EISPIRATEN

Started on the south spine of the west ridge, which was easily not a good choice, even with 3 'fixed roped 'sections LOL. The rock and hillside was garbage, literally and figuratively. Getting burned up by the sun while being tortured by seeing the Big Tujunga dam water on one side and a nice swimming pool on the other. On the start of the flat section, spotted and then encountered a group of hunters, who were keeping an eye on the Big Tujunga. At this part of the ridge, until elevation 4500, its well used and has trash here or there. After that, there is a path that hasnt been maintained in awhile. I spent 20 minutes chopping 20ft of elevation gain, mainly because the path avoids severly overgrown bumps on the ridge by cutting through the hillside. I spied the drainage I had my plans for to get back to my car and did that instead of heading up the last 1000 or so ft to the peak. Not the wisest idea considering I didnt carry a rope, but didnt need one.

From there I did the short drove to 'The Pines' day use area. Took the wide open trail down to Clear Creek. Shortly going downstream it got brushy so I headed back to the car. There looks to be a small segment of Clear Creek near the camp Skyhook that is exploration worthy, but I suppose trespassing would be the only way to see it easily.

Heading up into the National Monument, with a clear view of the power line project.


Up


Water!


Aint no one going to take this ridge easy today...it was heavily armed.


The ridge up to the peak


Mt Lukens...and the west side of the drainage I was going down.


Going down to the car


AFH view of drainage


The Pines day use area, with a couple of Eucalyptus trees too that survived the fire.


trail...aka the hard way to Hoyt peak?


Clear Creek


Back to the day use area

I was just up on Josephine the other weekend and was looking down that west ridge and wondering about going down it, not up it. Rugged ass country. Well done Canyon Man.