EISPIRATEN

On Friday, starting from the West Fork parking lot on Highway 39, we hiked up the lower Bear Creek trail to Bear Creek's West Fork confluence, then checked out the West Fork for a bit before hitting the turnaround time. Bear Creek is a beauty. I lost track of the number of river crossings, but they ...

Thanks for the trip report. I've been to Jones/Hastings/Mt. Wilson many times now, but I've yet to try that SE ridge up to Jones Peak, as I've never actually fully figured out the starting point.

Hi, Kevin. There are a bunch of trail camps accessible from trailheads along the Angeles Crest Highway. If, instead, you want a campground that's closer, here's a list of sites (each with their own stoves/campfire rings (campfire permit needed)) that are relatively close by car and that only require...

Sounds very nice and very chilly. I've never hiked in the Crystal Lake area, so it's very informative to read up on names of trails/places, as well as estimated travel times. Thanks for the trip report.

Very interesting and enlightening story. It's a bad sign when a bear is so comfortable around humans.

All the same, how was the hike to Mt. Waterman?

Groupon is offering a deal: $29 gets you two roundtrip lift tickets for the Mt. Baldy Ski Lift plus a $20 gift card to the restaurant at the Notch. http://www.groupon.com/deals/mt-baldy-la-1?c=all&p=8 Seeing as how lots of people have bought this already (a prior deal site also offered this deal...

Awesome! Thanks so much!

I'm not sure who constructed that summit sign, but it was sparkly new. Don't know if the USFS is in the habit of drawing little mtn. doodles on their trail signs.

That burrito would be considered ordinary at sea level, but at 8,800 feet, it tasted like the food of gods.

Thanks for compiling such a thorough list.

Quick question: how many miles/elevation change is the Three Points -> Waterman -> Buckhorn -> PCT loop you described? Also, is that loop pretty well marked? No route finding involved?

Sounds like the crowds were greater on Saturday than on Sunday -- there were only three people at the Cucamonga summit register when I was there. The extra amount of litter I saw on Sunday in Icehouse Canyon is an unfortunate consequence of the trail's popularity. Also, I've never eaten at Baldy Lod...

Gorgeous photos and a great trip overall. Post-dawn and pre-sunset pictures are the best. What camera do you use?

I hiked Cucamonga Peak yesterday for the first time in about two years. It was mighty lovely, lovelier than what I remembered. Started at 8:30 am from the already full Icehouse Canyon parking lot; reached the saddle at about 10:20; left the saddle at 10:35; and finally reached Cucamonga a few minute...

According to the story below, a leader of the Santa Muerte sect "took his followers to Los Angeles National Forest for a ceremony by the river, with incense burning and chanting." Video of the river is shown at around 1:55 in the video. I'm not good at recognizing areas, but I imagine it's...

I visited Henninger Flats on Sunday. There was quite a bunch of people camping out still, and yeah, the area looked pretty much okay. Lots of fallen branches and brush: http://i39.tinypic.com/3358dc5.jpg Some trees are bent out of shape: http://i41.tinypic.com/2589chc.jpg http://i41.tinypic.com/2hea...

Tis' truly a treat with the proceeds going to a good cause.

Hiked Mt. Wilson from Sierra Madre this past Sunday. Nothing out of the ordinary to report, though there was quite a crowd of people at the top. Hikers were in the minority. http://i54.tinypic.com/206lens.jpg http://i51.tinypic.com/qsw40k.jpg The food from the Cosmic Cafe was fabulous: chicken pesto...

Thanks for sharing. I've never been up the Bear Flat trail and have been meaning to give it a try for some time now.

Finally made a long overdue trip to Mt. Baldy on Sunday. Nothing new or spectacular to report; in case anyone's wondering, the snow's melted, melted. Took Register Ridge (encountered two groups), reached the top (crowds galore), and descended the North Backbone Trail (passed a group of three). I rea...

Very nice! Love how the high elevation makes the marine layer look like a impatient lake. There were also multiple gauntlets of Poodle Dogs on the path up Mt. Lowe, too. Where are the dog catchers when you need them?

Glad it didn't disappoint! Does Mt. Disappointment link up easily to Markham saddle?

Matt, you can also check out Zé's trip report. I've been thinking of following a similar route, though without the cross-country return.
http://socalhikes.com/2009/05/three-poi ... terman-mt/

Mt. San Jacinto, I believe?

The picture was taken in early April on a Delta flight to LAX, approximately 30 minutes after crossing the California border.

This sign was posted at Markham saddle (or whatever that area's called) on 5/28/11. http://i52.tinypic.com/24oy1b6.jpg http://i56.tinypic.com/11i08d5.jpg I didn't venture past that sign to see the status of Mueller Tunnel, but I assume the only progress made is the installation of closed-trail signs.

Great pics! I'm itching to head up on SR-2 (I've never actually driven on that highway) one of these days, Waterman/Twin Peaks being my primary targets.

A tr posted hours just after a hike is what I call super efficient.

Some nice pics and background info of the San Gabriel Mountains in the late 19th/early 20th century:

http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus ... 33225.html

I love a good Baldy tale. Glad you all had a great time. Baldy was my first actually strenuous hike, and it left me craving more. I'm sure your co-workers will get the hiking bug henceforth.

Hiking + Good Food = Bliss.
Bliss + Beer = Crazy Time Joy.

There seems to be less trip reports of late, so here's my submission of a simple one on a well trekked trail. I started on Mira Monte around 10 am, reached the summit at a little past 1, scarfed down a delicious chili dog at the Cosmic Cafe, then headed back. It was quite chilly at the summit, what ...

Great info. Were there any particular tough portions of the hike that one should watch out for? I imagine your return down that Clamshell ridge was a barrel of fun.

Great pics, and a warm happy birthday to you, AlanK!