Alamo mountain the easy way

TRs for Los Padres National Forest.
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dima
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Post by dima »

Earlier I "biked" up to Alamo mountain a really stupid way because the easy way to closed due to the Post fire. But recently I've been hearing rumors that the easy approach is usable again, and I went over there today to check it out. It is indeed much easier, and is quite delightful in fact. I look forward to coming back for an overnight sometime.

Access to Alamo Mountain Rd from the SE is through the Hungry Valley OHV area. The near entrance off Smoky Bear rd is closed; I think that's where the fire was. So you approach from Gorman and Gold Hill rd. Currently the gate at the far end of the OHV area at the LPNF boundary is closed (this is seasonal), so you must park inside the OHV area. Which means you must pay them $5. It also means that you have to be gone before 18:00, or else you get locked in AND get a ticket. The lady at the entrance gate said to park at the furthest campground (Smith Forks), although there's plenty of space right at the LPNF gate, and that probably would have been fine.

Gold hill rd has not-very-good pavement, but it's plenty good enough. This continues through Hungry Valley to LPNF, across Piru Creek and part-way up Alamo Mountain. The roads are good; a high clearance vehicle would be able to go all the way to Dutchman Camp easily. A sedan probably could too, if the driver were careful.

Alright. After the pass to the Piru Creek drainage you can clearly see Alamo Mountain in front of you:

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You drop down and cross Piru Creek. It's flowing well:

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Very few humans come up here, so there are animals plenty.

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Good boy. We walked on the road for a long time, and I was following his tracks for a while. At about 6000ft you get into the pines, and it gets real nice. Many patches of snow up here as well.

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I made it to Dutchman camp again

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And kept going to complete the loop. Here's the road that branches off to Sewart mountain (and White and Black and Snowy and Cobblestone)

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The descent was quick, and I mostly spent it looking at the Tehachapis and the Southern Sierra

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Taco
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Post by Taco »

Noice. A shame about the complicated access. Is there another angle to attack it from where you don't have to worry about tickets and red tape?
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Nate U
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Post by Nate U »

The challenge with Los Padres targets seems to be more in the approach to the climbs then the climbs themselves. Not that I've been there.... YET!
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dima
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Post by dima »

Now that I've checked it out, access seems straightforward, actually. Either of:
  • Wait until the gate on the back side of hungry valley is open (in a month maybe?), and park on the other side. Then the only thing you can't do is arrive or go home during nighttime
  • Park in Gorman or Smoky bear rd, and do a few extra miles on the bike.
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AW~
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Post by AW~ »

I havent had much luck with that area of the Padres, tricounty. It basically sucks. I would say give it a month. I think its like 100 degrees. Plus the invasive grasses...which make overland travel a nightmare.

https://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1200
California State Parks is temporarily requiring weekend, day use only reservations through the LAZ Parking website for entry to Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area. LAZ Parking provides you with a cashless reservation experience that is convenient and easy!
Customers can simply snap the QR code on the park’s information sheet, choose the date for visiting the park, and pay with either Apple Pay, Google Pay, or a credit card.
Please note: LAZ is available to make a reservation and pay for entrance fees for day use only (6 am to 6 pm). Visitors are advised that all sales are final and there are no cancellations or refunds. LAZ Parking customer support can be reached at (949) 402-0303

The park is open for day use only. Overnight camping is temporarily closed.
Open Hours
Weekdays: 7:00am to 6:00pm
Weekends: 6:00am to 6:00pm
Visitors can enter the park until 4:00PM. Visitors arriving after 4:00pm will not be admitted to the park.
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dima
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Post by dima »

Yes. So you either go through, to park in the LPNF, or you park near I5, and ride in. I think this should be a good area in the summer, actually: Alamo Mountain is above 7k!
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Sean
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Post by Sean »

Thanks for the report. That might be the most perfectly curvy snake I've ever seen.
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tekewin
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Post by tekewin »

Thanks for the report and access update. I'd like to get Alamo some day and I think there might be one or two more HPS relatively close.

The area looks really nice with those pines.
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