Blue Ridge Trail to Pacific Crest Trail to Guffy Campground to Wright Mountain, 15 Miles RT, October 22, 2017

This weekend we decided to hike up the Blue Ridge Trail in Wrightwood and then follow along the PCT heading towards Guffy Campground to see how far we’d get.  My only real plan was that I wanted to see some Fall color, and the Blue Ridge Trail was the place to see it!  The black oaks within the first mile of the trip were peaking and I spent the first half hour of the trip taking photos and admiring the scenery.  It was a lovely stretch of trail, and when we reached Blue Ridge Campground, we headed east along the Pacific Crest Trail.  I didn’t really have a specific destination in mind, but I did at least want to make it to Guffy.  We followed along the PCT which dropped us onto the Blue Ridge Truck trail for a quick moment and around a reservoir.  For the rest of the hike, this section of the PCT was mostly under the shade of fragrant pines.  There was an exposed area just before we reached Guffy that opened up to great views in all directions of the surrounding area.  From here we could see the towering Pine Mountain and the steep wash of Wright Mountain.  With Wright Mountain being so close in our view, we decided to carry on to the junction with the Acorn Trail.  We crossed the border between the San Bernardino National Forest and Angeles National Forest and in just a hop skip and a jump, we were at the junction.  Here we stopped to chat with some hikers who were headed up the North Backbone trail to Pine Mountain.  Talking to them was so inspiring.  I wish I had it in me to climb something that steep and narrow...  maybe some day.  At this point we weren’t quite ready to turn back, so we continued on to Wright Mountain.  We walked along the Blue Ridge Truck trail for a bit, then decided to go back and head up to the summit.  The last time we climbed Wright Mountain, we were unable to find the official summit marker.  This time, I was determined to find it.  There is no established trail to the peak so just as last time, we had to bushwhack our way through.  I followed my instincts and headed in a different direction this time into a grove of pine trees.  With eyes peeled, we were still not finding the marker.  We almost turned back considering this to be a “trail fail”, when I pulled out my GPS just to see our coordinates on the topo map.  I’m glad I did because it was showing we were only a few yards away from the official peak.  That pile of rocks had to be there!  I looked around and saw what appeared to once have been an old road and I’d remembered reading something online that was very dated that said to “follow the jeep road” to the summit.  Last time I assumed the jeep road was the Blue Ridge Truck trail which does NOT lead to the summit.  However, the road we found was clearly no longer in use, so I assumed it had to be the way.  Sure enough we spotted the rusty old marker and just a few feet away was the carin.  Success!  After patting ourselves on the back, we sat on a log and had some lunch.  Not a single person in sight.  My favorite kind of hike!  After lunch, we headed back the way we came and arrived back down at the trailhead in Big Pines around 2:45 pm.  It was a 15 mile day, respectively.  We headed on over to the Grizzly Cafe for a well earned Grizzly Burger and a hot cup of coffee!

Starting the hike.  The first mile of the Blue Ridge Trail is full of color.  It took us forever to go just one mile because I couldn't stop taking photos!

Starting the hike.  The first mile of the Blue Ridge Trail is full of color.  It took us forever to go just one mile because I couldn't stop taking photos!

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Mile High Ski Resort next to Blue Ridge Campground.

Mile High Ski Resort next to Blue Ridge Campground.

Following the PCT east towards Guffy Campground.

Following the PCT east towards Guffy Campground.

You're over 8,000 feet walking along blue ridge and the views are great.

You're over 8,000 feet walking along blue ridge and the views are great.

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Looking over at Mount Baden-Powell.

Looking over at Mount Baden-Powell.

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Just before Guffy the trail becomes exposed and you can see Wright Mountain to the left and the great Pine Mountain to the right.

Just before Guffy the trail becomes exposed and you can see Wright Mountain to the left and the great Pine Mountain to the right.

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It was a really clear day.  We could see pretty far out.

It was a really clear day.  We could see pretty far out.

At Guffy Campground.

At Guffy Campground.

We crossed over into the San Bernardino National Forest.

We crossed over into the San Bernardino National Forest.

The other side of the sign.

The other side of the sign.

Reaching the junction with the Acorn Trail.  Acorn is a really nice hike as well.  More difficult then Blue Ridge, but very enjoyable.

Reaching the junction with the Acorn Trail.  Acorn is a really nice hike as well.  More difficult then Blue Ridge, but very enjoyable.

Found the summit marker for Wright Mountain!

Found the summit marker for Wright Mountain!

Cairn.

Cairn.

On the summit of Wright Mountain.  No wonder it's hard to find.  It's full of trees!  :D

On the summit of Wright Mountain.  No wonder it's hard to find.  It's full of trees!  :D

We took a break here and had some lunch.

We took a break here and had some lunch.

After the climb back down.

After the climb back down.

Looking at Pine Mountain.

Looking at Pine Mountain.

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Almost back.

Almost back.

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The end!  Great Fall day!

The end!  Great Fall day!