Overnight at Upper Fish Fork Backcountry Camp - San Gabriel Mts

| Mt. San Antonio 10,064ft - San Antonio Ridge - Gunsight Notch - Iron Mountain |

Part of great adventure is getting to experience & see things few others seldom get to. The remote corners of the maps that are pined over late in the eve, over & over again. Upper Fish Fork Camp in the San Gabriel Mountains is one such place that has had my attention for a couple years now. It is one of, if not the, most remote "established" backcountry camps in the National Forest.

| Mt. Baden-Powell - 9,399ft |

An excerpt from Los Angeles mountain historian, John Robinson, will give you a good idea of why this place had caught my eye. "The rugged, rock-ribbed chasm of the Fish Fork is one of the most isolated &wild recesses in the San Gabriel Mountains. The canyon is wedged tightly between two high mountain ridges - the long hogback of Pine Mt Ridge on the north, the sawtooth wall of San Antonio Ridge on the south. Looming high over its head is the grey mass of Old Baldy."

Melissa wasn't having any of this, "wait two years on a bucket list" type of strategy I tend to fall into, so we planned a weekend to make this trip happen & that was it. Friday night arrived & we drove out the dirt Blue Ridge Road around 11pm thinking we would be camping at Guffy, then setting out from their early the next morning on the closed portion of the road to the actual trailhead. However, when we arrived at the normally locked gate, it was open! The next day would reveal why, but more of that later.

| Iron Mountain - 8,007ft |

Flat out, the dirt road down into Lupine Campground is not for the average car. My Toyota Camry made it, with many stops to move rocks in the middle of the road. At the bottom there is a large wash out that is impassable for the regular high clearance vehicle even. We parked around 1am at the bottom of the canyon, thankful that we didn't have to hike that section. Throughout the next few hours, while sleeping in the car, ten or more trucks would pass us in the night?! What could be going on at 4am down in the lowly canyon.

Dawn breaks & we gather our packs together. It's still one mile down the road to the trailhead passed the washout. As we saunter down the dirt road we come across more & more bigs trucks full of dudes. After inquiring, turns out this was the first day of hunting season! Well that explains a lot.

| Iron Mountain - 8,007ft |

We find the Fish Fork trailhead just before the Lupine Campground on the south side of the canyon. Taking us slowly higher & higher we gain fantastic views to Mt. Baden-Powell. With no real effort, only a bit of passing time, we pop out on top of Pine Mountain Ridge & the views are spectacular! The hulking mass of Iron Mt, connected to San Antonio Ridge leading up two thousand more feet to Mt. Baldy's tree barren summit.

 

Pausing for a bit of early lunch we scoped out the trail that crossed the open face of a connecting ridge. You can see large numbers of logging roads from an unknown company. Research by several other bloggers has turned up nothing on which company this was. Gathering our things we headed up Pine Mt Ridge, missing the junction for our trail b/c the sign had blown off the ridge. The area in general gets little use compared to other sections of our local mountains.

Crossing the open landscape there was no real negotiation issues expect for one section where a rock slide had crossed the trail. Nothing a bit of extra attention would warrant. The excitement was mounting, we were closing in on the descend into Fish Canyon. One last look at Iron's summit & we started the faint switchbacks into the first drainage above the canyon. 

Though noticeably less traveled the trail was still navigable & resembled that which was on the map. After crossing over the river bed (dry), we looped back and crossed the same one a second time lower down (still dry), rounded a bend or two and were dropped into Little Fish Fork Camp. We knew we were on the right track if we hit this spot. No water could be found here though.

 

| Below Little Fish Fork Camp |

Stepping out for the final mile or two down to the canyon floor we both knew a challenge lay ahead. The trail would be present in an overgrown manor at times, with large blow downs that would also be nicely overgrown. To call this section a game trail would be a nice way to put it. 

| Iron Mt summit in far distance |

Combined with Melissa's pfd map reader app & a bit of diligence we progressed down the canyon at a slow, but successful rate. I felt other trip report posts had mentioned something we fell into, we ended up a bit high on the first portion, having to carefully walk straight down to a bit of trail that is a bit closer to the drainage floor. We weren't on the Dawson Peak Trail, but still were about 30 ft too high.

If you have made it this far down it is noticeably steeper all around & the use trail hugs the mountain side. Crossing open rock slopes at times. More precarious than earlier, but nothing some extra care & a trekking pole can't manage.

 

After rounding a bend high up, you can hear the rushing water below & all we can think about is getting down there, we are so close. It just so happens the last ten minutes the trail manages to disappear b/c the descent is so steep past travelers just pick their best route & make due. I'll admit to falling twice in this last part just from loose dirt & the steepness of the terrain.

 

| Fish Canyon |

Crash landing into an absolute sanctuary of a back woods canyon floor. A crooked, lopsided old sign read in orange pant, Upper Fish Fork Campground. That whole sign was worth the trip alone. We had made it to the camp. All around us fall was setting in, colors of the whole spectrum danced about in the cool breeze. Leaves falling at times from high above, meeting the rustling creek to start a new adventure floating down stream. At the head waters of this wondrous place is 10,000+ Mt. San Antonio.

We set up the necessities of camp & headed down canyon to see all there was to see of the remote hide away. Rock walls tower above on the San Antonio Ridge side; trees, ferns & plants grew everywhere. This place was really something special. As the sun began to get lower we headed back up canyon to camp & get some food going. 

All through the evening the quiet stillness of such an untouched location had us both in absolute awe. It was perfect San Gabriel Mountain isolation. Everything you'd want in a good trip. The next morning came together much like any other backpacking trip. Another hot meal & the slow move to get our backpacks all situated. After several deep breaths, taking in all the surroundings, we put one foot in front of the other to tackle the climb out of this wonder land. 

For a bit it was that old move, "two steps forward, one step back" with all the loose dirt. But we gained the trail that I last noticed at a tree stump. Our GPS had died over night so our exit was purely going to be from memory. My best advice is to take careful note on your way into the canyon of the last time you see the trail (tree stump in our case), think really hard & aim for that when you leave camp. 

On the way back up the canyon I guarantee you will not take the same route you did down. There is moments that will dawn on you why didn't I see that on my way in or now this makes more sense. But that is only seen in the travel back up canyon. We bushwhacked a heavy section that I realized the trail coming down avoids above, thinking this is where we got to high from earlier.

 After crossing the dry river bed & coming back into Little Fish Fork Camp we knew we had down the hardest part of the trip. We had found the elusive Upper Fish Fork Camp & been rewarded with is backcountry goodness. I'm glad that Melissa was able to get me motivated to stop putting it off, plus showed me the benefit of a GPS.

 

After making our way back to Pine Mountain Ridge, we adjusted the sign from the junction we missed, hopefully it will stay there for at least one hiking season. We returned to the hunting mecca that is the Prairie Fork & found the place still jammed full of unlucky dudes. Relaxing back in the car we cruised across Blue Ridge Rd admiring the views into the East Fork, laughing about that time I fell into Upper Fish Fork.

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For more, check out Melissa's words & info on the trip here: Angeles Adventures

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Thankful for this info here: One | Two

Willet Hot Springs & Forgotten Upper Bear Canyon

There has been quite a few adventures into the wild this fourteenth year of two thousand. Most have been spur of the moment fantastic ideas, so good that other plans need to be put on hold, jobs schedules need to be changed & before dawn departures will likely be required.

The first of such tales this year begins much like all the others, 4 hours of sleep & driving before the sun has made an appearance. The car packed tight with gear & eager souls speeding through Ojai & into the Los Padres National Forest. Our goal was to hike east along Sespe Creek until we just felt content, a perfect plan for the outdoors.

Setting out at a decent hour we made the first miles quite easy. It was apparent from the first twenty minutes of the hike this years drought has taken a major toll on the water in the river. On several previous visits to the area multiple creek crossings were always encountered in the first portion, all of which were dry this time.

As we marched along the many twists & turns the river has created over thousands of years, she begins to reveal water along many stretches, full wide & barely moving. All the same, around many parts of the trail, large sections were dry as a bone.

We eventually decided to call Ten Oak Flat our home for the night. If you walk far enough off the main trail into this basin, there is two very old picnic tables & a nice flat spot.

It was only one in the afternoon & we decided to check out Willet Hot Springs, another couple miles down the trail. Although, the sun was beginning to warm up & those who know, know the Sespe is damn hot with no shade in many sections.

 

Arriving at Willet after a couple miles & one steep half mile spur trail we kicked back & explored the bungalow, this is nine miles from our start at the car. Sulphur was pungent in the air & four nice guys were also enjoying the hot tub. After soaking a bit, we opted to return to camp via the dry creek bed & river embankments instead of the trail. There is really neat geology in the area, wish I knew a bit more about that stuff.

After flavoring up some pretty mediocre water, dinner ensued & some swell conversations drifted off into the night. I slept out in the open, wishing to see the stars put on a show & really just enjoy things we don't do normally at home this day in age. The next day we retraced our steps out along the Sespe Creek with talk of what the next trip would be.

About two weeks went by & we found ourselves driving in a different mountain range setting up a car shuttle to make another backpacking adventure unfold. This time in the Angeles National Forest along Hwy 39, our goal is to check out Upper Bear Camp & exit via Smith Saddle.

After strolling the easy one mile of paved (gated) road, we turned off onto trail where Bear Creek meets the West Fork San Gabriel River. With tons of water already flowing we knew this trip was going to be a blast.

After a bit of walking & a few creek crossings we reached Lower Bear Camp, very idealic for the beginner backpacker, but the trash was pretty bad. Took some, but it really needs a bag & to be packed out.

After some more creek crossings (there are a lot!) & some fantastic old cabin ruins the trail becomes noticeably less traveled. A few large bends in the canyon produce towering vertical cliffs over a hundred feet at times. Lunch was consumed & we walked on another couple miles. Here is where the trail is apparent at times & much less at others. Just keep going up stream & things are good.

We came to a single old camp/rock fire pit on the eastern side of the stream, headed a bit further up the trail & found Upper Bear Camp with a rock pit above & another below. This was really tucked into the canyon. Quite small & nice under some trees. In the summer months this would be an oasis after sweating to get there.

The usually relaxing, filtering water, making dinner & chatting took course. Vegan marshmellows & dark chocolate tinged with orange was the winner.  It was a beautiful dark moon-less night, there was deer activity within ten feet of our camp while we ate dinner & didn't know until we saw the evidence on the ground that hadn't been there ten minutes prior.

The next morning we found the switchbacks that rise out of Bear Creek to make an exit out of the drainage. This first section was really a fun portion, a few eroded sections, but fantastic views towards Triplet Rocks & Mt Waterman area. The climb to Smith Saddle will really get your legs pumping at times, but grows more forested as you climb.

At the saddle views stretch forever into two great confluences. Smith Mountain just above. This was our last rest before reaching the car down below on Hwy 39. The trail from the saddle down to the hwy takes forever, it ducks in & out of canyons & looses/gains elevation sooooo slowly. Arriving at Congregation Ale House, conveniently right at the bottom of the San Gabriels, just in time to watch the kick off for the Super Bowl.

 

Villager & Rabbit Peaks - Anza Borrego Desert

| Anza Borrego Desert |

Edward Abbey has said pretty much everything that needs to be conveyed about the American Southwest, the remote stillness that seeps from the vast unobstructed desert landscape will never be experienced any other place than standing amongst the dirt & rocks of this desolate beauty.

| Heading towards Rabbit Ridge in the morning glow |

It was hard when the alarm went off at 5am at the Oasis Motel. We'd slept a mere four hours after driving from Los Angeles & now were looking down the barrel of potentially one of our hardest overnights yet. Later in the reading you'll discover we should have woken at 3:45am, but let's not get ahead with boring details.

Carlos & I had come to meet our two good friends Kyle & Dave to tackle there number one nemesis in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Rabbit Peak via Rabbit Ridge & Villager Peak. Parking the cars at a small turn out off Hwy 22, the sun was just beginning to peak on the horizon.

| Following straight up the ridge |

The first mile of the hike is across the sandy flat of the desert floor to meet the base of Rabbit Ridge. With the high adrenaline & constant photo opportunities the morning glow offered, I barely noticed the oppressive amount of water (8 liters myself) we were all carrying to make this trip happen. There are no springs, or seasonal water sources on this trip (suffice snow at times). With more than 5,000ft elevation change from the desert floor... we were going to work for it.

| Precious apple we all shared, Kyle in the distance on left |

At the base of the ridge the camera went away & the uphill slog was imminent. Sharp crumbly switchbacks took us to the ridge proper & the assault on the ultimate 'false summit' roller coaster ride began. Gentle slopes at first with times of quad busting uphill to vanquish the next semi-plateau section, with views of more staggering ridgeline.

| Anza Borrego Desert looking West |

After a couple hours our legs were getting into the flow, spirits were high & jokes were flying in all directions. The weight was still a burden, but the views out to the desert floor & the Indian Head region were absolutely magnificent & only getting better the higher we climbed.

There is a point in, shall we say around 3 or so miles, where the travel changes to a much more direct ascent over boulders & much closer to the exposed ridgeline. Again, the views were like no other place I'd backpacked before. Past this section of steep boulders the hike plateaus & we get a good first look at the jagged rocks that make up our next section of hiking leading to Villager Peak, our camp for the night.

 
| Plateau section in front of us on right. Good camping if travelers are burned out. |

After a good rest we dawned our packs & began what became my favorite part of the hike. There was something about the experience that was so different than other trips in the past. I was falling in love with the barren landscape & fresh look of the ridge we were traversing.

| Upper ridge between Plateau & Villager Peak. Super fun! |

There was nothing more than a few Class 3 moves & mostly Class 2 with our trekking poles. Often times we'd find ourselves in different places than the cairns & having a blast in the process. There didn't seem to be any true route through this section, just don't fall to the left. Topping out on another known false summit we could see Villager Peak close at hand, it was a bit after twelve noon at this point & back on desert terrain.

| More ridgeline scrambling |

Some more roller coaster style ups & down brought us to our first goal, Carlos & I's first peak in the Anza Borrego. It felt good, actually, it felt good to drop all that water weight & set up camp on Villager Peak. I had carried roughly 17.6 lbs of water & all my gear weighed something close to only 9 lbs, minus food. Without too much lethargy we still had another goal to achieve today, Rabbit Peak.

| Known 'false summit' on the way to Villager Peak |

Gathering only the necessary food & water for a bit over six more miles of hiking, Kyle, Dave & I set out across the deceivingly long undulating ridge that leads from Villager to Rabbit Peak. After dropping down & up several times over rock strew hill tops, it was clear this was going to be a very steep hike back to camp, possibly in the dark.

 
| Rabbit Peak (right foreground) - Desert Crown - El Toro Peak farthest (back left) |

Closing in on two miles away from the camp, one-ish mile to Rabbit Peak, the perfect storm of small woes began to crop up. Our 5am start was hurting us with waning sunlight, we had headlamps, but the route was much more challenging than the entire previous part of the day. One person had mentioned not bringing enough food if we really pushed hard, mixed with the intensely exhausting campaign of carrying water earlier, would we have the energy to summit & get back to camp in the dark?

Finding a breath taking spot to call it quits early wasn't hard, we just walked ten feet to the ridgeline & sat for a good while reviling in the magnificence of our defeat. Heading back to camp we arrived just as the sun was going to drop behind the far west side of the Anza Borrego skyline. A tough, but smart choice was made we all decided.

| Sunset |

The usual nighttime chores ensued, food was eaten, stories were traded & the stars were gawked at. Becoming far enough removed from the burdens of light pollution I get to experience a 'Top 5 Favorite' moment I don't get often, seeing a the ghostly appearance of the Milky Way Galaxy in the night sky above. Abbey's calm desert night had me entranced.

| Mid ridgeline heading down |

The sunrise was a brilliant orange, washing over a blanket of clouds that hide the Salton Sea far below to the east of us. There was no rush that morning, warming hot tea & hot breakfasts are a welcome start to the day. After repacking our small necessities for living out in this beautiful land we marched off in search of our cars, thousands & thousands of feet below us on the desert floor.

| Fantastic views to the desert floor at all times |

Quickly reaching the boulder ridgline that leads off the main summits, I was in heaven, snapping more photos than were ever needed, bouncing from one beautiful perspective to the next. After consuming most of the water & food, our packs allowed great travel down Rabbit Ridge on day two.

| Hard to tell, but that yellow ledge drops about a 1,000 sheer ft on the other side |

Reaching the plateau section, roughly 4,300ft, we were all riding a high of uncompromising views & fantastic camaraderie amongst us all. The most exciting moment of our controlled downhill slide was when a low questionable rumble became a military F-16 (of some sort) blasting over the peak we had camped on, barrel-rolling into the valley below us, then screaming up the other side of the valley. Hoots & howlers were let out to try & match the body shaking sound that just overwhelmed us all.

| Couple thousand more feet down |

The desire for a cold beer gauged how fast each of us walked the last couple miles down the hogback to the desert floor. Finally tackling those crumbly switchbacks we landed in the desert sand. The previous mornings adrenaline was no where in sight, but we all felt good, still carrying some water & we hadn't lost our car keys. We were going to make it to beer.

 
| Barrel Cactus with fault scarp in background |