Injured knee needs recomendations for hikes in SGM

Leighton · Post by **Leighton** » Fri May 15, 2009 4:45 pm

Hey everybody! About a month ago my wife injured her knee on our way back from Icehouse Saddle. The Doc diagnosed her with a degenerative medial meniscus and sent her off to physical therapy. She is about to the point where she can begin to do some light hiking so I thought ask if anyone has any recommendations of easy hikes in the San Gabriels that don't have big elevation changes? We're getting a little anxious to get back out there, but I want to make sure she doesn't over do it and I have to drag her butt out of the woods again!

friendowl · Post by **friendowl** » Fri May 15, 2009 8:08 pm

this one is easy and

fun. http://www.azusarock.com/fishcreek/calendar.html

not in san gabriels but good

http://www.hike-la.com/hike_malibu_creek_trail.html

i like this one a lot

http://www.simpsoncity.com/hiking/bridge.html

Leighton · Post by **Leighton** » Fri May 15, 2009 9:44 pm

Thanks friendowl, these look like what the doctor ordered! We'll be feeling like youngsters on the first one. Bridge to Nowhere may have to wait for another month of PT. Baby steps for now.

mattmaxon · Post by **mattmaxon** » Sat May 16, 2009 4:12 am

portions of the PCT are not real steep and take you though lots of seldom traveled areas of the local mountains

2 in particular come to mind

Mt Gleason from the 1st rd crossing up from Mill CRk toward camp 16

Libre Mtn area

these are serendipities for sure

Matt

Leighton · Post by **Leighton** » Sat May 16, 2009 9:55 am

Thanks Matt. A couple of great suggestions!

brian90620 · Post by **brian90620** » Sat May 16, 2009 10:38 am

Mount Waterman is a very nice, farily easy hike

http://localhikes.com/Hikes/WatermanMountain_4472.asp

Also I have been wanting to do the BigHorn Mine but have not got around to it yet. It looks like it would be a pretty cool & easy hike: http://localhikes.com/Hikes/BigHornMine_4472.asp

One more area I would recommend as an easy hike, is Mount Hillyer from Horse Flats campground. This is a really beautiful area, and the best thing about it is all the huge granite boulders that you can climb on if you wanted too 8) ........... http://localhikes.com/Hikes/mounthillyer_4472.asp

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Sat May 16, 2009 1:08 pm

One of the flattest around is the Gabrieleno Trail above JPL in Altadena. You've got some water crossings, but it's a petty tame hike in terms of elevation gain until you get to the Paul Little Picnic Area which is several miles up. http://www.simpsoncity.com/hiking/arroyoseco.html

I think Switzer Falls isn't too bad. http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/Switzer_4472.asp I wouldn't go down into Bear Canyon even though it's a nice hike because climbing in and out of the canyon will be hard on your knees.

Monrovia Canyon Falls is pretty easy, especially from the upper trailhead by the Nature Center. http://www.simpsoncity.com/hiking/monrovia.html

Leighton · Post by **Leighton** » Sat May 16, 2009 4:27 pm

Thanks Brian, Waterman sounds good.

I was hoping to hear your thoughts, Jim since I've read earlier posts about your knee injury. Hope you're getting better.

Richard N. · Post by **Richard N.** » Fri May 22, 2009 11:23 am

You need to pick up Robinson's book, 100 Hikes in the Angeles. There is also one for the San Bernadino's as well.
The book lists almost every hiking trail around.
It has hikes from Easy to Extreme. Gives you all the needed 411 as to elevation, mileage and even where to park.
This book should be in every hikers backpack or on their desk.

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Fri May 22, 2009 12:24 pm

Leighton wrote:Jim since I've read earlier posts about your knee injury. Hope you're getting better.

Thanks, bro, it's doing a little better. I did finally get to see the PT at Kaiser. He's got me doing some stretches and excercises. We'll see.

Leighton · Post by **Leighton** » Mon May 25, 2009 9:55 am

I picked up a copy of Robinson's Angeles book on Saturday. Thanks for the recommendation, Richard N., what a great book!

On Sunday, we did a variation of the Mt. Gleason hike that Matt suggested. We cheated since the wife still has a ways to go with recovery. We got to the trailhead and walked the Pacific Crest Trail for about a mile before turning around. The goal was to get on the trail and and go a distance realizing that she had to again cover the same distance and deal with the downhills on the return. Here's where the cheating kicks in! Once back to the car, we drove up past the radar tower and parked at the gate, loaded a couple of Trader Joes wraps and a large cold can of Sapporo in the pack, walked the short road to the summit, found a nice shaded spot and had lunch. Overall, it was a nice relaxing afternoon away from the city below.

I'm going to pick up a set of poles for her. The downhill is the biggest problem on her knee at this point.