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 "1,000 Hikes in So Cal". 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!
Showing posts with label San Gabriel Mountains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Gabriel Mountains. Show all posts
I had alreadycompleted Strawberry Peak at a previous time, which is the neighboring peak to Lawlor. The hike starts at the same trailhead, which is the Strawberry Peak Trail at Red Box Junction. Therefore the hike is the same for both outings up until Strawberry - Lawlor Saddle, but this time, I took a right and headed up the slope toward Mt Lawlor. The climb from the slope is more or less a Class 2 climb, where there are many boulders to climb over and around. The high point of the hike gets reached on the summit of Mt Lawlor.
Looking across the ridge toward Barley Flats.
From the summit, a steep use trail descends the slope back down to the Strawberry Peak Trail, however, I continued forward on the ridge, hoping to extend the hike to Barley Flats. At the time, I was not sure if a trail actually connected both summits, so it became a bit of a real time adventure. Some parts of the ridge were overgrown, but for the most part, a firebreak gave me an access route most of the way. Eventually, the ridge dropped to a dirt road which led me the rest of the way toward Barley Flats. I left the road to reach the summit, which has a water tank on it. To make it official, I took the attached staircase to reach the top.
The water tank on Barley Flats.
After then completing a double summit hike, the next task was to find a different way back to the trailhead. I had researched another route that goes parallel to the ridge, as well as parallel to Angeles Crest Highway. I took the dirt road south of Barley Flats until it turned into a single track and began the parallel route.
Heading up the steps.
Despite some overgrowth, I pressed on. The trail seems to get little use, but it was still visible all the way back down to the Strawberry Peak Trail. Once back on it, I gave a sigh of relief for being able to complete the task without having to retrace my steps back up the ridge. From there, I returned to Red Box to close out the experience.
Strawberry Peak sits along a high ridge featuring Josephine Peak and Mount Lawlor. Strawberry is the tallest and more impressive of the three. It also does resemble an upside down strawberry!
Getting a good view of Strawberry Peak.
The Strawberry Peak Trail extends along the lower slope of Mount Lawlor, which is rather level much of the way leading to Strawberry Saddle. From the saddle, it is a different story, as it climbs rather abruptly up the side of the mountain. However, with persistence, and the desire to stand on the top like a conquering hero, the climb eventually runs out of elevation.
Approaching the peak.
On this recent visit, there were at least three summit signs waiting for me (which is a rare thing, since visitors at other mountains that i went to often take these signs home like souvenirs).
On the summit.
The descent is also steep, but quick. Once back at Strawberry Saddle, there are other options, such as adding Mount Lawlor, going to Strawberry Potrero, or even continuing to Josephine Peak after leaving the summit.
Dropping down to Peak 5166.
I planned to give each peak its own day, so I headed back the way I came. However, before going all the way back down, I veered off the trail a bit to visit a side peak, Peak 5166. This is the visible high point in between Red Box and Mt Lawlor. Therefore, I turned it into a double peak visit.
The hike begins at the start of Josephine Peak Fire Road, which is only a few yards from the intersection of Angeles Crest Highway and Angeles Forest Highway. From there, this is relatively no mystery. The fire road is simply the route to the summit. It is a gradual climb that elevates a lower ridge before extending to the higher ridge that connects Josephine Peak to Strawberry Peak.
Approaching the summit.
A left turn at that junction continues to Josephine Peak. In that section, the first bit of shade is encountered as the road passes to the shaded side of the ridge. It ends at a utility vehicle parking area, where a use trail elevates to the official summit.
On the summit, with a good view of Strawberry Peak.
On top sits a cabinet with a summit register and some solar equipment. Some nice views of the surrounding mountain range is abound with a nice 360 view. I returned the same way, although there is an alternative way along the upper ridge (which avoids some of the monotony of hiking a dirt road). Either way, it connects with the road at the Strawberry Peak Junction before heading back down the rest of the way.
A parting view of Josephine Peak right before sunset.
The hike starts at Dawson Saddle, which leads to a high ridge, featuring some of the highest peaks in the San Gabriel Range. The first of which is Throop Peak. I had visited this summit a few times in the past, and I was happy to include it on this outing.
Summit use trail to Throop Peak.
The trail connects with the Pacific Crest Trail just below the summit. I left the PCT pretty much right after I got on it by taking a summit use trail to the top of Throop Peak. The summit elevation is 9,138, which is also the highest point on the hike.
Summit plaque on Throop Peak.
I descended the opposite slope of Throop to quickly return to the PCT, where I continues Southwest toward the Mt Hawkins. Once again, a summit use trail leaves the PCT to reach Mt Hawkins.
Approaching the summit on the use trail.
However, this time it wasn't optional, this was also part of the route. After topping on Mt Hawkins, I paused for a few minutes as I looked down the ridge the dropped from the summit to the south. Although walking downslope would be in my immediate future, I would have to climb back up it as well, so I needed to mentally prepare to maintain the energy on the way back.
Heading down the ridge.
I left Mt Hawkins to the south and continued down the slope on a use trail. As expected, the route was not difficult to descend, though there were some obstacles such as downed trees to navigate around. At the far end of the ridge, it is considered to be the summit of Copter Ridge.
On the summit of Copter Ridge.
A summit register sits there with a great view of the surrounding peaks and ridges. The elevation is at 7,500 feet. This made for a great lunch spot for the needed fuel to climb back up. When the time came, off I went with a head of steam back up the ridge.
Summit view of the ridge route back.
Mental preparation certainly paid off, as I was prepared for the long climb. Before long, I crossed back over Mt Hawkins, thereby conquering the ridge. I then returned along the PCT and back down the Dawson Saddle Trail to complete the triple peak hike.
The hike to Twin Peaks is one of the more difficult hiking options available from Angeles Crest Highway. The trail starts on the Waterman Mountain Loop Trail, but breaks off toward Twin Peaks along the way.
Hovering above the marine layer.
The trail drops about 1,000 feet to a saddle between Mount Waterman and Twin Peaks. The climb begins steeply up toward East Twin Peak. This is the higher of the Twin Peaks. I paused several times to catch my breath along the way. Once on the summit, there are views down into the San Gabriel Wilderness and West Twin Peak.
On the summit of East Twin Peak.
While partially climbing back down, I then diverted over to West Twin Peak. This is a lesser visited summit, but I was gratified to be there, since this was my first visit to it. The views aren't quite as expansive, but there is a good view toward East Twin Peak.
View of West Twin Peak.
After signing the summit register, I descended back to the saddle. From there, the most difficult part of the hike begins. Although I just climbed two peaks, I needed to maintain enough energy to elevate back to the trail on the eastern slope of Mount Waterman.
View of East Twin Peak from West Twin Peak.
For me. this was a tough and slow 1,000 foot elevation climb. However, once I reached the Waterman Trail, it was pretty much downhill all the way back to Angeles Crest Highway.
Summit of West Twin Peak.
As always, it is an exceptional feeling of accomplishment when rounding the corner and spotting my vehicle.
