Hiking to the peak of Mount San Jacinto via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway was an adventure!  We drove from Pasadena to Valley Station and arrived just before 6:30 am.  The ticket counter doesn’t actually open until 7:30, but we wanted to make sure we got our tickets for the 8 am tram up to Mountain Station where we would begin our 11.5 mile hike.  Mount San Jacinto is the second highest peak in Southern California standing at a towering 10,834’ above sea level.  The tram takes you up from the Sonoran desert to the alpine zone so you’re already starting your hike at 8,516’.  The tram was an adventure unto itself.  It seemed more like we were at Disneyland then about to summit a mountain.  It’s a pretty awesome experience even if you aren’t hiking.  At Mountain Station there are shops, restaurants and other activities, but we made a bee-line for the back stairs and ran out the door to get our hiking permits at the Long Valley Ranger Station.  Once that was out of the way we were off into the wilderness.  The first section of trail winds through a beautiful, shaded forest.  The trail is graded fairly easy here and the pine trees and boulder formations are stunning.  Soon we reached Round Valley where there are campgrounds, primitive bathrooms and a water source.  There’s also a beautiful meadow just beyond the great pines.  After passing through the campground, the trail began to steepen.  After some moderate climbing, we arrived at Wellman’s Divide, a ridge with nice views of the San Jacinto Wilderness.  We were now at at 9,700’.  We took a little break here to refuel with a snack and chatted with two solo hikers.  One of them was a professor at Art Center and the other was James, who was 75 years old!  I asked James how many times he’d summited this mountain and he said after the 15th time he’d stop counting!  Amazing!  After the break, we parted ways and began the next segment of trail up to the peak.  From here we climbed upward on what seemed to be an endless switchback.  The altitude was slowing me down considerably, and I could feel my heart beating fast.  It was a tough climb!  One thing I’ve learned from speaking to experienced hikers is to take things slow and steady.  Even though I was probably moving at a glacial pace, I pushed on.  We arrived at the next junction that pointed the way to the peak.  Just .3 miles left to go.  Soon we passed by the emergency shelter just below the peak.  Almost there!  Now the trail headed us straight into an enormous pile of boulders that would take us to the top.  From here on out we were on our own to figure out a way up.  I started climbing, but I wasn’t really sure which was the best route, so I stopped to watch where other hikers were going.  Then I saw James heading up the rocks behind me.  James knew exactly where to go.  He pointed me in the right direction and helped guide me up the boulders.  With my husband following right behind me, I could see the summit sign!  In just a short scramble, we were at the top!  Mission accomplished!  We snapped our summit selfies and found a spot on the rocks to have some well earned lunch.  We met up with the professor once again and of course my new mountaineer friend, James.  It was a great feeling to be up on that mountain, but we knew we had to start heading back down soon to allow enough time to return before sunset.  We bid farewell to our friends and all agreed that perhaps we’d meet again some day on some other mountain.  On the way down, we took our time and I was able to get some great photos.  We arrived back at the Long Valley Ranger Station at about 3:30 pm.  We headed up the steep ramp to the tram station which now seemed harder then the climb to the peak! Both of us were tired and a bit sore, but it was an incredible experience!

This past weekend we headed out to Joshua Tree National Park, one of my favorite places to visit.  We arrived early Saturday morning and started the day off with a climb up Ryan Mountain.  This hike is a 3 mile out and back with about 1,000’ elevation gain/loss.  The summit has some really great 360 views of the park.  We could see all the way out to San Jacinto and San Gorgonio from the peak.  It was a very enjoyable hike with a little bit of a workout too.  When we got down from the mountain, the parking lot was full of people.  I knew it was going to be a busy weekend, so to avoid the crowds we drove to Juniper Flats which is the halfway point of the California Riding & Hiking Trail.  The California Riding & Hiking Trail is a 35 mile backcountry trek that traverses the park.  We hopped on and headed in about 3 miles.  If you want to experience the rugged desert and have the trail to yourself this is the way to go.  The only sound I heard besides our own footsteps were the birds and maybe a plane overhead.  As much as we both wanted to keep going, it was time to turn around and head back to our accommodations at the Campbell House, my favorite bed & breakfast in the desert.  We arrived just in time for afternoon coffee and sweets which is served daily in the great room.  Then, after a nice relaxing shower we headed off to the 29 Palms Inn for dinner.  The 29 Palms Inn never disappoints with delicious food and great cocktails.  The rest of the evening we spent enjoying our beautiful room.  The next day I slept in until 6:30 am.  That’s actually pretty late for me, and I admit it was hard not to wake my husband up at 4:30 am and drag him out of bed and off into the desert.  But I resisted the urge and enjoyed the warm, cozy bed until breakfast was served.  After breakfast we checked out and drove up the 62 to Canyon Road which dead ends at the trailhead for the Fortynine Palms Oasis.  The trail climbed up to a ridge and then down into a canyon where we ended up at a magical, green oasis bustling with wildlife.  It was a beautiful thing to see; a wonder of nature.  After the hike, we headed back home.  It’s always so hard to leave the desert.  We had a fantastic weekend.  
 

GPS stats:
Ryan Mtn:  2.9 miles, 5,457’, (1,079’ +/-) 
CA Riding & Hiking Trail + spur trail to Ryan Ranch:  5.7 miles, (312’ +/-)
Fortynine Palms Oasis:  3.2 miles (768’ +/-)
 

Sunday was fun day so we paid a visit to Vasquez Rocks, a favorite film location for movie makers and photographers alike. If these rocks look familiar to you, you’ve probably seen them in Blazing Saddles, the Flintstones movie or most notably Star Trek… Remember that horrible (or awesome depending on how you look at it) fight between Captain Kirk and Gorn? We hiked the 4.6 mile loop trail that takes you around the park, past some interesting Native American petroglyphs and onto a section of the PCT. I recommend saving this one one for the cooler months, as the trail is mostly exposed with little to no shade. After our trek around the outskirts of the park, we headed over to the the famous jagged rocks and did a little climbing. You can get some really impressive looking photos even though they’re not really that difficult. It was a fun day.

The time had come to hike Mount Baldy.  With the experience we gained over the summer, I knew we were ready, and I wanted to hike this mountain before winter covered it in snow.  We set out early Friday morning and arrived at Manker Flat around 6:30 am.  Around 6:50 am we suited up and started our trek up Falls Road to the Baldy Bowl Trail.  Right away the trail started to climb at a steep grade, but the path was well worn and quite pleasant despite the 1,000’ of elevation we were gaining per mile.  As we got closer to the San Antonio ski hut, about 2.6 miles up, I was really starting to feel the burn.  Still, this was not so bad.  I love a good physical challenge!  We stopped at the ski hut for a snack and took a look inside.  We met a group of hikers there and one of them named Cherry graciously offered to take our photos.  After the short break, we continued on.  The trail dropped us down into the rocky, Baldy Bowl.  Still no trouble here.  It was fairly well marked and mostly easy to follow.  Climbing up out of the bowl, the path led us into a forest of lodgepole pines.  Now the high elevation was starting to kick in.  We were moving slower, but still making good time.  After the forested section, we arrived at the saddle.  The final ascent to the summit lie just ahead, and the hardcore work was about to begin only I had no idea what was in store.  We began our climb up the last difficult mile.  As we got higher up in altitude, 45 mile per hour winds whipped unmercifully around the mountain.  The gales were so strong we had to stop and brace ourselves from being pushed off balance.  I had never experienced anything like that before, and I didn’t know if it was safe to keep going.  The trail here also became extremely steep and rocky.  Some sections were loose and slippery making it difficult to climb.  I thought we may have gone off route, and the wind gusts were not making matters any easier.  Unsure if I wanted to continue, I hiked back down a few feet and leaned against a rock to try and stable myself.  I contemplated whether or not I wanted to go on.  In all honesty I was ready to call it a day and turn back.  I was heartbroken and wanted to cry, but I knew the mountain wasn’t going anywhere and it’s always better to be safe then sorry.  Just at that moment, the same group of hikers that we met at the ski hut appeared.  They were coming up the trail below us.  Had it not been for them, I would not have kept going.  I asked if we could follow them up, and they welcomingly said “The more the merrier.”  Now I knew we were on the right track.  My fears diminished.  We were going to be fine.  It was comforting being in a group of people, especially since I learned that they had climbed this mountain before.  I listened to them talking as I focused on the terrain.  Two of the men in the group were seasoned hikers having summited Mount Whitney and other such great beasts.  Listening to their conversations helped me relax.  They didn’t seem too phased by the winds either, so I knew it was going to be all right.  Slow and steady we climbed.  That last half mile was a challenge!  Wow!  Finally the views of gray rock in front of me turned into the bluest sky I had ever seen.  The summit appeared at 10,064’!  We did it!!  I was ecstatic!  We were on top of the great Mount Baldy looking down at a sea of clouds.  The winds showing no mercy of letting up did not allow us to spend as much time at the top as I would have liked.  But we took in the views, snapped our photos then prepared for the journey down on the Devil’s Backbone.  The Devil’s Backbone is a ridge top trail with spin-chilling views.  The terrain varies from steep drop offs on both sides to cliff-hugging sections with no room for error.  Definitely not a trail for those with a fear of heights, and I had been terrified of it and and obsessing over it for months.  Today I was ready to face my fear.  I knew it was going to be a better option then going back down the steep Baldy Bowl trail we came up.  Once on the infamous Devil’s Backbone with its precipitous drop offs, I was loving it!  The sections I’d been so frightened of were incredible!  I will admit the narrow parts that hugged the mountain were a bit unnerving.  On those sections, I kept focused on moving forward and pushing through without overthinking.  I kept up with the group and didn’t psych myself out.  The winds were still gusting strong as we descended the great mountain.  The views were absolutely breathtaking.  It was quite an adventure!  At approximately 1:30 pm we arrived at Baldy Notch safe and sound!  I felt accomplished!  Lucky for us, the ski lift was running and since the rest of the hike would be going down on a fire road, we saw no shame in hitching a ride.  Both of us were exhausted, but on a major “mountain high” from the day.  Once back to our cars, we bid farewell to our new friends and I thanked them profusely for helping us through.  Mountain conquered, fears faced and new friends made.  It was an incredible journey!

Today was a nice, easy day hiking up to the peak of Waterman Mountain, about 7 miles round trip. The Waterman Mountain trail is a beautiful trail with fragrant Jeffrey Pines and some really great rock formations.  We did a loop that took us back on a fire road and through the Waterman Mountain Ski Resort which added a little extra mileage to the day.  The trail to the peak is very nicely graded.  I could hardly tell I was gaining elevation as I was hiking.  There is one steep push up to the top, but that’s over in the blink of an eye and you arrive at the summit.  The mountaintop is wide and heavily forested, so you won’t get the 360 degree views like you do on other bare topped mountains, but I think all the fun rock climbing opportunities you get at the top kind of make up for that.  We spent a good while up there just climbing around.  On the way back, we took the fire road which lead us through the Waterman Mountain Ski Resort.  We checked out the snow plows eagerly awaiting the first snowfall, chatted with the caretaker and asked him some questions about the resort, then headed back down.  I think if I did this hike again I’d go back on the Waterman Mountain trail that we came up on.  While I did enjoy visiting the ski area, fire roads are not my favorite and I’d rather be hiking on a trail as opposed to a wide road.  That said, it was a beautiful day and a lovely hike.  We drove back on the 2 through the Angeles Forest and had a late breakfast at DISH in La Canada.  I recommend the seasonal pumpkin pancakes, a DISH bloody mary and of course, a hot cup of coffee!  My favorite!

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!

I’d been waiting for cooler weather to see the geological oddity known as The Devil’s Punchbowl. I’ve seen this otherworldly looking spectacle many times from high up in the mountains, but this was the first time we got down in it to explore. This hike was super fun! We first trekked out to the Devil’s Chair on a beautiful trail that takes you through the transition zone from desert to subalpine.  You’re surrounded by manzanita, pinon pines, mountain mahogany and basin sagebrush. The final descent to the chair leads you out on a rocky ledge that overlooks the punchbowl. It’s fenced in so you don’t have to worry about falling off which is a definite plus. After enjoying the views from the chair, we hiked back to do the punchbowl loop which dips you down right into it so you can explore all the weird rock formations. It was a 9.2 mile day and perfect weather. Afterwards, we stopped at the Nature Center and checked out some of the snakes, insects, and got to see a scorpion glow in the dark.  They even have two resident owls, Squint and Ruth.  After the hike, we stopped for BBQ and funnel cake at Charlie Brown Farms, a unique roadside attraction and gift shop where you can get anything from Deep Fried Snickers Bars to mouth-watering BBQ (I had the pulled pork with cowboy beans) and all kinds of vintage candy, toys, knick knacks, etc.  Definitely worth checking out if you’re ever up in Pearblossom.  We had a blast!  It was a terrific day!

Started our hike today on the Bill Cull Trail to Monrovia Canyon Falls.  We got there before dawn, so we parked on Canyon Blvd. and walked to the Bill Cull Trailhead.  The gate to the parking doesn’t open up until 7am on weekends, but the pedestrian gate is open to early hikers.  We needed to be back early today, so this was the perfect hike.  It is also our hike number 18 of the 52 Hike Challenge .

The Bill Cull trail eventually meets up with the Nature Trail and from here it is a short trek through a lush riparian canyon.  The trail meanders easily through towering old oak trees, maple, sycamore and elder.  It’s very pretty and smooth.  A great place to bring your pup.  

When we reached the falls, nobody else was there yet so we were able to have them all to ourselves for a little while before more hikers started to arrive.

This is a great hike if you’re pressed for time but still want to get out there and take in some nature.

The push to the summit of Mount Williamson is a rugged climb up a slippery slope. The payoff is the 360 degree views on the barren peak where you can see everything from the mojave desert to the San Andreas rift zone. It was a chilly morning.  My car’s external temp gauge was reading 31 degrees as we drove through Angeles to get to the trailhead at Islip Saddle. The summit was cold and breezy but refreshing. It was fun to bundle up and hike! Great morning to climb a mountain!  Here are some photos I took along the journey.

Throop Peak was a short but sweet 4.5 mile RT trek to the summit and back with the option to hop on the PCT and summit Mount Hawkins as well.  Throop Peak is named after Amos G. Throop who was the founder of Throop University which is now Cal Tech.  Funny things you learn at 9,137 feet!  The trail starts off at Dawson Saddle which is the highest point on the Angeles Crest Highway at an elevation of 7,901’.  There are actually two trailheads here -- the old route and the newer more “official” route which was built by the boy scouts in 1982.  The newer route is located just east of the Dawson Saddle parking area where Angeles Crest makes a southward turn.  We came in from the Wrightwood side since they finally opened up Angeles Crest to make it passable since it had been closed since June because of a sinkhole.  The first steep, bare switchback of the Dawson Saddle trail is on the south side of Angeles Crest.  You can’t miss it.  Once you make your way up these first few switchbacks, you’ll quickly be covered in the shade of Jeffery, sugar and lodgepole pines pretty much the whole route.  We walked across a beautiful ridge and from there we could see views the Devil’s Punchbowl as well as the Antelope Valley.  At about the 2 mile mark, you’ll see a sign for the PCT.  Head to the right going away from Mt. Baden-Powell.  Shortly after this, you’ll see a fork in the trail.  Stick to the right.  This is a use trail that’s going to take you to the summit of Throop Peak.  When we hiked it was marked with a cairn.   The trail will fade in and out and be covered in brush at some places, but it wasn’t hard to follow.  The last .3 miles to the summit are steep!  Luckily, you will arrive in no time - it goes fast.  When we arrived at the top, we chatted a bit with an older gent who looked like he was in his 60s or 70s.  He walked up that trail like it was nothing!  Then it was just the two of us alone to enjoy the views.  We took our photos and selfies and soaked up the scenery for a bit.  From here you can see the ridge going to Mount Hawkins.  We thought about heading down the southwest side and hopping on the PCT to catch that one as well, but our actual goal today (which I haven’t mentioned yet) was to make the breakfast cut off time at the Grizzly Cafe in Wrightwood.  We arrived at the peak of Throop just before 9 am which was a bit later then I would have liked.  (Being a photographer, I spend a lot of time on the trail taking photos and that tends to slow things down quite a bit.)  So we decided to head back down and try to make it in time for pancakes!  Mission accomplished!  We walked into Grizzly Cafe at 10:45.  Of course later we found out the breakfast cut off was actually 11:30 am and we would have had more time, but that was okay.  We had great morning on the mountain topped off with pancakes and lots of coffee!