Lake Pyramid area 7/3/08 - White Mountains
Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:59 am
Just thought I would enter this into the record even though it has little effective value. Over the holiday weekend, I was visting here and these White Mountains(elevation 6000ft+) are the real deal. There are some old HPS trip reports that mention a start from Hard Luck campground, that has been closed for a number of years now. About the only info is those HPS reports( http://angeles.sierraclub.org/hps/guides/07l.htm ) & http://home.flash.net/~cfoster2/boating ... u_dat.html.
The area actually for the most part is considered Los Padres forest but also includes the very western border of the Angeles forest as well as some state holdings. The major deal here is the Hungry Valley OHV area and Lake Pyramid boating(Smokey Bear Rd exit off the 5).
The Hungry Valley OHV area has some interesting hills that are weathered and some nice and jagged. Currently its $5 to enter for dayuse and I know the boating entrance charges something also.
Anyways the only thing we did here was go north on Smokey Bear to the road was gated. Then hiked north along a well paved fire service road to a pass. There was one trail heading east to Hungry Valley OHV and the main trail going eventually back south towards Pyramid Lake. In theory, the mountain range is gained by this trail as well, but it would be one heck of a loop not to mention the exit would be into Lake Pyramid.
I wonder if White Mtn#2 or Black Mtn will ever be publicized again....so close to the freeway, yet so far.....
stats from HPS...notice this distance is after a long drive of 18 miles one way.
"Distance: 14 miles round trip on road, trail, and cross-country
Gain: 4600' total, 2200' out plus 2400' on return
White Mountain #2 is often combined with Cobblestone Mountain into a hike of 18 miles round trip with 6500' of gain"
The area actually for the most part is considered Los Padres forest but also includes the very western border of the Angeles forest as well as some state holdings. The major deal here is the Hungry Valley OHV area and Lake Pyramid boating(Smokey Bear Rd exit off the 5).
The Hungry Valley OHV area has some interesting hills that are weathered and some nice and jagged. Currently its $5 to enter for dayuse and I know the boating entrance charges something also.
Anyways the only thing we did here was go north on Smokey Bear to the road was gated. Then hiked north along a well paved fire service road to a pass. There was one trail heading east to Hungry Valley OHV and the main trail going eventually back south towards Pyramid Lake. In theory, the mountain range is gained by this trail as well, but it would be one heck of a loop not to mention the exit would be into Lake Pyramid.
I wonder if White Mtn#2 or Black Mtn will ever be publicized again....so close to the freeway, yet so far.....
stats from HPS...notice this distance is after a long drive of 18 miles one way.
"Distance: 14 miles round trip on road, trail, and cross-country
Gain: 4600' total, 2200' out plus 2400' on return
White Mountain #2 is often combined with Cobblestone Mountain into a hike of 18 miles round trip with 6500' of gain"