ridge junction intersecting the ridge coming up the Cucamonga/Bighorn saddle. Wow, this is great! Views open south to the human sprawl. Cucamonga Peak looms to the southeast. The route bends west and follows the rocky ridge. The rugged landscape is stunning. I enjoy soaking it in. This is bighorn sheep country, so I tread gently and slowly and hope to encounter the herd.

9:38 - Bighorn Peak (8441’). What a splendid peak! Sweeping views in all directions from the nearly treeless summit are amazing. It’s warm now. Haze murkies up the vast human sprawl to the south with Saddleback poking up on the distant horizon. This is a great vantage point to view Mt. Baldy and its surrounds. I sit in the warm sun on a comfortable log and sign the peak register. As I enjoy the quite solitude I think about the multitudes who will assault Old Baldy today. I have cell reception so I call my wife and upload a photo to Facebook. I decide for my return to head west and descend through Kelly Camp.

10:20 - Leave Bighorn Peak. Shortly I stray off trail to explore an impressive outcropping of rocks hanging on the steep southern mountainside. Continue on but can’t find the trail. Found it but lost it again. As the trails drops into a saddle choked with brush, the route disappears. I ponder a shortcut down Delker Canyon but decide to stick with the plan. The ridge steeply climbs to a high bump (8210’) but I follow what I think is the trail around the northern flank. Trail disappears again. This is turning out to be more of an adventure than my cross-country climb to Bighorn Peak. I climb the steep slope and finally find the trail which descends to the ridge. The scenery is amazing. Fluffy white clouds begin to gather to the north.

11:17 - Junction with Ontario Peak Trail. I’m back on familiar territory as I was here a year ago en route to Ontario Peak. Turn hard right and take the descending trail. Views are open as the trail meanders through an area that was incinerated years ago. Soon I arrive in welcome shade.

11:38 - Kelly Camp. No one here. I wander over to the spring and sit and eat. Leave Kelly at 12:12 for the 1.0 mile descent to Icehouse Saddle. Scenery is still wonderful. Thunder clouds gathering over Baldy cast interesting shadows on the mountain. I pass a ravine (Delker Canyon) that appears that would have made a good shortcut from the ridge coming down from Bighorn. I explore a spur ridge on the left.

12:57 - Icehouse Saddle. A couple large groups are leaving. The breeze is warm. I mosey north up Three Tees Trail for a couple hundred yards to get a view of my route up Bighorn Peak. Leave the saddle at 1:05 at an earnest pace taking advantage of the good trail here. It’s hot now and I’m glad it’s downhill. Stop at Columbine Spring and get some more water. Pass the 2-mile post at 1:55, cross Telegraph Wash, photograph some metamorphic rock, and arrive at the wilderness boundary at 2:11. Sit and enjoy the shade while having a snack. I’m amazed to see several hikers dragging themselves up the trail en route to the saddle. Why would anybody punish themselves like that in the blistering heat? Continue on and am glad to reach the streamside section with shade and the refreshing sounds of the creek. A Boy Scout troop comes plodding up the trail. I ask where they are heading and an adult leader says the saddle. Not to meddle, but it seems to me that it is a regrettable lack of judgment to inflict such punishment on these boys. Scouting is supposed help boys fall in love with hiking. None of these kids or adults look like they are enjoying themselves in the sweltering heat.

My 4GB memory card reaches capacity. So the section I walked in the dark this morning won’t get photographed today. Oh well. I pass Chapman Trial junction at 3:53. My pace is slow on the rocky trail. Even though I love the incredible beauty of Icehouse Canyon, I always dread the descent because of the poor trail surface for much of way. For me, it makes footing tedious and laborious. The streamside stroll is pleasant. Various ones are enjoying playing in the cool stream. I’m dreaming of a cool shower and cold Coke.

3:24 - Done. Parking lot is still quite full. My car thermometer reads 93 degrees.

Epilog - Another amazing day of hiking in the San Gabriels’ high country! Incredible scenery! Conquering a new peak and doing it the “hard way” is most satisfying. I thoroughly enjoyed the surprising amount of solitude. I didn’t encounter one person in my 5-hour loop from the Icehouse Saddle to the peak and back to the saddle. And there were very few people on my descent from the saddle. I climbed more than 3,600 feet covering 9.5 miles...a most respectable workout. I am so thankful for the ability to hike these wonderful mountains.

See my blog post: Ontario Peak Hike - August 21-22, 2010

See Icehouse Canyon to Icehouse Saddle hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

Register Ridge to Harwood, Baldy & W. Baldy - Aug. 21, 2011

2011-08-21T20:03:00.000-07:00

See Introducing Mt. Baldy and Mt. Baldy hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

Unequivocally, this was one of my very best hike experiences in the San Gabriels. An amazing day of hiking! I’ve been hearing about the Register Ridge route for years, but its purported difficulty has had me avoiding it. But two weeks ago while hiking to Mt. Baldy, I met a man who had just hiked it that morning. So based on his first-hand report, I decided it was time to tackle the notorious Register Ridge. The route begins on Ski Hut Trail just past the sign-in register, climbs 2,600 in about 1.6 miles, and intersects Devils Backbone Trail on the south face of Mt. Harwood. My plan was to hike the ridge and continue onto Harwood. Then if I felt up to it, I could continue on to Baldy or descend via the Backbone.

I psyched myself up the whole week, read some hike descriptions, studied maps and aerials, and got my gear together. And the weather forecast was for mild temps. I arose at 5:00 Sunday morning and headed off to Manker Flats.

6:25 AM - Begin hike (6160') on Falls Road. I was here two weeks ago but this morning there is an excitement in my step. The ragged ramparts of Baldy Bowl catch the morning’s first rays of sun 3,900 feet above. I transition onto Ski Hut Trail, sign the register, round the bend and arrive at the junction for the Register Ridge route. I take 5 minutes and do some stretching exercises.

6:55 - Begin climbing Register Ridge. The well-worn path zigzags up the steep slope. The footing is loose and I’m thankful I brought a walking poll. At 7:07 I step into the sun. It’s bright. Shortly the trail gets less steep. A gentle breeze feels good. I’m loving the expanding views in all directions. Baldy Bowl in all its glory rises high above while a marine layer blankets the valleys below. I’m seeing the area from a perspective I’ve not experienced before. I love the smell of pine. Sugar pine, Jeffery pine, and white fir decorate the ridge. The path is easy to follow for the most part. At one point I find my own route scampering over some rocks. There are great views down both sides of the ridge. The climb is steep but I’m really enjoying the trail. There is a real sense of climbing a mountain. And I have it all to myself! The grand scenery is breathtaking while the micro features such as pine cones, stumps, dead branches, and delicate flowers add a unique beauty. At times the ridge gets narrow with steep drop-offs.

8:36 - Reach a high spot on the ridge which drops slightly to a small saddle. The ridge broadens out and the climb gets steeper. A huge outcropping greets me and I pass easily to its left. Scrambling up scree now. Stopping to catch my breath affords me ample time to soak in the majestic vistas. I am thoroughly enjoying an exhilarating climb. Gentle breezes and pleasant temps are so welcome.

9:29 - Arrive at a splendid outcropping which provides an ideal place to sit, rest, eat, and savor the awesome scenery. I don’t feel guilty for lingering a half hour since this setting rivals just about any peak in the San Gabriels. I call my wife, upload a photo to Facebook (technology...gotta love it!) and enjoy perfect solitude...until I hear the clicking of trekking poles. A woman and man pass me climbing to the top. Finally I leave this delightful spot at l0:05. Manzanita and gnarled pines dominate the landscape of the now-broad mountainside. Suddenly I’m caught by surprise as I see a runner moving laterally just ahead. Wow, I’m almost there!

10:12 - Arrive at Devils Backbone Trail. Maybe I was over psyched for climb, but it was not nearly as tough as I thought it would be. Perhaps the shire beauty of the route outweighed its difficulty. Or maybe 5 weeks of noteworthy conditioning helped. I’m reluctant to even mention Register Ridge for concern of increasing its traffic. But it is indeed a serious climb and its demand for experienced hikers in good hiking condition will always weed out the multitudes. Word to the wise: Don’t even consider this route unless you can handily climb Ski Hut Trail to Baldy.

10:18 - I feel great so I fix my gaze to the north and begin ascending Mt. Harwood. There is no established route--I just climb straight up the crushed-rock-covered barren mass. The scenery is breathtakingly expansive. I’m having such an enjoyable hike!

10:29 - Mt. Harwood (9552’). Wow, this is an awesome summit! The vistas are simply stunning. It’s curious to me that peaks often have their identity based on the relationship to other peaks. If Old Baldy wasn’t looming above it by 500 feet, this would certainly be one of the most popular peaks in the San Gabriels. The wind is blowing briskly and I strap on my hat. The view northwest toward Dawson Peak and Pine Mt. reinforces my desire to hike them this season. I leave the summit at 10:44 and head west toward Baldy. In 100 yards I pass a spacecraft-looking device that seems at home on this moonscape (It’s actually an EarthScope GPS monitoring station). I pass a couple outcroppings and descend to the saddle as I eyeball the steep pitch to Baldy with hikers looking like ants sprinkled along the route.

11:02 - Badly/Harwood saddle (9360’). With the solitude behind me, I now join the masses in scaling the 700 vertical feet to Baldy’s summit. The scenery is still stunning and the temps still pleasant. A stiff wind to my back at times helps propel me uphill. After 18 minutes I reach a junction where the route splits. To the right the trial is less steep as it passes through a draw. I veer left on the steeper trail with the intent to explore the rim of Baldy Bowl. I wander off the trail in several spots to view the spectacular scene. Massive scree slopes, topped by jagged rocks, drop a 1,000 feet.

11:33 - I reach a recessed area. I continue to bear left staying close to the rim. I climb a knoll and am drawn downward toward a small outcropping and then down to a large one. What an incredible vantage point as I sit perched on the very rim of Baldy Bowl. I’d love to be sitting at the ski hut and see me sitting up here! I’ve long been one who strays off the path to find interest things, and this ranks as a real treasure. I linger, snack, soak in the beauty, and feel no need to rush off to a crowded, bald summit. At 12:02 I leave my sweet spot and head toward the peak. It’s fun creating my own route. I reach the main trail at 12:27 and take the final steps to the top.

12:29 - Mt. Baldy summit (10,064’)! It’s a great peak but I’m not as wowed today after having experienced the amazing scenery on Register Ridge, Mt. Harwood, and Baldy Bowl rim. I count 14 people here. I still feel great so decide to make it a triple crown day! I manage to accomplish what I wasn’t able to two weeks ago: I stay briefly! At 12:39 I leave the summit and head toward West Baldy. I follow the path that traverses directly down the board, gentle ridge. Wispy white clouds in the deep blue sky add beauty to the day. I reach the saddle in 10 minutes and begin the climb to my third summit for the day.

12:56 - West Baldy (9988') - I meet Cindy, Lindella, and Tony, who climbed here via the long route on Bear Flat Trail from the village. We chat and I’m amazed and inspired by their hiking exploits. There is a lot less haze today than two weeks ago when I made my first visit to this peak. Leave the summit at 1:42 and retrace my steps to Baldy.

2:02 - Mt. Baldy summit, the second time. Count 18 people. Linger for a while, have a snack, chat with few people, and enjoy the beauty of this grand, bald summit.

Leave the peak at 2:25 to begin my 3.2 mile trek to Baldy Notch. I’m glad the sun is to my back. Hikers are still coming up the trail. My pace is casual as I enjoy the scenery and take pictures. Reach the Baldy/Harwood saddle at 3:01. It’s nice to finally be on a decent trail. At 3:13 I pass the junction of Register Ridge route. I smile with satisfaction. I continue along Devils Backbone Trail. I’m surprised to run into my friend Dave Dorman, who’s coming up the trail. I chuckle because over the years we have crossed paths while hiking on 5 or 6 occasions. I guess we’re on the same wavelength in trial selection. A few minutes later I meet a young man named Drew who recognized me from my hiking website. He’s working on a personal best time up Baldy. I take a short snack break sitting on a log. I still have ice in my Gatorade...so refreshing!

4:06 - Reach the backbone section. It’s pretty short in contrast to its notoriety. I walk it in 10 minutes. Always breathtaking scenery. My pace is casual as I walk along the ski lift service road. My body is starting to feel the effects of a long day of hiking. I resist the temptation to drop down one of the ski runs, although, they do make good shortcuts.

4:51 - Baldy Notch (7800’). I’m so done. Ten bucks for a one-way ski lift ticket is a good value right now. I’ve never ridden the lift going up but I can justify going down after a long hike. I enjoy the 15-minute ride down the 1,500 vertical feet and arrive at the bottom at 5:22. Now walk the half mile back to the car.

5:40 - Done, indeed!

Epilog - What an amazing day of hiking! The weather was perfect. The Baldy high country is stunning. Connecting with other hikers, experiencing a new route, exploring Baldy Bowl rim, and hitting all three peaks was greatly rewarding. I am always eternally grateful for these wonderful mountains in my back yard and for the gift of being able to hike.

See Introducing Mt. Baldy and Mt. Baldy hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

See Mt. Baldy Hike photo album (8-21-11)

Mt. Bliss Hike - August 14, 2011

2011-08-14T20:03:00.002-07:00

See Mt. Bliss hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

I wanted to get a moderately strenuous hike under my feet this weekend, but did not want to give a whole day to it. So I choose one of my local scrappy hikes: Mt. Bliss. The trailhead is only 10 minutes from my house in Azusa, and with a distance of 8.5 miles round trip and 2880 feet in elevation gain, it would be an ideal hike to keep my legs and feet in condition.

Mount Bliss is not usually a summer hike: Heat, obscured visibility, withering chaparral. But if I go early I can at least mitigate the heat, to a degree.

5:50 AM - Start hike. Leaving the equestrian center, I begin my steep climb up Van Tassel Fire Road. It’s cool and nighttime dampness brings out the aromas of the chaparral, particularly the white sage. A full noon is setting. A marine layer thinly blankets the valley. Soon I encounter a sign: “ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Area) No Entrance Permitted, TRTP Segments 4-11.” It’s branded by the Edison Company of Southern California. I’m not a defiant person, but I don’t recognize the Edison Company’s authority to tell me I can’t hike on a public right-of-way in the national forest. I keep walking. I love the beauty of the pre-sunrise morning. An orange glow outlines the majestic peaks crowing the eastern end of the San Gabriels.

6:30 - Sunrise over Ontario Peak. Moments later I pass under the power transmission towers and in a couple minutes pass by the locked gate. Not much in bloom right now except an abundance of California buckwheat and a few occurrences of sunflower, lupine, scarlet penstemon, scarlet larkspur, cliff aster, bush monkeyflower, and mustard. I’m trying to maintain a workout pace. The early sun adds a warm glow to the hillsides. Just past the power tower retaining wall is another ESA sign. In fact, they occur often throughout the rest of the hike creating a visual blight.

There is a beauty to the rugged, chaparral-covered foothills. It’s so much better in spring, and it certainly doesn’t have the “wow” factor as last week’s hike to Mt. Baldy, but it’s my backyard and I value it. Views open up to the west. The city is waking up. Flies and gnats pester me. See a male deer disappear into brush. The road is less steep in places but not for long. I daydream about wonderful single-track trails with moderate grades. Views open up to Spanish Canyon, Sawpit Canyon, Monrovia Peak, and Mt. Wilson.

8:13 - Cross under the power lines and take an immediate right on a side road (sometimes hikers miss this turn and end up descending toward White Saddle). In another 50 yards, I turn left on a less-used spur road and pass a power tower. Buckwheat menaces my bare legs as I traverse along the ridge toward my destination.

8:29 - Mt. Bliss (3720’). Aside from Azusa Peak via Garcia Trail, this is my most visited summit. It doesn’t get much traffic so I’ve always had solitude here. It offers a splendid 360 panorama, which is somewhat muted today by a marine haze. The peak lives up to its name “Bliss,” except for the flies and muffled drone of the 210 Freeway far below. The sun is getting warm now. I sign the peak register. Looks like frequent visitor Gary Meza is addicted to this peak. Forty-five minutes on the summit pass quickly.

9:15 - Leave peak. Sun is warm so I’m glad its downhill all the way. Wildlife encounters for the day include rabbit, deer, lizards, butterflies, squirrel, quail, Steller’s jay, and various other birds. Animal tracks on the road include several snakes and mountain lion. My pace is fast but I stop frequently to take pictures and soak in the scenery. I appreciate brief sections of shade. Pass the power tower retaining wall and views south to the human sprawl emerge. When I arrive at the locked gate, a mountain biker passes me going down. Pass the power towers and begin a jogging pace—seems easier than walking down the steep road. Occasional breezes are welcome.

I look east across Van Tassel Canyon toward Van Tassel Ridge and wonder how that scene will look once Vulcan Materials begins mining it. It will have an impact but I think it will be better than if they had advanced on Fish Ridge. When I get to the spur trail coming up from Mel Canyon, I take a jaunt to check it out. It’s used a lot by equestrians to access a flat spot on the ridge, but the brushy route coming up from Mel Canon looks less than inviting. Back to the main road at 11:35.

11:43 - Done. Car thermometer reads 84 degrees. Seems warmer.

Epilog - Good outing. Solid workout for my body. Watched a new day emerge. Experienced nature. Enjoyed solitude on a trail that has become an old friend.

See Mt. Bliss hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

See Mt. Bliss hike photo album

Mt. Baldy Hike - August 7, 2011

2011-08-07T21:31:00.000-07:00

See Introducing Mt. Baldy and Mt. Baldy hike descriptions at Dan's Hiking Pages

Mt. Baldy! Time for some high country hiking at its best. When I went to bed on Saturday night I had not picked out a hike for Sunday yet. But somewhere in that netherworld between sleep and consciousness, I chose Old Baldy. It’s been three years since my last ascent, so I figured it was time to pay the grand summit a visit. And I had good hikes under my feet in recent weeks, so I felt I was in condition enough.

Rising 10,064 feet into the sky, massive Mt. San Antonio stands as the crown of the San Gabriels. There are several routes ascending its lofty heights. I decided on Ski Hut Trail, my favorite approach. And if I have time and energy, I’d like to wander over to West Baldy, a summit I’ve not yet conquered.

I arise early Sunday morning, gather my stuff, and make the 40-minute drive to Manker Flats below the Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts. Dozens and dozen of cars are parked at the trailhead. My car thermometer reads 60 degrees. I reach for my sunglasses and they bust in my hand. I reach into the glove box and my other ones aren’t there. Now what? Typical of this hike, there is lots of bright sun reflecting off rock; there is no way to ascend Baldy without eye protection. So I throw the pieces of my sunglasses into my pack and figure if I can repair them with tape from my first aid kit at the ski hut, I’d continue my ascent. If not, I’d turn back and try another day.

8:00 AM - Begin hike (6160'). The walk along the paved road is a nice way to get warmed up. The canyon is still mostly in shadows. After rounding the bend I can see my destination high up San Antonio Canyon. The green ski hut looks no bigger than a Monopoly house perched on the mountainside. I pass San Antonio Falls, which is still flowing but not as showy as when fed by snow melt. Road is dirt now.

8:22 - Reach subtle junction to Mt. Baldy Bowl Trail, popularly called Ski Hut Trail. It amazes me that such a popular trail to a significant peak doesn’t even warrant a sign. I begin climbing the steep, single track footpath and at 8:27 I sign the register. My pace is deliberately slow and in low gear; I want to give my body the best opportunity to perform well today. The narrow trail bends north and cuts across the steep canyon slope. The sun is now shining on the shire walls across the canyon. Other hikers, the first of many, pass me heading up. A line of haze obscures the distant valleys to the south. My destination appears far away. I climb higher and higher. The scenery is magnificent. As I cross the stream the ski hut is imminent. Stop to photograph some Indian paint brush and Bigelow's sneezeweed.

9:58 - Sierra Club San Antonio Ski Hut. This is always a nice place to rest. I’d like to stay here some time. The views are absolutely amazing. Sitting on a splendid log bench, I go to work with surgical precision to repair my sun classes. After about 25 minutes and several feet of first aid tape, the repair is complete, howbeit, really ugly.

10:40 - Leave the ski hut, cross the stream, and begin my westward traverse along the jumble of fractured boulders at the base of Baldy Bowl. Photos can’t capture the stunning scale of my surrounds. I chat with a man and women from Orange County who are making their first ascent of Old Baldy. Reach the section of trees at 10:56 and begin climbing the canyon’s west wall. The trail degenerates into a web of use paths carving up the steep mountainside. It’s ridiculously steep. It amazes me, given the huge popularity of this route, that a real trail isn’t built here. Trees provide welcome shade. Stop to chat some more.

11:35 - Ridge (8800') - Take a planned break and have a snack. Talk with a gentleman who is a member of a search and rescue team. He has a handsome service dog getting a workout on the trail. Begin the ridge climb at 12:05. The route starts moderately but soon begins to climb like a home-sick angel. Manzanita carpets the slopes accented by tall pine and fir. The scenery is spectacular and the sky a deep blue. The air temperature is not bad but the sun is warm. My pace is turtle-slow as I chug up the crazy steep ridge. Hikers coming and going. The massive south ridge of West Baldy dominates the west skyline.

12:40 - Reach a spur trail and wander 100 feet over to the edge of Baldy Bowl. Looking over the edge makes my feet tingle. In some ways the views from here are far more breathtaking than from the summit. I get out my iPhone and am amazed I have reception. Call my wife and upload a photo to Facebook. Almost feel guilty for being so high-tech in such a ruggedly beautiful setting. Resume at 1:05. Trail mellows out briefly before starting to be crazy steep again. At 1:22 I take another side jaunt for more stunning views into the bowl. The hut is a tiny green dot far below. In another 5 minutes I pass a mini-bowl, a recessed section which would make a good campsite. The route now transitions to the broad apron skirting Baldy’s summit. I continue at a turtle’s pace meandering through patches of manzanita. My excitement builds as I inch closer to the summit.

1:57 - Mt. Baldy summit (10,064')! Wow, I’m always impressed with the grandeur of this mountain! About 30 people here. Haze rests on the 360-degree horizon. Weather is perfect. Slight breeze. I chat with the man and women from O.C.--Randy and Kathy. A seven-year-old boy is there with his father. What an accomplishment for such a little guy. My original intent was to stay briefly then hike over to West Baldy, but I linger, soaking in the extraordinary panorama. Hikers come and go. I wander around the bald summit and take pics from different perspectives. As the time approaches 3:00, I debate if I should hike to West Baldy or not. You know, it’s never going to get any easier or more convenient!

View west through north from Mt. Baldy.
West Baldy (9988') is on the left, Mt. Baden-Powell (9399') is in the middle, and Pine Mt. (9648') is on the right.

3:00 - Leave Baldy summit and head west. The trail skirts along the south side of the ridge en route to the saddle between Baldy and West Baldy. I scout the terrain looking for a way to bypass climbing Baldy’s summit on my return. I feel a little excitement as I’m on ground I’ve never covered before. At 3:12 I reach the saddle and begin my summit climb. It’s not bad. I survey the views in all directs to appreciate the varied landscape.

3:20 - West Baldy (9988') - Wow! Great views, better than Baldy in some respects. A rock cluster makes a perfect place to sit. I snack, study the map, and soak in the panorama. One of the grandest summits in the San Gabriels, and I have it all to myself! Hikers on Baldy look like ants. I stroll over to the west edge to get striking views into the East Fork San Gabriel River. The mountains to the west form a picturesque array of textured blue silhouettes in the late afternoon sun. Note to self: Spend the night up here in clear weather!

3:50 - Leave West Baldy and arrive at the saddle in 6 minutes. Along the way I’ve been eyeballing a tangent that would cut across Baldy’s south apron to descend directly to the trail. I see no establish path but an off-trail route looks quite doable. I weave through patches of manzanita and am careful not to descend too steeply so that I don’t undershoot the trail. The plan works nicely and I intersect the trail just above the mini-bowl. Minutes later I reach the mini-bowl and stroll over to the edge of Baldy Bowl for another view. Spectacular scenery! Continue down the ridge, navigating the steep, rough web of paths with care. Hardly anyone now on the trail and I’m feeling some solitude.

5:02 - Reach the ridge junction (8800'). Sit and have a snack. Leave at 5:15 and begin the steep descent east into the canyon, now mostly in shade. Cross the base of Baldy Bowl and arrive at the ski hut at 5:45. A group of hikers ask if I heard someone calling for help. I hadn’t. Soon a helicopter appears overhead and for the next 30 minutes the chopper noise provides the soundtrack for the hike. My legs are weary now and I’m ready to be done. My steps are slow. The lighting is very different. Only 11 people signed the register for the day. Arrive at road at 7:12, finally. Enjoy a casual stroll down. The setting sun creates a picturesque scene toward the valley below.

7:35 - Done. Yahooo! What an amazing 11 ½ hours. It’s 74 degrees. There’s only about 8 cars left. I’m so ready to be home in the shower.

Epilog - Spectacular day of hiking! Magnificent scenery, wonderful weather, a challenging trail, some adventure, and two grand summits. Mt. Baldy lives up to its place as the crown of the San Gabriels. And adding West Baldy to the day was an added bonus.

See Introducing Mt. Baldy and Mt. Baldy hike descriptions at Dan's Hiking Pages

Rincon Road Hike - July 31, 2011

2011-07-31T19:25:00.000-07:00

See Rincon Red Box Road to Summit 2908' Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages

I awoke at 4:40 AM on Sunday. Time to go hiking. Am I a diehard? I went hiking the last three Saturdays, so I knew that I needed to spend this Saturday on household chores, and it was a productive day. When I went to bed I told myself that if I woke up by 4:30 I’d go on a hike. And 4:40 was close enough. It would be a scrappy hike since I needed to be home by 9:30 before church. I coined the term “scrappy hike”--a hike which I generally define as being close to home, one which I have hiked numerous times, and one which I fit on a scrap of carved out time. A scrappy hike is just a way to get me outdoors and to get in or stay in condition for a primetime hike.

Rincon Road (2N24) seemed to be the ideal scrappy hike for this morning. The trailhead is about 20 minutes from my home in Azusa up Hwy 39. I drove by the trailhead last Saturday en route to and from Crystal Lake and noticed that a Station Fire closure sign was still up, even though it is well out of the current Station Fire closure area as shown on the current FS map. I called the FS this week and they confirmed it is indeed open--at least for hiking and bicycling.

5:50 AM - Begin hike. The car thermometer reads 67 degrees. The sky is cloudy. My pace is fast since the major purpose for the hike is to put 7 miles on my legs and be back to the car by 9:10. The flora story of the morning is California buckwheat--lot of the creamy white flowers in bloom.

I’m generally not a fire road kind of guy when it comes to hiking, but sometimes you just have to hike on what’s available, particularly for a scrappy hike. On nice thing about a fire road is that you can walk at a fast pace and still be able to look around and enjoy the scenery without worrying about stepping off the trail and tumbling down the mountain. Another nice thing about fire roads is that the surface often makes a nice canvas to capture tracks. This morning I see various tracks including deer (with a fawn), large animal (maybe mountain lion), small animal (maybe raccoon), snake, human (in shoes), bikes, and motor vehicles.

I love the beauty of the morning. Quall flutter through the brush. A rabbit sitting in the middle of the road watches me for a long time as I approach before he hops away. I am surrounded by mature chaparral, thick and richly textured. Only a few occurrences of Spanish broom are still in bloom with their beautiful and fragrant yellow flowers--now most of the plants are covered with bean pods. I snap pics along the way but have to be deliberate in keeping an earnest pace since the clock is ticking. I see my destination far up the canyon. The road climbs steeply. I’m working up a sweat. The varied clouds make a picturesque sky and create a purplish din on the high country to the north and east.

6:38 - Hairpin turn passing over the main canyon watercourse a couple minutes past Fern Springs. Heading northeast now along the east wall of the canyon. Pass the 2-mile marker at 6:43.

6:55 - Hairpin turn at 2.5-mile point. Splendid views. Linger long enough to get pics in all directions. I wonder about the prominent peak due east. It would offer superb views into San Gabriel Canyon but would require serious bushwhacking through steep terrain to get there. As I continue it begins to lightly sprinkle. I resist digging out my poncho. Pass 3-mile marker at 7:11. Still sprinkling.

7:19 - Arrive at the canyon head and the off-trail junction to the ridge and Summit 2908, my destination. The route is considerably more overgrown than when I was last here in April 2007, so I decide to continue up the road on ground I’ve not covered before. Not sprinkling any more. Up ahead I spot a water tank on a spur ridge and figure that it would be a good turn-around point.

View southeast from Madrone water tank toward the
canyon head and Summit 2908
7:32 - Arrive at Madrone water tank. The slightly concaved top of the cement tank catches rain water to be stored for use in fighting fires. I’d love to continue north another half mile to an outward bend that would certainly yield some striking views, but a scrappy hike does not yield much time for exploring. I calculate I’m at an elevation of about 2,860 feet, so a gain of 1,300 feet in 3.5 miles has been a descent workout. Start back at 7:44. I have about an hour and 25 minutes to cover 3.5 miles. It’s doable. My pace is steady.

8:02 - 3-mile marker. Soon the sun pokes through the clouds a little. Pass the 2.5-mile turnout point at 8:13 and the 2-mile marker at 8:23. Better lighting now for pics. Pass 1-mile marker at 8:44 (actually it’s just a surveyor stick right now; elev. 2,039; I don’t know if they will replace it with a permanent marker). I’m on pace for being back on time. Pass a couple bikers heading up the road; one guy has a machete.

9:05 - Done with time to spare. No other vehicles at the trailhead, so I wonder where the bicyclists came from. Thermometers says 73 degrees. Still cloudy with some sprinkles on my car.

Epilog - What an enjoyable scrappy hike! The freshness of early morning. Pleasant weather. Clouds that restrained their precipitation. Beautiful scenery. Good workout. And nearly 7 miles of total solitude in the busiest National Forest in the country.

See Rincon Red Box Road to Summit 2908' Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages

Mt. Islip Hike - July 23, 2011

2011-07-23T18:40:00.001-07:00

With Hwy 39 to Crystal Lake Recreation Area being reopened in March 2011 after more than eight years of closure, the trails are now accessible to the general public. In September 2002, the Curve Fire destroyed more than 20,000 acres of the Angeles National Forest, including much of the Crystal Lake basin. The following year I hooked up with the San Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders, who had special access to the Crystal Lake area to restore trails. I was haunted by the horrific fire damage. What used to be a mature pine forest with huge trees reaching to the sky was turned into a moonscape with charred sticks. It was in that context where I made my first hike to Mt. Islip via Windy Gap Trail on September 6, 2003, one year after the raging inferno. The scene I saw was surreal and eerie. I was overwhelmed with sadness to see such a terrible loss.

Over the years since than I’ve been on numerous work days with the Trailbuilders restoring and maintaining the trails. And I have watched life return. Today there is still an eeriness to the area as thousands of dead trees lay strewn upon the mountainside as from an explosion of giant pickup sticks. But the breathtaking landscape of the Crystal Lake basin and its towering ridges and peaks provides a rewarding experience. So today I set out to re-conquer 8250-foot Mt. Islip (pronounced “eye slip”).

7:43 AM - Arrive at the visitor center at the hub of the Crystal Lake Recreation Area. It’s a brisk 54 degrees. The gate for the road that continues onto the Windy Gap Trail trailhead is locked. I don’t know why that is, so I linger until the visitor center opens at 8:00. The gentleman tells me that that portion of the campground is closed and so I will have to walk the extra half mile to the trailhead. I’m bummed. That will add another mile to an 8-mile hike. At 8:05 I leave the visitor center and start walking up the paved road through the campground.

8:15 - Start my hike on Windy Gap Trail (5830’). The sign reads 1.2 miles to Big Cienega Trail and 2.5 miles to Windy Gap. I’m excited as my boots hit the trail in the solitude and coolness of the morning. Shortly, a deer poses for a picture. At 8:27 I complete my first 0.4 mile as I reach the first crossing of the South Mt. Hawkins Lookout Road. I cross the road and continue up. Without having much foot traffic on it, the trail has a rustic feel to it. The Curve Fire had spared much of the forest at the heart of the Crystal Lake campground, but as I climb higher the legacy of the fire leaves a very different landscape. Dead trees are everywhere. But there is a beauty here. At 8:53 I reach the second occurrence of the road, 1.1 mile from the start. This is the location where the Trailbuilders park to do trail maintenance. I linger for a few minutes.

9:03 - Leave the road and continue up the signed Windy Gap Trail (6560’). In a couple minutes I pass the junction to Big Cienega Trail, which I have planned for my return route. There is a beauty to the expanding views. I can see Windy Gap high on the ridge to the north. This trail brings back lots of Trailbuilders memories as I pass various places I’ve worked on. At 9:10 I encounter the first of many downed trees that are yet to be removed from across the trail. I start noting their occurrences and will have counted 19 before reaching Windy Gap. A marine layer highlights the distant horizon to the south, but the visibly surrounding me is vivid. My pace is slow as I soak in the beauty. The scant number of living trees is a stark reminder of a majestic forest that used to cover these mountainsides. I negotiate the two switchbacks that are needed to keep the trail grade reasonable for final pitch.

10:25 - Arrive at Windy Gap (7588’). It’s quite breezy here, hence the name. I have the gap to myself for one minute until the first of several runners pass coming down the trail from Hawkins Ridge and heading toward little Jimmy. It’s the annual 100-mile race from Wrightwood to Pasadena. That’s nearly four marathons! That boggles my mind. A large group of hikers arrives from little Jimmy and head east. I rest, have a snack, and study the map and trail descriptions as others come and go. The foot traffic here is a striking contrast to the solitude I enjoyed on my ascent.

10:50 - Leave Windy Gap and head to west to Mt. Islip. The sign says 0.8 mile. The Curve Fire had been stopped on this ridge, so now it feels like a real forest here. I love the smell of pine. Cars and motorcycles on the Hwy 2 below create a new soundtrack for this portion of the hike. The desert to the north comes into view. At 11:00 I reach the junction that comes up from Little Jimmy. The sign reads 1.2 to Mt. Islip, which is an obvious discrepancy from the sign at Windy Gap which reads 0.8. The trail cuts back south and soon I have nice views south from the ridge. The scenery is stunning as I ascend the ridge.

11:32 - Arrive at the junction on the south flank of Mt. Islip. To the left is Islip Ridge Trail, which I plan to take on my return trip. Other hikers pass. I stay right and continue to the summit. A switchback turns me east and shortly the trail cuts back to the north face and in another minute I arrive at the peak.

11:45 - Mount Islip (8250’). What a great peak with awesome views! Another hiker arrived a moment before me and I have him take my picture. A group of others arrive. I sign the peak register, have some lunch, study my map, and soak in the far reaching vistas. The weather is fantastic. When the group leaves I take advantage of the alone time to take a 360 degree panorama. Soon another group arrives and so I figure it’s time to go.

12:50 - Leave Summit. Pass more hikers en route to the peak. This is a popular destination today. Back at the junction on the south face of Islip I turn right (southwest) and begin my descent via Islip Ridge Trail. It’s immediately apparent that the trail gets less traffic. The white blossoms and shiny, dark green leaves of yerba santa dominate the flora scene. The rugged landscape and sweeping vistas are stunning. The fire was stopped on this ridge also, so there is a clear demarcation between the incinerated Crystal Lake basin on the left and the green-forested Bear Creek canyon on the right.

I think of the trail beneath my feet that was constructed by the San Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders and dedicated with a grand opening celebration on September 29, 1990. Today I am grateful for their efforts as I soak in the magnificent scenery and appreciate being able to take a different route back. II spot a group of hikers far below coming up the trail. Soon I learn that they are coming up from Big Cienega Trail. There are couple spots where I have to figure out the route negotiating fallen trees. After two big switchbacks the ridge flattens out some.

1:37 - Arrive at Big Cienega Trail junction (7580’). Islip Ridge Trail that continues south down the ridge appears to be completely gone at this location. It might reappear beyond the jumble of downed trees, but I suspect that it gets very little traffic covering the 3.9 miles from Crystal Lake. I turn east and begin following Big Cienega Trail, which travels 1.8 miles to intersect Windy Gap Trail. The path is disappearing from lack of maintenance. There are a number of downed trees that require climbing over or around. It’s easy to focus on the downed trees without noticing the dozens of trees that have been cut away to provide a clear path. I’ve worked with the Trailbuilders at various times on this trail and recognize that some of those trees were cleared with my help.

I suppose that one advantage of a tooth pick forest is that it allows sweeping views of the entire basin. After a couple big switchbacks some live trees begin to grace the landscape. It’s nice to have a little shade and see pine needles on the ground. Pass some spots with rich vegetation. Getting warm now. I reflect on the fact that I have never been on these trails without being with the Trailbuilders doing trail maintenance since general public access has been restricted for more than 8 years.

2:53 - Junction with Windy Gap Trail. In another minute I come face to face with a black bear standing in the road. What a treat! It’s only the second bear I’ve seen in the wild (the other was here at Crystal Lake in August 2003). I start shooting pictures; he poses nicely. He eyes me but doesn’t seem eager to run away. I move down to road and he moves a little further away. Finally I leave him, cross the road and start down the trail. Then I notice him moving down the road toward me. I suspect I had been positioned between him and the direction he had intended to travel. I snap a few more shots and say goodbye. As I walk I keep checking over my shoulder just to make sure he’s not coming after me. The last 1.1 mile is uneventful and the increasing shade is welcome.

3:37 - Windy Gap Trail trailhead. I made it! Now another half mile down the paved road to my car parked at the visitor center. I’m eager to have a hamburger and coke from the snack bar.

Epilog - What a great hike! Spectacular high country, amazing weather, fine trails, some solitude, a splendid peak, breathtaking views, lots of Trailbuilders memories, wildlife encounters, safe steps, a healthy body, and a hamburger and coke to punctuate the day.

See slide show of a Trailbuilders workday on lower Islip Ridge Trail - July 17, 2004

See Windy Gap Trail hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

See Mt. Islip hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

See Big Cienenga Trail hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

Lewis Falls Hike - July 16, 2011

2011-07-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

See Waterfalls of the San Gabriels at Dan's Hiking Pages

See Lewis Falls Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages

After 14 years, I finally returned to Lewis Falls, which holds a unique place for me in my hiking history. On April 25, 1995, I purchased John Robinson’s Trails of the Angeles. This launched my personal Great Hiking Era of the San Gabriels. I immediately began to hit waterfalls: first Sturtevant, Rubio, and then Lewis on June 10, 1995. And that was one of those rare hikes where all three of my kids joined me. Then two years later, on April 13, 1997, we returned to Lewis Falls, this time my wife joined us, which turned out to be the only hike all five of us have ever hiked together in the San Gabriels.

Lewis Falls sat peacefully while I worked through the list of other hikes in Robinson’s book. Then on September 1, 2002, the Curve Fire broke out on a sweltering Sunday afternoon and quickly destroyed more than 20,000 acres of the Angeles National Forest, including much of the Crystal Lake basin. The beautiful Soldier Creek canyon, where Lewis Falls tumbles 50 feet over the rocks, sustained damage, but was spared the complete incineration that other areas experienced.

Because of the massive damage caused by the Curve Fire, The Forest Service and CalTrans closed Hwy 39 just above the West Fork. The public patiently, and not so patiently, waited for the reopening, which ended up being delayed year after year after year.

In June 2003, the year following the Curve Fire, I hooked up with the San Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders, who had special access to the Crystal Lake area to restore trails. Over the years since then, I caravanned by the trailhead to Lewis Falls en route to perform trail maintenance at Crystal Lake, but never had the chance to stop and re-hike the trail.

On March 22, 2011 when I heard that Hwy 39 to Crystal Lake was finally reopened (yes, 8 ½ years of closure!), I was elated (or course!). I was eager to be reacquainted with Lewis Falls, but as life has it, the plans kept getting delayed. But alas, the time finally came.

A group of hikers, led the Ray (“Peter Piper”), who I met this year at Fish Canyon Falls, were planning a hike to Lewis Falls. I asked if I could tag along and they were most gracious in welcoming me to join them. It worked out perfectly since I live a five-minute walk from Hwy 39 in Azusa and offered to have them pick me up at the corner of 9th Street and Hwy 39. They picked me up right on time at 7:43. I enjoyed good conversation with Ray and his wife Jocelyn during the 38-minute drive to the trailhead. The 12 of us piled out of 3 cars, took a group photo, and were ready to hike.

8:26 AM - Begin the hike. The trail is in decent condition as it traverses the right (east) side of Soldier Creek. We stroll under a canopy of cedar, fir, pine, maple, bay, alder, and oak. The beauty of the canyon exceeds my expectations. In a few minutes we pass the first of two cabins that survived the Curve Fire. Some of the blooming wildflowers that grace our hike include Humboldt lily, periwinkle (typical ornamental plant around cabins), scarlet penstemon, prickly phlox, California aster, wallflower, everlasting, California buckwheat, bush monkeyflower, creek monkeyflower, scarlet monkeyflower, canyon dudleya, scarlet columbine, phacelia, and mustard. There is a lot of poison oak and stinging nettle along the trail, which requires some vigilance to avoid.

The ruins of burnt-down cabins cause me to reflect on those who used to enjoy peaceful escapes to their secluded hideaways. And since the cabins pre-dated the designation of the National Forest, they are allowed to remain under a “grandfather clause.” But once the cabins are gone, they are lost forever.

In the weeks prior to this hike I had read reports that fire, mudslides, fallen trees, debris, and disuse have obliterated the trail. So am I pleasantly surprised that the cabin portion of this half-mile walk to the falls is still in decent shape. There are places were we climb through fallen trees, but it’s not too bad. After the final cabin ruins, the route drops down to the creek bottom and we have to climb through a large jumble of fallen tree to cross the creek. Now on the west bank, the route is still manageable as the canyon narrows. Still vigilant to dodge stinging needle. We climbed over a large rock, which could pose an obstacle for those of diminutive stature if they had no assistance. Immediately after the rock, a large tree trunk spans the creek as a bridge. Several of our party carefully climb across the log, not realizing that it is a bridge to nowhere. The rest of us skirt along the steep bank on the left, drop back down to the creek, and in about 30 yards find ourselves at the base of Lewis Falls.

9:04 - Arrive at Lewis Falls. It is still gushing quite well as we have had significant snowfall this past winter. To get the best view of the falls, which tumbles over the rock face on the west canyon wall, we have to cross over to the right side of the creek. A few well-placed rocks make crossing doable, but a misstep or loss of balance promises major wetness and possibly contusions and/or other unpleasant things to ones body. We all cross over safely.

The literature lists the falls at 50 feet, including a top tier, which is mostly out of view from the bottom. The main falls courses through a narrow notch and cascades as a ribbon to a small pool. A fine mist dampens the area and makes footing slippery. I climb over a boulder and up the ravine to the right of the falls to get a better view. After a while the group begins to migrate back over the creek and so I climb down and am the last one to say goodbye to Lewis Falls.

9:24 - Leave falls. The sun lightens up the canyon more on the return trip. I’m in the rear so my pace is more casual as I soak in the beauty and take pictures. We pass a family with several young children and two tiny dogs heading to the falls. The trip seems shorter than the way in.

10:04 - Finish hike.

Epilog - What a treat to revisit one of the easy-access waterfalls of the San Gabriels! It was easier than I had anticipated and more scenic. Years of closure has allowed the route to return to a more natural state. And I really enjoyed the company of a good group of folks. Thanks Ray, for letting me tag along.

See Waterfalls of the San Gabriels at Dan's Hiking Pages

See Lewis Falls Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages

Fish Canyon and Dudleya Densiflora - July 10, 2011

2011-07-10T21:35:00.001-07:00

See Fish Canyon Falls Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages

Summertime is not when I typically think about hiking Fish Canyon. To me it is a springtime hike. And I’ve already hiked it four times this year! But on Friday night I made the decision to do the hike if I wake up by 6:00 AM. Well I woke up at 6:00 on Saturday morning, thus the plan is to hike. My wife would be leaving at 7:30 to take my daughter to the airport, so I linger until my daughter got up so I could say goodbye.

A primary objective for the day would be to find the rare Dudleya densiflora (San Gabriel Mountains liveforever), which is reported to be growing on the steep rocky walls in the canyon. For years I’ve read about Dudleya densiflora on the interpretive sign en route to Fish Canyon Falls. On June 12 while taking a stroll along Old San Gabriel Canyon Road from El Encanto Azusa River Wilderness Park, I serendipitously had my first encounter with the rare plant. So I determined that it would be good to find the Dudleya densiflora in Fish Canyon.

7:03 AM - Leave my house in Azusa on my bike. It’s a pleasant ride in the cool of the morning. As I approach the entrance to Vulcan Materials there are more than 20 cars lined up to get in. I roll by them and pass through the gate at 7:27 as the attendant jots down my name on the log. Lock my bike up at the office and pull away in a van at 7:36.

7:38 - Begin hike. I stay ahead of a group not too far behind me. This beautiful canyon has become a familiar friend. Not as much in bloom as in the spring, but the trees are in full leaf. Since my primary objective is to find the rare Dudleya densiflora, I proceed with a resolute purpose.

8:14 - Cross the creek and begin scanning the canyon walls for Dudleya densiflora. Bingo! At 8:15 I spot an occurrence of the rare plant 20 feet on the slope above. I don’t want to disturb its habitat. Moments later I pass through the blackberry patch and, eureka! I hit the mother lode of San Gabriel Mountains liveforever! I scamper around the rocks and take lots of pictures. Get lots of burs in my socks. The sun is unfolding on the slope so I get pics in both shade and sun.

Dudleya densiflora is a native succulent in the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae) and blooms from June to July. According to the interpretive sign lower on the trail, Dudleya densiflora was first verified in 1919 in Fish Canyon. This is a rare species that apparently only grows in several places in the front range canyons of the San Gabriels around the San Gabriel River. Dudleya densiflora is endemic, which means that it is native to only this specified geographic area. That’s pretty amazing to me, that of the entire planet earth, the only place this species grows is right here!

It generally is found in steep, rocky, granitic cliff and canyon walls from 800-2000 feet in elevation. According to Cliff and Gabi McLean, there are five species of dudleya in the San Gabriel foothills and canyons. Canyon dudleya (Dudleya cymosa) and lanceleaf dudleya (Dudleya lanceolata) are the most common and both occur in Fish Canyon.

After I shoot a gazillion pics, I continue up the trial to the falls. En route I carefully scan the canyon walls but see no more occurrences of Dudleya densiflora.

9:00 - Arrive at Fish Canyon Falls, in full sun now. Falls flowing nicely. Lots of people. Run into Chris, a gentleman I met here in May. Meet some other nice people. The crowds always give the site a kinetic energy. I am disappointed that someone had built another illegal fire since May.

10:00 - Leave the falls. Lots of people on trial. When I arrive at the creek crossing I notice some more Dudleya densiflora on the east wall just below the crossing. Climb closer for some pics. Stop by to see Darlin’ Donna Falls still flowing. Meet some more nice people en route. Wish I had the authority to punish dog owners who refuse to obey leash laws. Shame on them! Getting warm now. Meet up with a party I met at the falls and enjoy their company for the remainder of the hike.

11:46 - Finish hike and ride the van back to the parking lot, which is quite full. The attendant told me that the count was 532 people in 217 vehicles, which is the third highest count on record. Not sure if that counted my bike. Stopped by Costco on my bike ride home for a hotdog and soda.

Plants in Bloom - The plants I observe in bloom that are featured on the Fish Canyon Trail Plant Guide include buckwheat, bush monkeyflower, sunflower, golden yarrow, mustard, tree tobacco, Spanish broom (not much left), phacelia, Botta’s clarkia (one occurrence, indeed farewell to spring), milkweed, everlasting, and matilija poppy. Other plants in bloom include laurel sumac (pictured above), toyon, thistle, cliff aster, California aster, lanceleaf and canyon dudleya, scarlet larkspur, creek monkeyflower, deerweed, white sage, honeysuckle, wishbone bush, and blackberry. I give scarlet larkspur the award for being the dominate flower for the day.

Epilog - Beautiful weather, nice people, good exercise, pleasing wildflowers, showy waterfall, splendid scenery...another thoroughly enjoyable outing in my beloved Fish Canyon. And finding the rare Dudleya densiflora was a real treat.

See Fish Canyon Falls Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages

See Fish Canyon Trial Plant Guide (April 2011) (PDF)

See Plants and Wildflowers in the San Gabriel Mountains at Dan's Hiking Pages
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Beginning Summer on Garcia Trail - June 21, 2011

2011-06-21T23:03:00.000-07:00

See Garcia Trail Description on Dan's Hiking Pages

It’s summertime! Summer 2011 official began in Southern California at 5:20 p.m., June 21. It was a pressing two days for me at work, so I decided it would be great to begin summer with a hike. I got home from work at about 6:30 and by 7:00 I was on my bike heading for nearby Garcia Trail...my default scrappy hike.

7:22 - Begin hike. The weather is warm and the sun low in the sky. With the sun setting at 8:05, I’m hoping to get a good sunset picture. But I see the sun will be setting behind the mountains stretching to the west and be out of sight long before 8:05, so I’ll have to get the shot from the trail. There is a real beauty this time of day. I’m not paying much attention to plants but some of the blooms include buckwheat, golden yarrow, scarlet penstemon, cliff aster, sunflower, mustard, everlasting, yucca, deerweed, Douglas nightshade, clarkia, fountain grass, tree tobacco, elderberry, and lupine (one occurrence on the summit).

There are lots people on the trail; the majority are young adults. My pace is brisk and I’m working up a nice sweat. The June gloom of this morning has left moisture in the atmosphere creating a distant haze. I am perturbed about the amount of litter along the trail...what is wrong with these people?!

7:29 - Arrive into direct sun at the ridge divide past the concrete wall. The sun is starting to dip behind the mountain so I figure this will be my sunset shot. Take a few pics and continue. Various ones stop to look at a tarantula crossing the trail. The beauty of dusk compels me to continue capturing the azure sky. The trail maintenance efforts of the crew from county fire camp 16 on May 9 has made considerable improvement on the trail.

8:05 - Arrive at Azusa Peak, exactly at sunset, but the sun has long dipped behind the mountains. The Christian flag atop of the large white cross flutters in the breeze. Others arrive at the summit. A new peak register box has been attached to the base of the cross. Looks like it is custom made and quite durable. The human sprawl rests in twilight below. I don’t linger long, wanting to be off the trail before it’s too dark. Leave summit at 8:12. Others are still coming up the trail.

I enjoy the beauty of dusk and am still drawn to photograph the sky. A blanket of city lights begins to twinkle, but I know my efforts to photograph the panorama will be blurry without taking time to secure the camera. The cool evening air feels good. Crickets chirping. My steps are more guarded as the light dims.

8:48 - Finish hike. It’s dark now and starting to cool. I’m glad my bike is still locked up to the picnic table. I enjoy the bike ride home, which is mostly downhill!

See Garcia Trail Description on Dan's Hiking Pages
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Tips for Hiking with Children

2011-06-19T22:06:00.001-07:00

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I often receive emails asking questions about hiking. Occasionally I am asked questions about hiking with children. I received one such inquiry this week, and as I reflect on Father’s Day, I thought it would be timely to share my response with a wider audience.

The question was from a father who had just purchased an annual Adventure Pass to take his two boys (ages 5 and 3) for leisurely, scenic, mild strolls and would greatly appreciate any advice I may have about children-friendly trails. Here was my response, with a few enhancements:

Hi James,

Great question! Thanks for asking. I commend you for wanting to get your boys into the outdoors. That’s a great place to create wonderful experiences.

One of the key issues with children is attention span. A child generally has an attention span of one minute for every year of age. For example, your five-year old can be engaged in an activity for about five minutes before he is ready to move on.

So even if the outing lasts an hour, you’ll find you can keep the boys engaged by breaking it up into smaller pieces. Walk a few minutes, watch a butter fly, examine a plant, walk some more, talk about lizards, walk, sing a song (not too loudly), tell a story, look at tadpoles, walk, count the rings of a tree stump, etc. My wife, who was a preschool teacher for years, always says, “Keep them wanting, not waiting.” In other words, conclude the outing before they are done so they will want to come back for more. If they are done before the outing is, they may not want to come back.

Now for some specific outings. Generally kids are more inclined to enjoy creek-side strolls rather than climbs to mountain peaks. Some good places in the front range of our San Gabriels include:

Monrovia Canyon (pretty waterfall and nature trail)
Bailey Canyon (nature trail)
Eaton Canyon (wonderful nature center and trails)
Fish Canyon (showy falls, great trail)
Chantry Flat (keep in mind the uphill climb out)
West Fork San Gabriel River (good fishing, splendid scenery)
Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area (nice park, lake, nature trail)

See Dan's Hiking Pages for descriptions of these hikes.

Even trails like Icehouse Canyon, which is a trail serious hikers use in trekking deep into the wilderness, can be great for kids if you just wander up the trial for a mile or so. There are lots of spots along the creek for exploring. Up toward Mt. Baldy, San Antonio Falls would be doable and offer a big waterfall experience. Always be vigilant for safety around water, especially swift moving rivers and streams.

Another thing to keep in mind is that there is a lot of poison oak in the foothill canyons, so learn to recognize it and be alert in keeping your kids out of it. I taught my kids to avoid petting dogs on the trail because a dog can easily get the poison oil on its fur and it can transfer to a hand, then to the face...then the kids are horribly miserable for couple weeks.

It’s not permitted to pick flowers or collect natural material from the National Forest or from most parks and recreational areas, so teach your kids to look and enjoy, and take only pictures. And of course, we always want to pack out our own litter, even fruit peals.

Make sure your kids are wearing appropriate shoes and clothing for the outing and think in layers to be ready for changing temperatures. Carry plenty of healthy snacks and water with you and always have a first aid kit for any cuts or scrapes that might occur. And wet wipes are always handy to have along. Mosquitoes and other bugs love streamside settings, so carry some repellant in your bag. And don’t forget the sun screen.

Helping your children gain a love and appreciation for nature is a wonderful gift that will last a lifetime. And you’ll have some great times along the way!

Happy hiking!

Do you have other tips for hiking with Children? Feel free to share your comments below.

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El Encanto Trail Hike - June 12, 2011

2011-06-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

Old San Gabriel Canyon Road

See Plants and Wildflowers in the San Gabriel Mountains at Dan's Hiking Pages

See El Encanto Azusa River Wilderness Park at Dan's Hiking Pages - Photo gallery, July 15, 2007

As the weekend approached I knew I would not be able to go hiking since I had a plate full of household tasks. But as Sunday afternoon wore on, I had a window for a walk, so I headed over to El Encanto Trail (AKA Old San Gabriel Canyon Road) at Azusa River Wilderness Park. This is the site of the former El Encanto Restaurant and now operated as a park by San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy. Actually it’s still not much more than a large parking lot overlooking the river, but they have big plans for the site.

El Encanto is only minutes from my house and sits just inside the mouth of the San Gabriel River. I’ve driven past it numerous times over the years, as has anyone who has driven up Hwy 39 into the mountains, but I’ve only hiked the trail once.

The trail is an old service road (Old San Gabriel Canyon Road) that begins at the south end of the parking lot and follows the canyon wall high above the winding river and ends a mile later just past an old gauging station. I figured it would be a good chance to see what plants might lend themselves to be photographed.

4:13 p.m. - Begin walk. The sun feels good after an overcast and cool weekend. The plants in bloom are typical of what I’ve been seeing in recent weeks...California buckwheat, golden yarrow, sunflower, mustard, bush monkeyflower, scarlet larkspur, Botta’s clarkia (farewell to spring), white sage, yucca, tree tobacco, morning glory, everlasting, thistle, etc. But then I saw a dudleya that I’ve only read about. I know it may sound silly to get excited over a plant, but I found myself delighted by this serendipitous discovery. Below is my “rare” find along with some other plants I captured on the walk.

Globe gilia (Gilia capitata) / Phlox family (Polemoniaceae)
Native / Annual herb / Blooms April to July

Mediterranean mustard or shortpod mustard (Hirschfeldia incana) / Mustard family (Brassicaceae)
Non-native / Biennial or perennial herb / Blooms April to October

San Gabriel Mountains dudleya (Dudleya densiflora) Stonecrop family (Crassulaceae)
Dudleya densiflora / Stonecrop Family (Crassulaceae)
Native / Perennial herb / Blooms June to July
According to the interpretive sign in Fish Canyon, Dudleya deniflora was first verified in 1919 in Fish Canyon. This is a rare species that apparently only grows in three places in the front range canyons of the San Gabriels. It generally is found in steep, rocky, granitic cliff and canyon walls from 800-2000 feet in elevation.

San Gabriel Mountains dudleya (Dudleya densiflora) Stonecrop family (Crassulaceae)
According to Cliff and Gabi McLean, there are five species of Dudleya in the San Gabriel foothills and canyons. Canyon dudleya (Dudleya cymosa) and lanceleaf dudleya (Dudleya lanceolata) are the most common. Dudleya densiflora is rare.

Red valerian (Centranthus rubber) / Valerian family (Valerianaceae)
Non-native / Perennial herb or subshrub / Blooms April to August
This popular garden plant is grown for its ornamental flowers. It escaped and ended up here. There is quite a bit of it in this section of trail.

Poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) / Sumac family (Anacardiaceae)
Native / Perennial shrub or vine / Blooms February to May (small whitish flowers)
The leaves usually turn colorful in autumn and fall off for a leafless winter, but sometimes some of the leaves get confused with what season it is, seen here 9 days before summer begins. Contact with the plant causes rash or worse for most people, usually starting one to three days after contact.

Castor bean (Ricinus communis) / Spurg family (Euphorbiaceane)
Non-native (invasive) / Shrub / Blooms most of year
Note that it has both red (female) and white (male) flowers. Neither have petals, only sepals.

Castor bean (Ricinus communis) / Spurg family (Euphorbiaceane)
Non-native (invasive) / Shrub / Blooms most of year
A closer look at the white (male) flowers. The seeds are extremely poisonous.

Dodder (Cuscuta spp.) / Dodder family (Cuscutaceae)
Native / annual herb or vine / Blooms May to November
It is widespread in the San Gabriels and beyond. Dodder is a leafless parasite that takes its food supply from a host plant.

Blue elderberry or Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) / Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae)
Native / Deciduous tree or shrub. Blooms March to September

Blue elderberry or Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) / Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae)
Native / Deciduous tree or shrub. Blooms March to September
Ripe elderberry fruit is used to make pies, jellies, and wine. The green fruit is poisonous.

Wishbone bush (Mirabilis californica) / Four O’clock family (Nyctaginaceae)
Native / Perennial herb / Blooms March to July

5:24 - While shooting the wishbone bush my battery dies. I reach into my pocket to get the backup battery and it’s not there. I thought for sure I put it there. So I sauntered along cameraless just enjoying the setting. After passing the gauging station I went another 150 yards to where the trial disappears into a jumble of boulders. At 5:42 I turn around and enjoy a brisk walk back.

6:01 - Finish hike. What a nice outing to cap the weekend. Not much distance (about 2 miles r.t.) but taking the time to focus on plants is satisfying. I am always thankful that we live so close to such wonderful natural resources.

See Plants and Wildflowers in the San Gabriel Mountains at Dan's Hiking Pages

See El Encanto Azusa River Wilderness Park at Dan's Hiking Pages - Photo gallery, July 15, 2007

Fish Canyon Falls Plants - May 28, 2011

2011-06-01T22:59:00.000-07:00

See Fish Canyon Falls Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages

See Fish Canyon Trial Plant Guide (April 2011) (PDF)

See Plants and Wildflowers in the San Gabriel Mountains at Dan's Hiking Pages

This year I’ve had a strong focus on plants and helping others learn about plants. I find that knowing about the flora that graces my hiking environs greatly enhances my outdoor experience.

Fish Canyon has served me well over the years as a convenient venue for learning about plants. Its two miles of trail hosts a wide variety of plants in its riparian (streamside) and chaparral plants communities. And since it is so close to home, I have been able to hike it a lot over the years and observe the behavior of plants throughout the seasons of the year.

Last September 25, I observed Fish Canyon at the beginning of fall. This year I experienced it in the dead of winter (Jan. 29), the first of spring (March 19), and mid (April 16) and later spring (May 28). It’s been fun to watch the cycle of life.

A primary goal for this hike is to photograph every plant species in bloom along the trail. I think I was pretty close to accomplishing the task, although it is likely that I missed some. Since I was the first hiker on the trail, my pace was pretty fast to stay ahead of the crowd. I did not attempt to capture gallery-quality photos but to simply record the blooms. I was able to give more time to photographing plants on the way back.

Here are some select plants, and except for the buckwheat, none of these duplicate any of the plants from the Fish Canyon Trial Plant Guide (April 2011).

Indian pink (Silene laciniata) Carnation (or Pink) family (Caryophyllaceae)
Native / Perennial herb / Blooms May to August.

Scarlet larkspur (Delphinium cardinale) / Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)
Native / Perennial herb / Blooms May to July.

Castor bean (Ricinus communis) / Spurg family (Euphorbiaceane)
Non-Native / Shrub / Blooms most of year.

Canyon dudleya or Liveforever (Dudleya cymosa) / Stonecrop family (Crassulaceae)
Native / Perennial herb / Blooms May to July.

Canyon dudleya or Liveforever (Dudleya cymosa) / Stonecrop family (Crassulaceae)
Native / Perennial herb / Blooms May to July. Note that the primary difference between canyon dudleya and lanceleaf dudleya is the shape of the leaves.

Lanceleaf dudleya or Liveforever (Dudleya lanceolata) / Stonecrop Family (Crassulaceae)
Native / Perennial herb / Blooms May-July.

Lanceleaf dudleya (Dudleya lanceolata) leaves.

Prickly-pear cactus (Opuntia littoralis) / Cactus family (Cactaceae)
Native / Shrubby, succulent / Blooms May to July.

Western thistle (Cirsium occidentale) / Sunflower Family (Asteraceae)
Native / Biennial herb / Blooms April to July

Globe gilia (Gilia capitata) / Phlox family (Polemoniaceae)
Native / Annual herb / Blooms April-July.

Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) / Rose Family (Rosaceae)
Native / Shrub / Blooms May-July.

Narrowleaf Bedstraw (Galium angustifolium) / Madder Family (Rubiaceae)
Native / Perennial herb / Blooms March-September.

Narrowleaf Bedstraw (Galium angustifolium) / Madder Family (Rubiaceae)
Native / Perennial herb / Blooms March-September.

California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) / Polygonaceae (Buckwheat family)
Native / Perennial shrub / Blooms March to November.

Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor) / Rose family (Rosaceae)
Non-native (invasive) / Perennial herb / Blooms May to August.

Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor) is an invasive non-native, not to be confused with California blackberry (Rubus ursinus), which is native with rounded stems, and small, straight prickles, in contrast to the Himalayan, which has five-angled stems and heavier, angled prickles.

Fairy lantern or Globe lily (Calochortus albus) / Lily family (Liliaceae)
Native / Perennial herb / Blooms April to June.

White sage (Salvia apiana) / Mint family (Lamiaceae)
Native / Shrub / Blooms March to July.

Southern honeysuckle (Lonicera subspicata) / Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae)
Native, vining shrub / Blooms April to June.

Other plants I saw blooming in Fish Canyon are listed below in the approximate order in which I photographed them. The asterisk (*) indicates that the plant is featured in my Fish Canyon Trial Plant Guide (April 2011).

Spanish broom*
Golden yarrow*
Elegant clarkia*
Mustard*
Milkweed*
Common sunflower*
Deerweed
Botta’s clarkia*
Tree tobacco*
Cliff aster
Western wallflower*

Everlasting
Golden stars*
Vinca*
Oleander
Yucca
Eupatory
Matilija poppy*
Purple nightshade
Common yarrow*
Bush monkeyflower*

Plants on Garcia Trail - 5-9-11

2011-05-24T20:17:00.000-07:00

See Garcia Trail Description on Dan’s Hiking Pages

See Plants and Wildflowers in the San Gabriel Mountains at Dan's Hiking Pages

What plants might you find along Garcia Trail above Azusa? Since this trail is so close to my house, it’s a convenient venue for me to observe plant life. I’ve photographed plants on Garcia Trail for several years now throughout different seasons, but below is a snapshot of the plants from a single day in May. Some of these plants are in the middle of their blooming season and others are at the beginning or end.

I’ve not been on my local Garcia Trail since January, so I was eager to hit the trail for a little pre-vacation exercise and to scope out the plant life. The weather was cloudy and cool, making nice conditions and ideal lighting for plant photography. I started the hike at 11:34 and immediately starting photographing plants. Up the trail was a crew from LA County fire camp 16 performing much-need trail maintenance. I arrived at Azusa Peak at 1:22. Someone has attached a Christian flag to the cross and the mailbox that was used for a summit log is gone. Still cloudy and cool with some breeze. I continued to photograph plants on the way down and finished the hike at 2:54.

I’ve displayed the plants below in the order in which I photographed them, with the hollyleaf cherry starting the return trip just below Azusa Peak. For more information about any of these plants, simply copy the scientific name and Google it.

Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum) / Grass family (Poaceae)
Non-native, invasive. / Annual grass. Blooms July to October.

Moth mullein (Verbascum blattaria) / Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae)
Non-native (Eurasia) / Perennial herb. Blooms May to September.

Deerweed (Lotus scoparius) / Pea family (Lamiaceae)
Native / Perennial herb (shrubby bush). Blooms March to August.

Prickly-pear cactus (Opuntia littoralis) / Cactus family (Cactaceae)
Native / Shurby, succulent. Blooms May to July.

Cliff aster (Malacothrix saxatilis) / Sunflower family (Asteraceae)
Native / Perennial herb. Blooms most of the year.

Golden yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum) / Sunflower family (Asteraceae)
Native / Small perennial shrub. Blooms April to August.

Blue elderberry (Sambucus Mexicana) / Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae)
Native / deciduous tree or shrub. Blooms March to September.

Wild cucumber (Marah macrocarpus) / Gourd family (Cucurbitaceae)
Native / Perennial herb or vine. Blooms (tiny white flowers) January to April.

Western thistle (Cirsium occidentale) / Sunflower family (Asteraceae)
Native / Biennial herb. Blooms April to July.

Everlasting (Gnaphalium spp.) Sunflower family (Asteraceae)
Native / Annual or biennial herb. Blooms January to July.

Wild morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia) / Morning-glory family (Convolvulaceae)
Native / Perennial vine. Blooms March to June.

Showy penstemon (Penstemon spectabilis) / Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae)
Native / Perennial herb. Blooms April to July.

Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) / Sunflower family (Asteraceae)
Navtive / Annual herb. Blooms most of the year.

Caterpillar phacelia (Phacelia cicutaria) / Waterleaf family (Hydrophyllaceae)
Native / Annual herb. Blooms March to May.

Southern honeysuckle (Lonicera subspicata) / Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae)
Native / Vining shrub. Blooms April to June.

Brittlebush (Encelia farinose) / Sunflower family (Asteraceae)
Native / Shrub. Blooms March to July.

Yucca (Yucca Whipplei) / Lily family (Liliaceae)
Native / Subshrub. Blooms March to June.

Blue dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum) / Lily family (Liliaceae)
Native / Perennial herb. Blooms February to May.

Hollyleaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia) / Rose family (Rosaceae)
Native / Shrub or tree. Blooms February to May
Seeds and leaves are poisonous.

Douglas nightshade (Solanum douglasii) / Nightshade family (Solanaceae)
Native / Perennial herb. Blooms most of the year.

Clematis or Virgin’s bower (Clematis ligusticifolia) / Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae)
Native / Woody vine. Blooms January to June.

Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) / Mustard family (Brassicaceae)
Non-native / Annual herb.

Some of the other plants blooming along Garcia Trail today which are not included here are mustard (yellow), filaree (purple), California buckwheat (cream), and tree tobacco (yellow).

See Garcia Trail Description on Dan’s Hiking Pages

See Plants and Wildflowers in the San Gabriel Mountains at Dan's Hiking Pages

Colby Trail Hike - April 30, 2011

2011-05-02T20:36:00.000-07:00

See Colby Trail Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages

Earth Day celebrations by the City of Glendora occasioned heading over to Colby Trail for a docent-led hike. I was eager to see what is in bloom and particularly get a look at the endangered thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia). I had also received an email this week from a hiker who told me there were new trail signs with mileage notations that were different from what I have posted on my website. So of course I'd want to check that out. Since my wife had the car for the weekend, I rode my bike to nearby Glendora.

I arrive at the trailhead at the upper end of Loraine Avenue at 11:15 and immediately start photographing the beautiful stand of matilija poppy that graces the trailhead gateway. Just then my friend, Dr. Ann Croissant, who leads the Glendora Community Conservancy, drives up. They do a great job in stewarding the trail and surrounding open space. As we chatted, a group of hikers led by Bob Bennett finished a hike. Bob is on the conservancy board and is an ISA certified arborist. Shortly, two ladies join us and so the four of us began sauntering up the trail.

As an arborist, Bob has an immense knowledge about trees and was generous in pointing out various tree facts as we strolled along.


On the brodiaea reserve, Candy gets a close-up shot of the brodiaea in bloom. Thread-leaved brodiaea (Brodiaea filifolia) is an endangered plant protected by both federal and state governments. Its presence at this location is the reason this area was saved from the bulldozers and preserved as open space.


Now heading east toward the “berm.” Bob points out some trees that they planted a few years back.

Open space is a good thing! After Bob shows us the vernal poor and some other interesting things in this area, we head back. At the junction we part ways at 1:25 as they return to the trailhead and I continue up the main trail. The weather is gorgeous and the views out over the valley are striking. I enjoy strolling along and taking pictures. The non-native grasses are already turning yellow. I’m pleased with a beautiful stand of grape soda lupine to photograph. It really does smell like grape soda. I’m delighted to discover an occurrence of the tiny scarlet pimpernel. My first encounter with it was last week at Rancho Santa Ana, so it’s great to find it in the wild. I finally reach Glendora Mountain Road at 3:00, covering a whopping half mile since parting with the group at 1:25. It’s not a lot of mileage but I shot 290 pictures in that span. Love digital!

View south from Glendora Mountain Road

I turn around and head down. At the junction, 260 feet below GMR, I turn left and take Colby-Dalton Trail, which descends east .47 mile to Little Dalton Wash. It’s really a beautiful trial with rich vegetation. The down side is that once at the bottom, one has to climb a paved service road up to the berm trail. But I enjoy the scenery and exercise.

4:02 - Finish my hike. Glad to see my bike still chained up. I had originally hoped to check out more of the Earth Day festivities, but since they ended at 3:00, I’m out of luck. I enjoy a pleasant bike ride home.

See Colby Trail Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden - April 23, 2011

2011-04-25T00:04:00.000-07:00

See Plants and Wildflowers in the San Gabriel Mountains at Dan's Hiking Pages

For several years I've been hearing that Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden is the place for native plants. As a hiker on a continual quest to learn more about my surroundings, I'm always on the lookout for avenues of learning. And now that I've been considering creating a native plant garden at my house, I finally decided it was time check out Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. It was a choice to give up a primetime spring hiking day, but the weather was gloomy and drizzly so I figured it was better suited to wandering around a garden.

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Clermont is less than 20 minutes from my house. I arrived at 9:00 and planned to look around for an hour before joining a garden tour at 10:00. The gardens were founded by Susanna Bixby Bryant in 1927 on her ranch in Orange County and relocated to Claremont in 1951. RSABG is the largest botanical garden dedicated exclusively to California native plants.

This is an amazing place and exceeded my expectations. I had thought that the morning hours would be sufficient to get my fill and then hit the trail for a hike in the afternoon. I was sorely mistaking and ended up spending the entire day there. Closing time came at 5:00 and there was still more to see! But other things helped stretch the day as well.

A good chunk of my time was spent photographing plants. The annual flower show also was an added feature. And I had several engaging conversations with people like Cricket Florance...our knowledgeable docent, Bart O'Brian...author and native plant guru, and Lara Hartley...a professional plant photographer. I can scrawl a lengthy narrative of the day, but I'll let the following pictures do most of the talking.

Tidy tips (Layia platyglossa) / Sunflower family (Asteraceae)

Brittlebush (Encelia farinose) / Sunflower family (Asteraceae)

Common yarrow (Achiliea millefolium) / Sunflower (Asteraceae)

Showy penstemon (Penstemon spectabilis) / Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae)

Owls clover (Orthocarpus purpurascens) / Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae)

Common monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) / Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae)

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) / Poppy family (Papaveraceae)

Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri) / Poppy family (Papaveraceae)

White sage (Salvia apiana) / Mint family (Lamiaceae)

Black sage (Salvia mellifera) / Mint family (Lamiaceae)

Baby blue eyes (Nempphila menziesii) / Waterleaf family (Hydrophyllaceae)

Coffee fern (Pellaea andromedifolia) / Maidenhair Fern family

Coville's serviceberry (Amelanchier utahensis ssp. covillei) / Rose Family (Rosaceae)

Lemonadeberry (Rhus integrifolia) / Sumac family (Anacardiaceae)

Morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia) / Morning-glory family (Convolvulaceae)

Wild cucumber (Marah macrocarpus) / Gourd family (Cucurbitaceae)

Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum) / Iris family (Iridaceae)

Yucca (Yucca Whipplei) / Lily family (Liliaceae)

Visit the website for Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden

See Plants and Wildflowers in the San Gabriel Mountains at Dan's Hiking Pages

Fish Canyon Falls Hike - April 16, 2011

2011-04-17T19:53:00.000-07:00

See Fish Canyon Falls Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages

Another springtime day where Vulcan Materials shuttles hikers through their quarry to the beginning of the trail to Fish Canyon Falls! I was eager to see what's changed in the plant community since my last visit on March 19. And I always look forward to the access days for the experience of shared community with the many hikers who show up. And indeed the story of the day was the crowds. Tons of people...hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people! In fact it hit a new all-time record high for numbers of people on a Fish Canyon access day. So if you were at Fish Canyon on Saturday, you were part of a remarkable day.

I arrive at the Vulcan Materials parking lot at about 6:55 to find myself in a line of cars. Vulcan changed the sign-in process and was doing it by car rather than at the table. I sign in and park. There are already a number of cars there. I jump in a van with few others and arrive at the bridge at 7:08 to find a large group of about 60 people waiting to begin. This was certainly a harbinger of things to come. I waste no time in jumping on the trail in front of the crowd.

7:10 - Start hike. Temps are nice and the canyon is shrouded in early morning shade. Things are still green but lack the lushness of the March scenery after the rains. Much of the non-native weedy grasses are losing their greenness. The creek is flowing briskly. Not as much in bloom as I had anticipated. The poison oak now has its full foliage with rich green leaves, some are poking out into the trail. I snap pictures along the way but scurry along to stay ahead of the throng. In the "jungle area," the tree of heaven is coming to life. The alder, maple, sycamore, and elderberry are in full leaf now.

7:51 - Arrive at the creek crossing. The water is still running briskly and poses some challenges in crossing. I cross in time to see the crowd arrive behind me, reminding me of a line of ants being disrupted by a leaf falling on their route. I continue as the trail climbs the east canyon wall rising above the creek. The canyon is still shrouded in morning shade but the sun is now landing on some ridge tops.

8:06 - Arrive at Fish Canyon Falls. The falls are gushing. A father and son (who later I learned are John and Jason) arrive with me and one man was leaving. The three of us had the falls to ourselves...for two minutes. Then the masses arrived as the group of 60 swarmed down upon us. At the cheers of his friends, one man in the group takes a swim in the frigid water. Smaller parties of hikers continue to arrive, including Nick and Jyoti, who I met previously in Fish Canyon on several occasions. Enjoy conversations with various ones. The large group leaves about 8:50. I consider leaving around 9:00 but notice the sun hitting the top of the falls and so I linger to capture the falls in full sun in about 20 minutes. Hikers continue to arrive, and arrive, and arrive. There is a deficit of departures to arrivals and soon the crowd at the falls is larger than I have ever seen. The line of people on the narrow trail coming into the falls was backed up like a line at Disneyland. I soak in the spectacle. Enjoy more conversation with various ones. The place is abuzz with kinetic energy.

11:00 - Finally I leave the falls and start back. The canyon is now in full sun. My pace is slow and I take time to photograph plants. People still coming and going. Take a side jaunt to Darlin' Donna Falls, still flowing nicely. The numbers of people decrease as I saunter along. Getting hot as the temps are forecast to be in the 90s. Have a little lunch break at Old Cheezer's (the location of the Flora in Fish Canyon sign). Near the end, I encounter a 3-foot long rattlesnake crossing the trail. Rattlers are amazing creatures and I welcome seeing them occasionally as a sobering reminder that they are indeed part of our natural environment.

2:17 - End hike. Jump in the van driven by Erick from Vulcan. Back at parking lot, I chat with Denny from Vulcan and learn there were more than 600 hikers for the day...a new record!

Epilog - Another rewarding adventure in Fish Canyon. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting lots of great people and look forward to staying in contact with some. Talked with hikers who came from Riverside, Orange County, Los Angeles, and Long Beach. I'm thankful I live 5 minutes away...ah, maybe it's 10. I always appreciate Vulcan providing these access days. And I thank them from printing the plant guide. Of the 22 flowers featured in the guide, I observed 13 of them in bloom (buckwheat, bush monkeyflower, wallflower, sunflower, golden yarrow, Mediterranean mustard, tree tobacco, Spanish broom, caterpillar phacelia, blue dicks, periwinkle, everlasting, and miner's lettuce. There were some other plants blooming as well, such as poison oak, sugar bush, spreading larkspur, thistle, wild pea, common yarrow, ceanothus, eupatory, bedstraw, wishbone bush, mulefat, black sage, stinging lupine, and more. I'm eager to see what will be blooming in May.

See Fish Canyon Trail Plant Guide

See Fish Canyon Falls Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages

Eaton Canyon Nature Center - April 10, 2011

2011-04-12T22:34:00.000-07:00

See Eaton Canyon Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages

With springtime blooming, I focused my outdoor pursuits this weekend on wild plants. As a hiker, I have found myself drawn to know more about plants and their habitats. Over the years I've made it a point to visit nature centers and guided nature trails to learn about plants. And gradually I've come to be familiar with many of the plants that grace the environs of my hiking adventures. I'm not a plant expert, and there are still many plants that I don't know by name, but there becomes a real sense of connectedness with my environment as I hike along the trail and greet plants my their names.

Local nature centers/trails that have been a great help to me over the years include Eaton Canyon, Monrovia Canyon, Bailey Canyon and Santa Fe Dam. But Eaton Canyon Nature Center has really been my go-to place for learning about plants. They are open 9 to 5 Tuesday through Sunday. They have a beautiful nature center, three self-guided nature trails, and several habitat gardens. It's one thing to look at plant photo in a book or on a computer, but nothing compares with standing there on a nature trail, seeing the plant in real life, and having a nice little sign that tells you exactly what the plant is.

So this weekend involved two plant adventures. On Saturday early evening I took the five-minute drive to the trailhead for Van Tassel Ridge/Fish Canyon to hang out with plants along side the San Gabriel River. Then on Sunday afternoon I headed to Altadena to revisit the nature trails of Eaton Canyon Nature Center. Below features some of the plants from those outings:

San Gabriel River

Golden current (Ribes aureum) is a native deciduous shrub among several members of the gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae) found in the San Gabriels. Its tiny yellow flowers, for which it gets its name, "golden," bloom from January through April. The absence of spines (little needle-like thorns) help distinguish the currants from gooseberries.

Golden current (Ribes aureum) produces small, smooth-skinned berries, first green, then they mature into yellow, orange, red or black. The ripe berries are edible but aren’t sweet like commercially grown currants.

Mediterranean mustard or shortpod mustard (Hirschfeldia incana) is a non-native biennial or perennial herb to subshrub introduced from the Mediterranean and can be quite invasive in local habitats. It grows profusely and produces allelopathic chemicals that prevent germination of native plants. It looks very much like black mustard (brassica nigra), which grows much taller.

Deerweed (Lotus scoparius) is native herb or shrubby bush in the pea family that grows up to 3 to 4 feet tall. It's common in our coastal sage and chaparral plant communities and easy to learn its identity because there is really nothing else to confuse it with.

Deerweed (Lotus scoparius) has tiny yellow flowers along its long, skinny, green stems. It generally blooms from March through August, but blossoms can been seen early as January. It's an important honeybee plant. The flowers turn from yellow to orange after they have been pollinated, which is a nice way to alert pollinating insects to not waste their time on it.

Brittlebush (Encelia farinose) is a native shrub in the sunflower family and blooms from March to July. The stems easily snap under pressure, thus the name brittlebush. The silvery white leaves look similar to white sage, and without the presence of flowers, the novice might confuse the two. But the robust aroma of the sage clearly sets it apart.

White sage (Salvia apiana) is a native shrub among several sages and aromatic plants that make the chaparral smell wonderful. This was an important plant for Native Americans. It's also an important bee plant, thus the name apiana, which refers to honeybees.

Chia (Salvia columbariae) is a native annual herb in the mint family. It's flowering structure looks similar to black sage (Salvia mellifera), but chia is a small ground plant that sends up it's flowering stems to a height of only 12 to 24 inches.

Chia (Salvia columbariae), usually produces 2 spiky ball-like purple flower clusters on slender stems. Only a few of the buds are open at one time. The plant is a high-protein seed/food plant and was used by the Native Americans and today is sold in health stores. The name Salvia means healing and wellness.

Showy penstemon (Penstemon spectabilis) is a native perennial herb that grows up to 3 to 4 feet tall. It blooms from April through June.

Eaton Canyon

Fuchsia-flowered gooseberry (Ribes speciosum) is a perennial shrub in the gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae) among several gooseberry and currant species in our local foothills and mountains.

Fuchsia-flowered gooseberry (Ribes speciosum) blooms from January to May. It has spiny stems and fruit, as do other gooseberry species, which distinguish them from the currants.

Bladderpod (Isomeris arborea) is a native evergreen tree-like shrub that is found in many habitats and grows up to 10 feet tall. Its leaves and flowers produce disagreeable odor.

Bladderpod (Isomeris arborea) produces showy clusters of yellow flowers and distinctive inflated green pods. When dry, the pod resembles a paper lantern that rattles (the seeds inside rattle around).

Scarlet bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius) is a native perennial herb in the figwort family (not to be confused with California fuchsia (Epilobum canum). It grows up to 6,000 feet in elevation, so you may see it along the trail above the chaparral in the pine forests.

Rattlesnake! I know that this guy is not a plant, but I couldn't resist featuring him here. He (or she?) is on exhibit at Eaton Canyon Nature Center and labeled a Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus). It's a good reminder that these venomous pit vipers are a native part of our local habitats.

California coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica) is a native evergreen shrub in the buckthorn family and grows up to 16 feet tall. It produces yellow-green flowers from May to June that turn into little black berries that resemble coffee beans. But don't try to brew a cup of joe from them; the won't yield coffee!

Popcorn flower (Cryptantha muricata, maybe) is an annual herb that produces tiny white flowers from February to June. I read that there are about 11 different species of Cryptantha in the San Gabriel foothills and canyons and they can be very difficult to distinguish. Complicating matters, some members of the Plagiobothrys genus appear almost identical to those of Cryptantha. So feel free to call any of those plants "popcorn flower."

Dodder (Cuscuta spp.) is a unique and distinctive native plant widespread in the San Gabriels and beyond. It has many common names but the one I'm most familiar with is witches hair. It is a parasitic vine that takes its food supply from a host plant. The plant that I see it most on is California buckwheat, pictured here. Thankfully, dodder does not usually harm the host plant.

Recommended resource: Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains: Foothills and Canyons / Interpretive Guide on CD (Nature at Hand, 2007) by Gabi and Cliff McLean. The McLeans have been associated with Eaton Canyon Nature Center for many years and have played a vital role in educating the public about nature. They have created an amazing interactive CD featuring 258 plants with 1,800 quality photos. They have really made botany enjoyable and accessible for the non-botanists, like me. Detailed descriptions are given for each plant in easy-to-understand language. An extensive glossary of terms is only a click away and they provided audio pronunciations for botanical names and key botanical words. A variety of search options makes it easy to find the plant you are looking for. This user-friendly resource has been immensely helpful to me as a reference in plant identification and writing my blurbs about plants. It's the best 20 bucks I've ever spent on a plant guide! To purchase the CD, visit www.natureathand.com.

See Eaton Canyon Hike Description at Dan's Hiking Pages