EISPIRATEN

On Sunday Keith, Madison, Cecelia and I hiked to Hines Peak, with Keith and Madison also bagging Cream Puff Peak. Keith had acquired the combo to the gate lock at Rose Valley Campground and offered to drive up the bumpy road to the Red Reef Trailhead.

On the ride up Cecelia remembered that it was Madison's birthday, so we all wished him a happy birthday.

It was an overcast day. In some places the fog was so thick that we could barely see five feet in front of the truck.



But by the time we reached the trailhead we were mostly above the clouds and in the sun the rest of the day.



The trail, an old fire road, was easy to follow. There was a short stretch where poodle dog threatened to give us the itchies, and there was a little overgrowth elsewhere. Mostly the trail was in good shape.



The old road ended at a saddle below Hines Peak, and then we faced the steep, knifeblade ridge.



Being in terrible shape, I slowly made my way up the ridge, while Keith, Madison and Cecelia went ahead to find the peak. Upon reaching the rocky, false summit, I heard their voices but couldn't see them. I dropped my pack and pressed on across some rocks and through some brush. That's when I saw them heading back down. They were surprised to see me, as I had been threatening to quit earlier. Keith said I was mere steps away from the peak now and he showed me the best path through the brush.



On the summit was a benchmark and some wire and wood, perhaps left by surveyors, or possibly from an old sign mentioned in the Sierra Club route description. There was also a register but I didn't bother with it. The others said they had signed my name, and so I was ready to depart after a short water break.

I survived the steep descent without slipping in my hiking sandals, or falling to my doom off the knife-edge portion.

Cecelia was waiting for me at the saddle. Keith and Madison had continued on to do Cream Puff. Here they are returning from the peak.



They said the climb on Cream Puff was super steep and loose, the sort where you take two steps forward and one backward.

We all headed back to the truck after that and had another bumpy, foggy ride through the clouds.

Congrats on getting Hines! It was a super fun day, other than the scary driving in the fog part. Truck did more work than me for sure. The Sierra Club claims Hines is class 1, but there are unavoidable class 2 sections. It also has over 3000' of prominence for those us who care about prom. The Creampuff ridge was 400' in a quarter mile. Loose dirt over bedrock. Burly Los Padres peaks.










Hines from Creampuff

Not too much to add to what teke and Sean have already said. This is a cool area that isn't easy to access so it doesn't see that much traffic. Your options of getting here are to (i) ascend Sisar Canyon to the Red Reef Trail from the south and then up through White Ledge trail camp to the ridge (the upper stretches of which are choked with Poodle Dog I believe), (ii) ascend Lion Canyon to the ridge from Middle Lion Campground from the north, (iii) ascend the Last Chance Trail from Santa Paula Canyon if you can even find the tread, or (iv) drive Nordhoff Ridge Road from Rose Valley Campground (4-wheel drive recommended). All of those options with the exception of the last one are long, difficult days.

A couple of cool things about this route. As you're following the ridge between Creampuff and Hines, you pass by the very upper reaches of Santa Paula Canyon and the beginning of Santa Paula Creek. We also passed by the remnants of the Last Chance Trail that intersects the ridge between Creampuff and Hines. You can still see the trail, but it doesn't see much action and is being reclaimed by the Los Padres. Historic Topatopa Lodge trail camp is a short distance down this trail. Christopher Lord and his crew went out looking for and finding it in late 2019. His report is here: https://christopherplord.blogspot.com/2 ... it-of.html

Hines is the better peak to climb IMO, but Creampuff has better views. They are both steep and loose, but Creampuff is more challenging albeit a shorter climb.

Here's a few more pics for your viewing delight and edification.

Cucamonga Man in his element
Creampuff (foreground) and Hines (background)

Teke absorbing the views

Creampuff. Route ascends the left spine.

Topatopa Bluff from saddle below Creampuff

Sean, teke, and Ceclia ascending Hines

Cecelia just past the "cat-walk" on Hines

Teke ascending Hines

Cecelia and Sean grinding up Hines

Looking down Red Reef Canyon toward Ladybug

Goofball selfie on the summit of Hines

Second summit of Hines with the Cucamonga Man

Teke starting the climb up Creampuff

View toward the Sespe on the hike out

I sent an email this morning to Pinetar, the dude who left the Creampuff register in 1999, asking about the origin of the name. I don't expect a 22 year old email address to still be in use, but it was worth a shot.

tekewin wrote: ↑I sent an email this morning to Pinetar, the dude who left the Creampuff register in 1999, asking about the origin of the name. I don't expect a 22 year old email address to still be in use, but it was worth a shot.

I don't know if bardley still visits this site, but he might now. Or he might know someone who knows.

Thanks for letting me tag along. It was a fun day.


Keith & Madison on Cream Puff


Sean at the saddle after descending Hines

Uncle Rico wrote: ↑

tekewin wrote: ↑I sent an email this morning to Pinetar, the dude who left the Creampuff register in 1999, asking about the origin of the name. I don't expect a 22 year old email address to still be in use, but it was worth a shot.

I don't know if bardley still visits this site, but he might now. Or he might know someone who knows.

i thought it might be a case of occam's razor. this was verified by legendary hiker kim c.

as you found, the register is contained in a 'cream puffs' container.

Well, there you have it. David Stillman's speculation may be correct. 2 guys climbed this peak with a bag a weed and a container of Cream Puffs. And the rest is Los Padres history.