Chantry Flat to Wilson via Camp Sturtevant,Winter Creek Loop
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:40 am
Once an a while I kind of turtle out and hike with a small group of people that like to hike long, fun places like this one to the top of Wilson. It all started on sunday morn around 8am; being able to find a parking spot on the Chantry Flats parking lot was a pleasant surprise; where were all the Asians? not here!
For an easily warm up we all headed down to the Stu falls and ascended towards the Spruce Grove campground, then on to the Stu huts and finally on to Wilson. This time of the year, this area is very enjoyable to hike on any trail. The fall serenity,the nice weather, the scattered leaves all over the trail, the water still running down the streams and not many people on the trail made for an enjoyable hike to the camp Stu where we took a short break before the start of the 3 miler 2500' gain to reach the pano-vista point at the top of Wilson. Small green branches scattered all over was the only damage from the winds along with a large tree that had fallen on the trail. At 4700' the white water blanket started to form and made you now feel that you entered the wintery land. The 2- 5'' of slushy snow was kind of fun to step on and posed no problems as you went on by the few steep dangerous areas where the one lady had slipped to her death few years ago. The snow faded as you went the south east side and re appeared again on the north side until I reached- ahead of the group- the pano vista in order to have more time to enjoy the snow covered high country. I wondered how many people in their rush to the top miss this awsome vista!, I had to call the group over as they marched on passing the pano vista. We were walking on a 5"of snow and a few cleared sections on the road and then brief snow walk on the trail to the deserted chalet . A brief stay on the cloud covered area that deprived us of any pano views of the valley and the near by mountains. The snow covered parking lot, the now chilly weather and the steepish snow covered trail going down to the toll road was a fun winter experience as it ended when we reached the junction to go down to the bench. We got benched for a bit and then it was time to go on the Winter Creek Trl back to Chantry. We headed back down under the tall, dark green oak canopy, with plenty of poison oak branches everywhere, as the clouds started to engulf the area giving it a magically surreal sight to it but only going away as we meet the trail coming from Hoegees. Then came the longest, busiest 2 miles back to the car hike. So lucky to be able to experience such a wonderful winter day at the Chanrty Flat area of the Santa Anita Cyn .......Will come back again but I am sure I won't be so lucky at finding a parking spot so close to the trails.....
For an easily warm up we all headed down to the Stu falls and ascended towards the Spruce Grove campground, then on to the Stu huts and finally on to Wilson. This time of the year, this area is very enjoyable to hike on any trail. The fall serenity,the nice weather, the scattered leaves all over the trail, the water still running down the streams and not many people on the trail made for an enjoyable hike to the camp Stu where we took a short break before the start of the 3 miler 2500' gain to reach the pano-vista point at the top of Wilson. Small green branches scattered all over was the only damage from the winds along with a large tree that had fallen on the trail. At 4700' the white water blanket started to form and made you now feel that you entered the wintery land. The 2- 5'' of slushy snow was kind of fun to step on and posed no problems as you went on by the few steep dangerous areas where the one lady had slipped to her death few years ago. The snow faded as you went the south east side and re appeared again on the north side until I reached- ahead of the group- the pano vista in order to have more time to enjoy the snow covered high country. I wondered how many people in their rush to the top miss this awsome vista!, I had to call the group over as they marched on passing the pano vista. We were walking on a 5"of snow and a few cleared sections on the road and then brief snow walk on the trail to the deserted chalet . A brief stay on the cloud covered area that deprived us of any pano views of the valley and the near by mountains. The snow covered parking lot, the now chilly weather and the steepish snow covered trail going down to the toll road was a fun winter experience as it ended when we reached the junction to go down to the bench. We got benched for a bit and then it was time to go on the Winter Creek Trl back to Chantry. We headed back down under the tall, dark green oak canopy, with plenty of poison oak branches everywhere, as the clouds started to engulf the area giving it a magically surreal sight to it but only going away as we meet the trail coming from Hoegees. Then came the longest, busiest 2 miles back to the car hike. So lucky to be able to experience such a wonderful winter day at the Chanrty Flat area of the Santa Anita Cyn .......Will come back again but I am sure I won't be so lucky at finding a parking spot so close to the trails.....