EISPIRATEN

Thanks for the report. Someone needs to train these cows on how to maintain the trails.

I didn't particularly like the Moon Cheese. IMG_20241208_102654921_HDR.jpg It's a novelty freeze-dried snack that I found at Albertsons supermarket. I did, however, enjoy leaving our pirate flag up there. IMG_20241208_104213757_HDR.jpg We considered bushwhacking to point 3665, but after a little rec...

Several years ago I painstakingly compiled a list of named peaks in the Gabes, both officially and locally named ones. From Peakbagger I learned of a small bump called The Moon, situated above the Acton Conservation Camp on Soledad Canyon Road. For my fiftieth birthday I wanted to hike something uni...

Nate U wrote: ↑Thu Dec 05, 2024 10:16 am Did you need a special pass or something to drive that Redbox-Rincon road?

You need the number combination for the lock on the gate, which the FS will give you.

In 2017 Cecelia and I failed to bag Middle Benchmark due to me being stupid . Today we rectified that mistake and finally got our butts up there. Yes, we drove 99% of the way, but, hey, at least we walked the non-road portion (i.e., the firebreak) and stood on the true summit. We also found the orig...

He probably looked at the fig roots and realized he wasn't up to the task.

tekewin wrote: ↑Tue Nov 26, 2024 2:16 pm Another desert victory! Gutsy to get so close to a firing range.

Here we are coming down, the shooters were on the left side of the ridge, I parked to the right.

Thanks for the report. That rock on the ledge section is gorgeous.

Often I've stood atop a peak in the Gabes and looked across the Mojave Desert at the various buttes that pop up here and there. Sometimes I'd even daydream about putting in the effort to drive here and there, and actually climb them. Well, Cecelia and I finally efforted our way to a couple of them. ...

Thanks for the reports! Oh, so in addition to watching for the rape van, I also need to look out for the murder truck?!?

I guess it could be worse...

For Cecelia's birthday I took her to the Mojave National Preserve for a bit of desert scrambling. We left LA at 4:00 AM, shopped in Barstow, and rolled into the Preserve at 7:50 AM. IMG_20241124_075051466_HDR.jpg We then reached Hole-in-the-Wall by 8:15 AM. IMG_20241124_083149994_HDR.jpg Cecelia and...

Pretty cool, thanks for the report.

Maps aren't that great anymore.

Thanks for the report. Sounds like that hunter was smoking the Paranoia weed.

Thanks for the report. Driving up to Monrovia is definitely the way to go.

Thanks for the report. I think it was after the '38 flood, the County went nuts installing check dams and retaining walls throughout the front range. The Arroyo Seco watershed, especially, saw a lot of attention. The Brown Mountain Dam, for example, was built in 1943, so I bet a lot of the other flo...

I didn't do the west ridge. I'd done it before, so it wasn't exactly on my bucket list, plus I'm saving my back for future hikes. I was excited for Jeff and Nate, though, this being their first time doing the scramble route. Instead I followed the guys to Strawberry Meadow junction, then turned left...

The soil was moist at the trail, but the flow was only slowly dripping above. It would take forever to fill a bottle.

Yesterday we hiked the Strawberry Trail from Camp Colby Road to Strawberry Meadow. This route was heavily affected by the Station Fire and is still in the process of being restored. The Lowelifes crew were working on it during our hike, but it's only a side project for them. The route is mostly clea...

This trail, between Horse Flats and the summit of Mt. Hillyer, is in excellent condition. It passes through one of the more beautiful areas of the backcountry.

The segment between Chilao and Horse Flats is in good shape. The creek was dry. But the scenery was still beautiful.

I was just gonna say that he's on Santa Clara Divide looking across Pacoima Canyon, but Mendenhall is the flat top near the middle. I believe the fire road junction is near Highline Saddle. So that would make the closer, rounded summit The Pinnacle. If I'm correct, then way in the distance, over the...

HikeUp wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2024 11:23 am From April, 2009...

You probably have one of the last photos of this area before the Station Fire, which occurred four months later in August 2009. I think a couple of those trees in the background survived, but I failed to take a picture from that angle.

Sounds like he didn't tell anyone his plans and parked in a lot where people leave cars for extended periods of time.

Reported missing earlier this month, his car was found at Chantry yesterday.

Thanks for the report! I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a Burger Peak today. Also, if Further Water is three miles, how far is Furthest Water?

This was my first time camping at Chilao. Jeff and I took site 22 at Little Pines Loop on Friday. This site can accommodate several tents and has parking space for at least four cars, which we needed Saturday evening when Matthew, Kris and Willow, and finally Dima joined us. I enjoyed resting under ...

tekewin wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 5:19 pm I didn't see the coyote in your picture until I viewed it full size. Healthy looking curious coyote.

I'm glad you said that because I couldn't see it first time around.
New project: go through all of Nate's old photos and find his spirit coyote.

Jenrau wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 9:20 pm Hi I’m new here.

Welcome to the forum! So far my favorite hikes in the Los Padres include Cobblestone Mountain and also the Dragon's Back. I've also done some neat scrambles in the canyons to giant pools and waterfalls, but I prefer peakbagging. I look forward to reading your trip reports.

David R wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 12:28 pm I' had a relapse of my cancer and am going under the knife this week to remove it. Hopefully it all goes well but I'll be out of commission at least for a month. See you on the other side, I hope!

Wishing you the best and a speedy recovery!