This blog will detail 1,000 video hikes in Southern California. By Southern California, I am drawing a line from San Luis Obispo to the Nevada Border. Anything south of that line will be declared "Southern California". In a way, it is a personal challenge to do so many hikes. Mainly, however, it is my way of showcasing how many hiking opportunities there really are right in our own geographic back yard. As a blog, it serves as a companion piece to my Youtube channel "Mike On The Trail". It is also a work in progress, as I don't actually have 1,000 edited videos completed. This will take effort for quite some time before it is declared done. Even then, there will still be more out there. Here's to hiking and all the positive effects it has had on my life...and possibly yours!
**Parking is outside Monte Cristo Campground, 10 miles north of the junction of Angeles Crest Highway and Angeles Forest Highway. Entering "Monte Cristo Campground" into Google Maps will also get you there.
In the areas around Monte Cristo Campground the forest is more bushy than filled with trees. This seems to be more of a transition zone between the pine forest and the nearby desert to the north. However, it is certainly with the Angeles National Forest boundary. On the day, I was hoping to do a grand loop of Monte Cristo Peak, Iron Mountain, and Rabbit Peak. However, I called an audible along the way, which made me alter my hiking plans a bit (something that happens every once in a while).
Picking up a use trail across Monte Cristo Peak.
From Monte Cristo Campground, I picked up FR 3N23 heading north. In the first 100 feet or so, a use trail leaves the road to the east and up a ridgeline. This leads to the top of Monte Cristo Peak (El. 4,275'). The ridge continues toward Iron Mountain. Before reaching it, the pathway connects with FR 4N18. A right turn here leads to a steep ridge route going up the side of Iron Mountain. While at this point, I looked to the west and saw a freshly bulldozed firebreak toward another peak, which was Peak 4546. I took the time to head out to it. Although I was able to claim another peak, this unplanned change to my hiking plan took Rabbit Peak off my hiking plan for the day. It is considered Iron Mountain #3 since it is the third highest of three peaks in the San Gabriel Range called "Iron Mountain".
Taking the bulldozed firebreak to Peak 4546.
Once back to the saddle below Iron Mountain, I sucked it up and headed up the steep firebreak. I took it slow, and the third summit of the day (Iron Mountain) was a well fought battle. More great views from the top. Once there, I was glad that I had already cut out Rabbit Peak for the day. I continued forward and reconnected with FR 4N18. It bent around Monte Cristo Peak and headed back to the campground. A great hike, especially on a cool day, since there is no shade out there.
From the end of Garvey Avenue in Covina Hills, The Schabarum Skyline Trail gets picked up.The trail passes through a nearby neighborhood via green belt easements before it climbs into the hills. Along the way, the trail overlooks the Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Mount San Antonio College. Once in the hills it rides the crest of a ridge and goes toward Buzzard Peak. A summit use trail quickly climbs to the top from the ridge. On my visit there was a folding chair and an American Flag marking the summit.
Early view of Buzzard Peak
On the way back on the same route, views make the hike quite enjoyable. Nice urban and canyon views punctuates the scenery. Rushing freeway activity offers a different viewing perspective than it does while driving it. The world seems in harmony when on the trail. While the trail returns to the side of the freeway, the rushing cars makes that stressful feeling return. Welcome back to the real world!
On the summit.
Summit benchmark. Marking the San Jose Hills high point.
Trailhead coordinates: 34.24980°N, -118.25331°W, or just enter "Mt.Lukens Trailhead" on Google Maps.
Hiking Map
Hiking Stats:
Summary
Mount Lukens is technically the highest point in the city of Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the towers on top serve radio and television stations. There are several different ways to get up and down the mountain. Over the years, I had climbed it 4 different ways. This particular route is also the longest of the four.
On The Redoubt.
From Deukmejian Wilderness Park, I went in a counterclockwise route up the Crescenta View Trail, which went up and over a peak called "The Redoubt" along the way. In about 2.5 miles with a 2,500' gain, the trail connects with Mount Lukens Road (FR 2N76). A left turn here goes toward the towers on the mountain top. Most of the days climbing was already in the bag at this point. The summit is reached in about a mile from the trail junction. Many towers and building sit on top. I walked through the summit area before reaching the highest point featuring a benchmark. Great city views sprawl below to the south.
Gazing across the vast expanse toward Mt Lukens.
From the summit, I continued heading westerly on Rim of the Valley Trail. I was hoping to pick up the Cooks Canyon Trail to form a nice efficient loop back to Deukmejian Wilderness Park, but I missed the turnoff. Instead of searching for it later, I simply continued into Haines Canyon by staying on Rim of the Canyon Trail (Haines Motorway). Although this was a mistake on my part, I saw it as creating a new and unexpected hiking route, so I pressed forward. This created what I call "The Wide Loop" of Mount Lukens. This also bumps up the difficulty rating a half point, suddenly making it a "Strenuous" rating.
Approaching the summit.
Haines Motorway eventually winds into Haines Canyon and arrives at the Haines Canyon Trailhead. From there, it entered the city, where I walked sidewalks back to where I parked (about 1.5 miles of awkward hiking in the city). As a recommendation, taking the Cooks Canyon Trail is the better option, so keep an eye out for it. It is at a sharp bend in the trail marked by a wooden post.
Driving Map Google Map *Parking for Copper Mountain is 1.2 miles north of Highway 62, about 5 miles west of the city of Twentynine Palms via Mantonya Rd. Trailhead coordinates: 34.15329°N, -116.17102°W
Hiking Map
Heading up the road.
Summary
While I was fired up to finally hit two LPC summits in Joshua Tree National Park, my plans changed rather quickly. The plan was to hike Mt Mel and Keys Peak on a single hike. I drove to the end of the road in the Indian Cove section of Joshua Tree National Park. I followed a boulder filled gully for almost a mile before the boulders became unpassable (without exposed climbing). Once faced with an impassible wall of boulders, I returned to Indian Cove and simply left the park. I realized that I needed to do better research instead of trying to wing it out in the desert. My attention then shifted to nearby Copper Mountain.
I had researched Copper Mountain the night before as a backup plan, so I knew where to go. I headed down the highway and along two dirt roads before reaching my parking area. From there, I continued on foot toward Copper Mountain. The 4WD road goes through a canyon before elevating to the towers on the high point. The hike is rather straightforward, but I really wasn't sure if I was going the right way until I turned a corner and saw the towers straight ahead.
Summit benchmark.
There is a twin summit with a benchmark and building on one and a similar type of structure on the other. I really enjoyed knocking this one down and really considered starting up a YouTube channel while doing this one. I had shot 16 other hiking video sets on previous weekends, but this hike inspired me to actually edit my collection of videos and to begin posting them on YouTube. I had too much fun on this hike to keep the experience all to myself. In a way, this was where it all began! I started editing videos and then started posting videos nearly every weekend. A channel was born!
No, this isn't the larger Mt Nebo found in Utah. This Mount Nebo hike is very short and mostly off trail. However, since the destination is obvious, the high point operates as your guide. After reaching the ridge on an old dirt road track, it was a cross-country scramble over volcanic rocks to the summit. To get to the top, I had to use my best judgement, which proved to be a fun ascent. The small peak had nice views and a nice summit windbreak. On the descent, I formed a loop by dropping down a gully while going in a straight line back to the parking area.
Cross-country scrambling.
Although this is a fun hike, it is not worth going out of your way just to hike it, It is best to pair this with another local hike in order to maximize the experience. In my case, I finished this one after completing Copper Mountain earlier in the day. If you have all day, you can even add a few more local hikes to get a more satisfying desert day hiking experience.
