Mt. Wilson Loop From Chantry Flats, 17-May-2008
Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 10:21 pm
The "your favorite hikes" thread got me thinking that I really should be exploring some new areas. I normally only hike in the high country, pine forest type places but today I went up to Mt. Wilson from Chantry Flats via the Sturtevant Trail and then looped back via the Winter Creek Trail. I was really surprised by how lush Santa Anita Canyon is. It's like a jungle down there. The entire loop was 90% heavily forested and shaded so that was nice to beat the heat. But the stretch above Sturtevant Falls to Halfway Rest is totally infested with flies and mosquitoes. I keep forgetting to bring bug spray or a headnet.
Saw lots of people in the falls area, but only a very small handful afterwards. Above Halfway Rest I met a very nice Asian couple who, to my surprise, instantly recognized me as the solo hiker on Iron Mtn last week. Apparently they were part of the Sierra Club group that was also on Iron last week. What a small world.
Funny thing: whenever I meet people on the trail they always express concern that I'm solo. I think maybe this is because I don't look like a big, burly outdoorsman
I also saw the area on the north side of Wilson where the fatality in February might have happened. There is definitely a couple of gnarly areas you wouldn't want to fall down, even in dry conditions. It's really sad what happened to the girl who fell.
Overall, I liked this hike and had a good time.
Sturtevant Falls:
Pine trees again! I feel at home now:
Surprisingly clear for such a hot day:
I was so disappointed when I found out that the LIVE MEGA DOPPLER 7000 HD is not on Mt. Wilson! Turns out it's on Oat Mountain in San Fernando.
Almost stepped on this guy on the Winter Creek Trail. He was really lethargic. Just sat there perfectly still, all stretched out across the trail:
Saw lots of Mike P's favorite plant:
Saw lots of people in the falls area, but only a very small handful afterwards. Above Halfway Rest I met a very nice Asian couple who, to my surprise, instantly recognized me as the solo hiker on Iron Mtn last week. Apparently they were part of the Sierra Club group that was also on Iron last week. What a small world.
Funny thing: whenever I meet people on the trail they always express concern that I'm solo. I think maybe this is because I don't look like a big, burly outdoorsman
I also saw the area on the north side of Wilson where the fatality in February might have happened. There is definitely a couple of gnarly areas you wouldn't want to fall down, even in dry conditions. It's really sad what happened to the girl who fell.
Overall, I liked this hike and had a good time.
Sturtevant Falls:
Pine trees again! I feel at home now:
Surprisingly clear for such a hot day:
I was so disappointed when I found out that the LIVE MEGA DOPPLER 7000 HD is not on Mt. Wilson! Turns out it's on Oat Mountain in San Fernando.
Almost stepped on this guy on the Winter Creek Trail. He was really lethargic. Just sat there perfectly still, all stretched out across the trail:
Saw lots of Mike P's favorite plant:
