EISPIRATEN

Update from last weekend -- Islip to Burnham on the PCT had some patches. I didn't go as far as Baden Powell but people were saying there was still a bit of snow there. This was Saturday, before it rained again on Sunday. Side note -- so many people on the PCT right now! It feels like Eaton canyon o...

Ugh. It seems like that rain yesterday was snow above 8000 ft.....

I just replied to their tweet about the road being closed --

Ah I checked the TRs for updates, but this one was hidden! Thank you!

I feel like this whole thread is me popping in asking how I can avoid snow

Are the big mountains clear enough these days? Anyone been around the Islip/Throop/Burnham area?

When I was still confused a couple weeks ago I ended up tweeting CalTrans and shockingly that worked. They responded quickly with correct information

But yay if Vincent Gap is open for Memorial Day weekend

Oh as for campgrounds, they do fill up there, but also there's several -- like 3 or maybe even 4 campgrounds inside Chilao? (I can only see two on this map I'm looking at but I could swear there were more? I haven't been there in a while though....) But the one(s) further in usually have less people.

You can hike Mt Hillyer out of Horse Flats campground at Chilao, it's like 3 miles one way but less than 1000 gain, you can do it as a loop and meet up with Santa Clarita Divide Road on the way back. If that's too far and if the road is open you can drive up it and hike from that trailhead to Mount ...

It's funny I was at the Baldy Ranger station last weekend, they called a different station and they said the 2 was open except at Vincent Gap. But Caltrans still says it's closed 14 miles north of La Canada. It's so hard to get info!

That certainly tracks with what I can see from the ground. Thanks for the info!

Hey, it's me, always trying to avoid snow :) I've seen some trip reports on the tall mountains lately where people seem to still have spikes on. Any idea what elevation the snow line is at these days? (Obviously it'll vary North/South face of the mountains). Just looking for a vague estimate. How hi...

And the 2 is still closed after Red Box right? Can you take Big Tujunga Canyon road and drop in above it?

There definitely was btw I had to put on spikes almost immediately after I got out of the car and I saw many hikers without appropriate gear turning around. And this was before the extra snow over the weekend.

Hey! Is there any snow between Little Jimmy and Windy Gap right now? (I am actually trying to avoid snow....) I'm going to try to sneak a hike in tomorrow morning before the rain/snow comes. Maybe to Hawkins. But I can go the long way from Crystal Lake (which is pretty dry guguy now, was there last ...

People will die if they charge for rescues, so it's simply morally impossible to do so. If they charge, people won't call. I'd rather some of my tax money go to people making an occasional mistake than saving a couple dollars and letting them die. Also, charging people like you would with a traffic ...

A sand storm? Is that unusual?

Nice tr!

Wow, I've never seen the cables empty like that

I think my opinion is unpopular, but I just don't see the big deal in paying the forest service $30/yr. I just put my pass up every time I park regardless and don't worry about it. I mean it's a $30 entry fee to go to Sequoia for one week. $30/yr for four forests seems like a bargain. And theoretica...

Saint Andrew's Abbey is a lovely place to visit. Anyone can stop there. I always make a point of stopping there if I'm in the area. The monks were originally stationed in China but kicked out after the Communist revolution and have lived here since the 1950s. If you drive up the road and park at the...

Love this

Thanks for the recs! I'm going to try out some of the apps you've mentioned and look into some of the more hardcore gps devices.

Hey, what do you guys use to track your hikes? (If you track them at all). I used to use Google Tracks on my phone. It worked really well honestly. The map wasn't always clear (given service limitations), but there was always some kind of a map so you could see where you've been. And I just like kno...

I came close to doing this hike a couple years ago but couldn't get a hotel room on the south rim. You gotta book those things real early But this is definitely inspiration to put this back on my list.

This attack sounds pretty atypical. I wonder how he spooked the snake? Or I guess perhaps the snake felt trapped. I've encountered my fair share of rattlesnakes, and 90% of the time they've run away. I got rattled at once when the snake felt trapped. And another time the snake was clearly sick and n...

This was my first real Southern California hike, so it always holds a place in my heart And it's not so bad! Fairly challenging, not the most boring There's towers at the top, but whatev!

I imagine checking permits was more so that everyone out there that day was registered, so they can better keep track of who might be missing. Because I believe the permits are for limiting the number of visitors to the designated wilderness areas in order to preserve vulnerable natural elements, an...

I like this hike. So many of the hikes in Angeles include serious elevation and therefore are quite challenging and every once in a while you just want to go for a long walk in the wilderness without all the sweat and exertion

Also, it's got a pretty unique reward at the end!

SGBob is totally right on, which is unfortunate. That being said, it kind of depends on the volunteer. Some of them are really good asking everyone who comes through what conditions they encountered and get information that way (but of course that info is only as reliable as the people they talk to)...

I used to hike out of Chantry a lot, often in the mornings before work. But I haven't really been there in a year and that's sad to hear about the graffiti...

Wow, that was an amazingly appropriate response

Cooper canyon it is then!

Thanks everyone!