Sespe Wilderness

edenooch · Post by **edenooch** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:41 pm

I have been reading up on this. Its pretty close to LA. I wanted to know if any one has hiked here? I havent hiked or peak bagged the Los Padres forest yet (not that i think theres any peaks there) After hiking much of Sg's Conquering Gorgonio and Jacinto im yearning for some thing new. Without having to drive up north every weekend!

Kit Fox · Post by **Kit Fox** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:56 pm

I've always wanted to visit Tar Creek myself.

EnFuego · Post by **EnFuego** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:24 pm

There's actually several hikes in Sespe area. Some are pretty rugged "canyoneering" type hikes, other are pretty easy. You can always make a long day hike to the hot pools out there. I hear Tar Creek is nice with good fishing at the confluence with Sespe Creek. Some deep, deep swiming pools can be found all along the creek as well.

mattmaxon · Post by **mattmaxon** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:56 pm

I know of one canyoneering trip out there that took 24 hours of constant travel

Sespe Creek has large house size boulders, down climbs etc...

It's no walk in the park

I really can't say why but it wasn't because of injuries, poor conditioning.. etc

The difficulty of the trip was underestimated by very strong experienced hikers, and they needed to get out hence the 24 hour march

Tar Creek is nice with the right weather, and a good primer on Sespe XC travel

Matt

Post by **Taco** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:10 pm

I've done a lot of stuff in the area, from the Gormon and Hungry Valley area south. I think it was Tar Creek I canyoneer'd a few years ago. Really cool, tectonically active area. Lots of tar. 8)

EnFuego · Post by **EnFuego** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:51 pm

TacoDelRio wrote:tectonically active area. Lots of tar. 8)

Any sabretooth tigers?

mattmaxon · Post by **mattmaxon** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:53 pm

EnFuego wrote:
TacoDelRio wrote:tectonically active area. Lots of tar. 8)
Any sabretooth tigers?

Nope but there are vultures 8)

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 6:48 pm

mattmaxon wrote:I know of one canyoneering trip out there that took 24 hours of constant travel

Sespe Creek has large house size boulders, down climbs etc...

It's no walk in the park

I really can't say why but it wasn't because of injuries, poor conditioning.. etc

The difficulty of the trip was underestimated by very strong experienced hikers, and they needed to get out hence the 24 hour march

Tar Creek is nice with the right weather, and a good primer on Sespe XC travel

Matt

I've spent some time on the lower Sespe. Really difficult country. Brush, steep, house sized boulders. Not much fun the time I was there.

AW~ · Post by **AW~** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:37 pm

scorcher too in the summer.

Post by **Taco** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:47 pm

All of these are true. It's a nice change of scenery, though. Not that I've been, but it reminds me of South Africa.

edenooch · Post by **edenooch** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:22 am

I am interested in that big ass water fall in the video!

mattmaxon · Post by **mattmaxon** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:28 am

edenooch wrote:I am interested in that big ass water fall in the video!

Tar Creek?
http://www.dankat.com/swhikes/tarcrk.htm

Post by **Taco** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:22 am

Yeah, that's the one. I rapped Upper Tar Creek Falls. FWIW, we didn't go furhter down the canyon after rapping it, but it looked badass beyond there.