EISPIRATEN

On Sunday 4/28/19 I attempted to summit Condor Peak via Trail Canyon.

The trail is officially unmaintained, but up to and a bit past Trail Canyon Falls it is very easy to follow due to the high amount of foot traffic it receives. After that, it gets a bit more dicey. There are countless stream crossings as you work your way up the canyon -- so many that I lost count. There are a handful of spots where it is easy to lose the trail, but a little probing around will help you find it. I encountered a few trail flags deeper in, but eventually even these stopped.

Long pants and sleeves are mandatory right now. You'll be wading through groves of poison oak and stinging nettle, the latter of which even pierced through my pants. I flicked a total of 19 ticks off of my pant legs throughout the hike as well.

I reached where Tom Lucas camp ought to be according to the map, but there was not a visible trace of it to be found. It is either washed away or inaccessible due to the growth this season.

Not far beyond Tom Lucas, ~4.75 miles from the start, is where I had to swallow my pride and turn back to the trailhead. The narrow canyon that the trail follows was too choked with brush to proceed. I attempted to circumvent it by bushwhacking up the steep northern slope, but after 30 minutes and maybe ~50 yards of total progress, I knew I wouldn't make it before my turnaround time.

This route is probably still doable in drier years, or in the winter. As of right now, I would recommend taking the Condor Peak trail up instead.

On the way back, I scouted a spot where I think you can gain the west ridge to ascend that way instead. It was very close to the top of the falls. I'll likely attempt this route next.

I did the same hike earlier this year and last year. I think the only way to keep moving forward is to stay in or next to the creek bed, the brush on the slopes is too much.

Yea, that's the only other option I was considering, but even now there is just too much growth for that.

Thanks for this. I had Tom Lucas on my list as a one night backpack trip. It sure would've been frustrating and disappointing to go all the way out there and not find the trail camp!

nelange wrote: Thanks for this. I had Tom Lucas on my list as a one night backpack trip. It sure would've been frustrating and disappointing to go all the way out there and not find the trail camp!

There actually is a campsite with a fire ring just about 3 miles in (about a mile before where Tom Lucas should be). It's right against the trail but seemed pretty nice. I snapped a pic and created a waypoint in Gaia. I'll attach the GPX waypoint to this post.

Good effort. The rain has created mutant growth in grass and brush. Early winter is probably the best time to attempt it, before the ticks are out in force. Sean and Cecelia had quite adventure coming down from Condor that way.

Yeah, the upper part of that canyon is murder. A volunteer crew has started working it from the top.