Author Archives: Alex G

MOBIUS ARCH – ALABAMA HILLS

27 Monday Apr 2015

Posted by in Cave, Easy Hikes, Outdoors

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

image

The gateway into Alabama Hills

Mobius Arch is one of many natural  arches in the Alabama Hills. It is the most popular  though and gets many visitors on a daily basis. The drive up Whitney Portal Road is a beautiful  one. Drive slow and enjoy the views.

image

View of trailhead and the Sierra Nevadas

After turning down movie road you drive down a couple miles and reach the Mobius Arch Trailhead.

image

One of many natural arches

The area is home to 100’s of natural arches so keep your eyes open and you might spot a few.

image

Sierra Nevada Mountains

Mobius Arch is about halfway up the trail. Its a loop hike so start in either direction  and you will run into it. Actually  going counter clockwise  will probably  get you there a bit sooner.

image

Mt Whitney

Here we have Mt. Whitney ( 14,508 ft), the highest point in the lower 48, framed by the Mobius arch.

CLICK FOR DIRECTIONS  TO TRAILHEAD

● Trail difficulty – easy
● Trail type – loop
● 1.5 miles roundtrip
● Zero shade – bring sun protection
● Bring water – 2 liters
● Mountain views
● Parking is free

BLACK STAR CANYON INDIAN VILLAGE

26 Sunday Apr 2015

Posted by in Distance hikes, Outdoors, Strenuous Hikes

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Black Star Canyon Indian village is located a little more than 5 miles from the trailhead on Black Star Canyon Rd. The trail starts off moderate for the first 2 miles as you make your way up the canyon. The last 3+ miles up to the Indian site are the strenuous  part. The trail climbs up the canyon walls as it takes you into the Cleveland  National Forest. The site is easy to miss since it’s not marked. Just look for the grove of Oak Trees a little after the 5 mile mark. It is on the right hand side.

The canyon is full of history! Including the story about the Indian massacre.  You can read about is on the Wikipedia page.

image

image

image

image

image

Click for Directions to trailhead

● Trail difficulty – strenuous
● 10.5 miles roundtrip
● Trail type – out and back
●  mostly exposed – bring sun protection
● Bring minimum  2 liters of water
● California  historic  site 217

LOWER DARWIN FALLS – DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

26 Sunday Apr 2015

Posted by in Easy Hikes, Outdoors, Waterfalls

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

image

Darwin Falls Rd.

This beautiful,and I do mean beautiful  hike starts after a bumpy 2 mile drive on Darwin Falls Rd. The marked trailhead holds about 10 cars.

image

Darwin Wash

From the parking lot continue past the information board and up the wash. The dry creek bed is littered with debris  from past flash floods so check the weather before  entering the wash. 

image

Entering the oasis

About three quarters of a mile up the wash the green begins to appear and the riparian habitat  reveals itself. The canyon narrows and soon enough you’ll  find yourself crossing creeks and jumping boulders.

image

Riparian habitat in the desert, Darwin Creek

Darwin Creek reveals more of  itself the closer you get and the sound of the flowing creek becomes louder

image

Darwin Creek

Small cascades lure you closer and gushing sounds of lower Darwin Falls motivate you to pick up the pace. After some creek crossings and a little bush whacking, you arrive to one of, if not  the best features in Death Valley National  Park.

image

Beautiful Lower Darwin Falls

Beautiful  Lower Darwin Falls. Upper falls and a beautiful fern gully sit above the lower falls. To access it you have to climb up on the left of the cliff face. Use extreme  caution if you decide to do this. I saw a few people  heading up but didn’t go because  I had my daughter with me.

● Trail difficulty – Easy
● 2 Mile out and back
● 20 ft waterfall
● Riparian habitat
● Bird watching
● Wildlife viewing

Click for directions
Darwin Falls Trailhead

Death at Hermit Falls

08 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by in News

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

http://abc7.com/video/embed/?pid=641936

ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST (KABC) — A man has died and two others suffered minor injuries after a diving accident at Hermit Falls in Angeles National Forest Wednesday.

Authorities received a call about a diving accident at about 8:45 a.m. Jesse Yuth, 18, of Signal Hill was declared dead at the scene.

Two other victims were airlifted to a local hospital for hypothermia.

Detectives say Yuth jumped 50 feet from the top of the fall into the pond. Two teens, who were with the adult, jumped in the pond in an attempt to rescue him.

Frequent visitors to the area said that while Hermit Falls is a popular place to hike to, it’s also very dangerous.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident.

LOS PINOS PEAK VIA TRABUCO CANYON

19 Friday Dec 2014

Posted by in Distance hikes, Outdoors, Peaks, Strenuous Hikes

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

This is a 13 mile hike that starts in beautiful Trabuco Canyon. The trailhead for this hike is located at the end of Trabuco Creek Rd. This is a bumpy ride on an  unmaintained dirt road. So a 4×4 or a high clearance vehicle is recommended.

image

The first 2 miles on the West Horsethief Trail are mostly shaded and follow the creek.

image

View of Trabuco Canyon

After the first 2 miles you start to climb up the walls of Trabuco Canyon and the views begin to open up. This steep section is the toughest part of the hike. After 2 miles you reach the Main Divide Rd.

image

The Main Divide  Rd. offers some great views into Riverside County. Lake Elsinore is pictured above also visible from the road are San Jacinto and the San Bernardino Mountains. 

image

Los Pinos Ridge Trail

After 3 miles on the Rd you reach the Los Pinos Trail. This ridge line is one of my favorites in the range. The views from the ridge are amazing!

image

View from Los Pinos Peak

Once on the peak, enjoy the marvelous views an retrace your steps.  Go back to the main divide/los pinos junction and make a left to take the Trabuco Canyon trail. 

This shady downhill trail is my favorite!  It’s a bit rocky but the views are so worth it!

image

Trabuco Canyon Trail

image

This Trai will take you back to West Horsethief trail. Then return the way you came. This lollipop loop is one of the best in So Cal!

Trail route:
West Horsethief to Main Divide, Main Divide to Los Pinos Trail, Los Pinos  back down to Main Divide/Trabuco Canyon/ Los Pinos trail Junction,  Take Trabuco Canyon trail back to West Horsethief and back to parking lot.

● 13 mile Lollipop Loop
● 4th highest peak in the range.
● Beautiful views
● Dog friendly trail
● approx 2,500 ft of gain
● High clearance vehicle recommended

CLICK BELOW FOR GOOGLE MAPS LINK TO PARKING AREA
West Horsethief/Trabuco Canyon Trailhead

Follow me on Instagram for more outdoor photos and info on hikes.

BLUE RIDGE TRAIL

31 Saturday May 2014

Posted by in Moderate Hikes, Outdoors, Strenuous Hikes

≈ 1 Comment

Blue Ridge trail is a 2 mile out and back trail in the unincorporated town of Big Pines in California.  It borders the city of Wrightwood, Ca.

image

The trailhead is just east of the parking area next to the restrooms.  Look for the trail sign and start you trek through a pine and oak covered trail.

image

The trail takes you up to The blue Ridge Campground.  You can turn around here for a 4 mile hike or you can continue past the Campground and to the left and pick up the PCT. From here you you continue about 2.5 – 3  miles and you will end up on the exposed part of Blue Ridge and be reward with excellent views.

image

Pine Mountain (left) and Mt Baldy(rt)

image

A happy hiker on the Blue Ridge

Once you hit Guffy Campground you can turn around and take the road back for a change of scenery back to the Blue Ridge Campground or you can go back via the PCT to the Blue Ridge CG. This will make it a 10 mile hike.

image

View of Mojave Desert

image

Mt Baden Powell viewed from Blue Ridge

● 4 -10 mile hike
● Beautiful Views
● Dog friendly
●Mostly shaded except on Road
   bring sunscreen and a hat.

Click here for directions to trailhead.

Follow me on Instagram for more outdoor photos and trail info.

BRISTLECONE TRAIL – MT CHARLESTON

28 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by in Moderate Hikes, Outdoors

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

image

The Sisters and Lee Canyon

The Bristlecone Trail is located at the end of Lee Canyon in the Mt Charleston area of the Spring Mountains in Southern Nevada. The trail is around 5 miles long and can be done as a loop (with less than mile section of road.) Making it closer to 6 miles.

image

  There are 2 trailheads Upper Bristlecone and Lower Bristlecone. The lower trail takes you up an old road and is pretty much exposed for 3 miles until you get to the Bonanza Trail Junction.  Continue on the Bristlecone trail for the remaining 2 mile hike downhill to the Upper Bristlecone Trailhead.

image

Quaking Aspen

The hike can be done in any direction.  If you are starting early I would suggest doing it from the lower section first to get the exposed part out of the way.

image

image

Upper Bristlecone Trailhead

image

Quaking Aspen

Bristlecone pines, Ponderosa pines and Quaking Aspen can be found along the trail.

Click for Google maps to trailhead

Follow me on Instagram for more outdoor photos and trail info.

Mt. Baldy- Ski Hut-Devils Backbone Loop

22 Tuesday Oct 2013

Posted by in Distance hikes, Outdoors, Peaks, Strenuous Hikes

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

image

Mt Baldy is the highest mountain in the Los Angeles area and  is a very popular hike amongst the hiking community. I’ve had the pleasure of summiting this mountain 6 times and the view is just as breathtaking as the first time.

image

Ski Hut from the trail

The Ski Hut Trail begins about .6 miles up Falls Rd passing San Antonio Falls. There used to be a sign marking the obscure trail but that has since be removed. So keep by our eyes open as this trail is easy to miss. It is on the left hand side.

The Ski Hut marks the halfway point to the summit. This is a great place to stop have a snack and if you’re lucky you might even spot some wildlife.

image

Deer grazing just below the Ski Hut

From here you will cross the Baldy Bowl, do a little boulder scrambling and then back into the pine forest to continue the ascend to the summit. 

Once at the summit if you look in a Southeastern direction you will the the Devils Backbone Trail. Views from this trail are amazing!

image

Devils Backbone viewed fromnthe Summit

image

image

Take this trail down to the Baldy Notch (Ski lifts) from there you can either take the ski lifts down (if they’re running) or take the road down which is directly behind the restaurant. The road will take you back down and pass up the waterfall and leave you back at your car.

Click here for directions to the parking lot

***BE SURE TO USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN HIKING ON THE DEVILS BACKBONE TRAIL. I DO NOT RECOMMEND HIKING THIS TRAIL AFTER SNOW FALL. PEOPLE HAVE DIED ON THIS TRAIL BEFORE ***

• 11.3 MILE LOOP
• HIKING POLES RECOMMENDED
• AMAZING VIEWS
• 3‚900 FT OF GAIN
• 7-9 HRS TO COMPLETE
• ADVENTURE PASS IS REQUIRED