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!
Near mile marker 7.10 on Angeles Forest Highway, I walked up a dirt road heading east. The dirt road continued for about 0.4 miles before reaching a use trail on the left. The use trail climbs the lower slope of Cole Point. It is a short but steep climb up the trail, which occasionally disappears along the way. However, the direction of "up" is pretty clear, so it is easy to stay on track despite the inconvenience of the occasional cross-country scrambling. The summit of Cole Point is reached in about 1.5 miles. On my visit, the summit had been recently bulldozed as part of a firebreak project in the San Gabriel Mountains.
On the summit of Cole Point
Although this is the main peak to visit on the hike, there are still two more within hiking distance. I took up the challenge and went on to get them both. They are visible from Cole Point to the east. I continued along new firebreaks toward them. The first up was Peak 5840. A very steep ascent was necessary along the no nonsense firebreak. A witness post marks the summit.
On the summit of Peak 5840.
The next peak over, Peak 5881, is the final peak on the hike. To get to it involves a long dip on the firebreak followed by a steep climb to the summit.
Approaching Peak 5881.
Despite being the high point on the hike, the freshly bulldozed summit seemed more like a construction site. Despite that, the area seemed far removed from people. Once again, I chose another remote and seclusive location (no regrets). It is not the most scenic of areas, but the fresh air certainly helps. On the way back, there is some climbing to get back up Cole Point, however, once there, it is downhill all the way back down to Angeles Forest Highway.
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