The Deadly PL&P Trail

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Mon Mar 13, 2023 11:16 am

I took this footage about a year ago, the second time I've crossed it. This trail (what's left of it) was built in 1911, so it's even older than the Wetwater Trail in the Narrows. The section I crossed was chiseled out with jackhammers. The Pacific Light & Power trail ran all the way from Camp Bonita to Prairie Fork. The trail was completed but the electric plant and dam it was built to service were never completed. The Forks Dam would have been the largest in the world, but Henry Roberts and other miners sued and shut them down after two attempts. If you know where this is, don't try this. It's at least 150 down if you fall.

Post by **Sean** » Mon Mar 13, 2023 2:54 pm

That looks amazing. Was the sign at some sort of junction or do you think it was hauled to that spot?

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Mon Mar 13, 2023 3:00 pm

I think that was the original location, just a mileage sign put up by the forest service. Supposedly when the trail was in good shape you could rent mules from Follows Camp and ride across it safely.

David R · Post by **David R** » Tue Mar 14, 2023 10:21 am

I believe Dima found the same sign a while ago and had asked about the trail.

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Tue Mar 14, 2023 10:34 am

I had a feeling somebody had found it since I dug it out of the brush.
It was in a slightly different location and the sign posts were kinda wacky. I doubt that many people have seen that.

JakubRZ · Post by **JakubRZ** » Tue Mar 14, 2023 1:18 pm

I noticed some time ago your secretmines site is down?

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Tue Mar 14, 2023 1:37 pm

Yeah, I got rid of that site and started doing YouTube videos.

Post by **tekewin** » Tue Mar 14, 2023 5:14 pm

Nice exposure! The crux was obvious. Glad you didn't fall. Were those deer or sheep bones?

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Tue Mar 14, 2023 5:46 pm

Those were sheep bones. They've been up in that same area for years, probably still there. The first time I crossed that was easy, but the second time storms had washed a lot of dirt down on the trail. One part has a 50 degree slope (scary).

Post by **tekewin** » Tue Mar 14, 2023 6:48 pm

CrazyHermit wrote: Those were sheep bones. They've been up in that same area for years, probably still there. The first time I crossed that was easy, but the second time storms had washed a lot of dirt down on the trail. One part has a 50 degree slope (scary).

Yeah, the storms are accelerating the erosion. Thanks for the report.

Post by **Uncle Rico** » Tue Mar 14, 2023 8:15 pm

As one of my old friends might say, "Gnar!"

Gene · Post by **Gene** » Wed Mar 15, 2023 12:25 pm

Another epic adventure!

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Wed Mar 15, 2023 12:33 pm

LOL, thanks. Never again though. Makes me lean to the right every time I watch it.

Gene · Post by **Gene** » Wed Mar 15, 2023 2:04 pm

CrazyHermit wrote: LOL, thanks. Never again though. Makes me lean to the right every time I watch it.

Exactly!

Post by **Taco** » Wed Mar 15, 2023 10:25 pm

Thats super cool. Ive been enjoying your videos lately. I think ive hiked on part of that trail just below airplane flat a long time ago and thought it was scary.

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 4:14 am

Thanks. It seems to be getting worse every year with all the new dirt piling up. When it was flat they used to ride mules over it.

Post by **Sean** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 10:53 am

CrazyHermit wrote: Thanks. It seems to be getting worse every year with all the new dirt piling up. When it was flat they used to ride mules over it.

Is there any point to restoring it, and how much could be fixed up without installing hardware?

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 10:59 am

It doesn't go anywhere, so I'd say no reason to restore it. Could be done though with some shovels. The rock base is still sound.

Post by **Sean** » Thu Mar 16, 2023 11:48 am

CrazyHermit wrote: It doesn't go anywhere, so I'd say no reason to restore it. Could be done though with some shovels. The rock base is still sound.

Yeah, I have better tools for removing the scree but it doesn't sound like a good use of time and energy.

walker · Post by **walker** » Tue Apr 04, 2023 9:01 am

Thank you for this! Wonderful video production as usual and nice sound mix! In addition to the suspenseful music, the sound of crunching twigs and pebbles sliding as you step across some particularly delicate spots just heightens the experience.

The trail seems like a pretty major investment of labor to just let wither and erode, but maybe the roads/trails in the canyon bottom weren't so good when it was built? Once the road reached further up, it must have become just another "obsolete" trail.

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Tue Apr 04, 2023 10:09 am

That trail was originally supposed to go all the way to the Forks Dam, which would have been the largest in the world, but it was never completed. There was an entire construction city built near the merge of the three forks above the narrows. Also believe it or not there was a railroad that went up the east fork to bring construction equipment in, but of course that washed away. If you look in the grass near Heaton Flat you can still find pieces of heavy gauge rail from the railroad track. There was also a second trail that started in Susanna Canyon and went to the same place. I've been up part of that one, it's in much better shape.

walker · Post by **walker** » Tue Apr 04, 2023 10:49 am

I'd never heard of that Forks Dam project. It's kind of crazy the number of major infrastructure projects that were foiled by this canyon! Forks Dam, Bridge to Nowhere, Schoemaker Road, not to mention all of the mining history carved out of the canyon walls. I guess in flush times, optimism fuels these kinds of efforts until the accelerated pace of geology and weather in the range puts things into perspective. Thanks!

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Tue Apr 04, 2023 11:09 am

The San Gabriel Mountains are harsh. The Mt. Lowe Railway was completely wiped out by fires, flood and wind. Nothing survives for long in those canyons.

Nate U · Post by **Nate U** » Sat Apr 08, 2023 2:45 pm

Most mountain ranges if you build a road 110 years ago chances are you can hike along it now without a care in the world. Not the San Gabriels - a WHOLE lot of erosion can and will happen in 110 years. These mountains are crumbling, unstable beasts of shattered basement rock. Gnarly route!