Author Archives: Alex G

BLACK STAR CANYON INDIAN VILLAGE

26 Sunday Apr 2015

Posted by in Distance hikes, Outdoors, Strenuous Hikes

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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.

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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

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LOWER DARWIN FALLS – DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

26 Sunday Apr 2015

Posted by in Easy Hikes, Outdoors, Waterfalls

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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

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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.

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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. 

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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!

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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!

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Trabuco Canyon Trail

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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

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BLUE RIDGE TRAIL

31 Saturday May 2014

Posted by in Moderate Hikes, Outdoors, Strenuous Hikes

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Pine Mountain (left) and Mt Baldy(rt)

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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.

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View of Mojave Desert

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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.

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BRISTLECONE TRAIL – MT CHARLESTON

28 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by in Moderate Hikes, Outdoors

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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.

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  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.

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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.

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Upper Bristlecone Trailhead

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Quaking Aspen

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

Click for Google maps to trailhead

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Mt. Baldy- Ski Hut-Devils Backbone Loop

22 Tuesday Oct 2013

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

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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.

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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.

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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!

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Devils Backbone viewed fromnthe Summit

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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

The Wally Waldron Tree

31 Friday May 2013

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

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The Wally Waldron tree is  one of the oldest trees in the San Gabriel Mountains  estimated to be older than 1,500 years.
  It is named after Wally Waldron who was a member of the executive board of the LA area council of the Boy Scouts. 
  The tree is at the junction with the PCT and the trail that leads up to the summit of Mt. Baden Powell.

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The Wally Waldron Tree viewed from the PCT