Strawberry Peak Mountaineer Route - San Gabriel Mts

| Best photo to show how steep the climb is. Three people in the background |

"There is more than one way to skin a cat." That old phrase comes to mind when thinking of Strawberry Peak. With three different trailheads that will bring you to the tallest San Gabriel front country peak, a day hiker has many options. The most heavily used path is from Red Box parking lot, an often less used start near Colby Ranch, but the third is just right... an indiscriminate turn out along Angeles Crest Hwy.

| Spring with Strawberry Peak in background center |

We opted to leave a car at Red Box both times we've done this hike & then drive back to the trailhead with a secondary car. On an early spring day just after a rain we were treated to a nice waterfall right at the beginning of the trail. After a few more minutes climbing up Colby Canyon we crossed the top of another nice waterfall plunging down into Colby.

In the upper chaparral, the trail climbs steadily, but never very seriously. One of the things I like is that you are almost always looking at the peak most of the hike up. Gaining much more elevation than the Red Box approach.

| After the saddle, first climb at the white-ish rocks on left |

Reaching the saddle between Josephine Peak & Strawberry Peak is a nice resting spot. There isn't much shade on this hike, but you can find some under the water catch basin on the saddle. From here you can see a nicely groomed trail that leads around to Strawberry Meadow, a use trail cuts off this almost immediately to follow the ridge up towards a white-ish outcropping of rocks. The trail is easy to follow once on it.

At the base of the rocks is the first climbing section. I tend to follow it to the left & up, looking for the white sand/small rocks that are an easy steep walk up after climbing several moves. If this was easy, the final climb will be fun & thrilling. If this small portion was way too intense, maybe rethink the last climb up to Strawberry.

| Sandy gully to top |

The trail weaves nicely up to finally reveal wider reaching views into Upper Big Tujunga. The remains of the Station Fire are so apparent when on this peak. In all directions we can see the burn area, along with the growing amount of Poodle Dog brush that increases at the elevation goes up that populates after wildfires. Serious skin irritation can occur when coming into contact with the plant.

| The boulders begin |

| Boulder fields leading to the climb in back |

Eventually the trail turns to the large boulders that lead to the bottom of the climb. The large talus is easy going & there are cairns if you need them. It seems to be fairly obvious where you need to be heading towards. 

| Beginning of climbing |

Each time we did this hike, we started the climb a different way. The first time, we went up the first little zig zag trails to a small climb. Then noticed the second time, you can go under some Poodle Dog bush & take a more steep hike approach that will take you to the same place.

| Straight up at times |

| Careful & steady. Several moments like this |

From here we followed what appeared to be the path that others had taken. Looking for the crushed rocks/sand where a path had formed at times. There are a few old faded red rags that are classic markers. In all reality this is hand or fist climbing with a few moments where serious consequence will result terribly. With confidence & safety there should be no problem for a group to look out for one another on this route.

| More careful moments |

In the upper sections there are a few white painted arrows that can lend a hand if need be. For the most part with a careful eye a skilled hike can notice the best path to go. Once more pine trees come into view you know you are closer to the final climb. 

| The ridge we climbed with Josephine Peak in back |

 | Break on the climb |

After cresting some of the last boulders, it's an easy minute stroll up to the top... 6,165 feet up. This summit never disappoints, great views all the way to Catalina Island, downtown LA & on to Mt. Baldy.

We parked a car at Red Box so we took the standard trail back which is always scenic & a nice way to wind down from the thrill of accomplishing the climbing on the other side of the mountain.

| Bigger boulders, closer to the top |

| Summit |

Strawberry Meadow Backpack Trip

There are some places on a map that beckon you to explore. The graded topo lines just giving enough information for ones imagination to run wild with thoughts of the next place to uncover. Noted historian, John Robinson & climbing legend John Mendenhall's words only aided the desire to explore a guarded section of the San Gabriel Mountains.

| North Face Strawberry Peak |

Never one to appose any proposed ideas, mustache aficionado, Carlos is along for an overnight trip to Strawberry Meadow. Making final checks at Red Box, loading two days of water, cooking & all, we set off from the lot. In all the preconceived visions of this trip I had, none of them included what the first 10 minutes brought.

| Local Hunters, Info Below |

Around the bend before we even had a chance to adjust out straps comes a hunter wearing camo & a sequined teal hat. Briefly mentioning that more hunters were ahead. Not more than two minutes go buy & we cross a young man with his kill (above). He & some of his family that were bushwacking down the game trail to meet up. It was their first kill of the season & this was my first encounter with any hunters in the Gabriels. These were also the last people we saw till getting back to the car the next day.

The first portion of the trail around the lower rocky enclaves of Mt. Lawlor have be worked by a trail crew sometime over the 2012 year. Rock falls have been smoothed & filled in solid & bushes cut back. This only lasts for the first mile after the first saddle.

| Nicely maintained Strawberry Peak Trail |

While closing in on Strawberry Saddle I kept looking at the deceptive ridge route that leads up to the peak. Knowing now it's rollercoaster up & down rock scramble. Favoring not to summit any peaks on this trip, we crossed onto the north east side of Strawberry Peak, losing elevation as the saddle disappeared behind us.

| Fern Waterfall |

We knew from our previous Strawberry Peak experience that people tend to sign into the register about once or twice a month. There was not a single human foot print in the dirt anywhere on our journey. In 2009 the Station Fire ravaged this area & over the years has been recovering with nature taking over. There were deer prints throughout the entire hike, leading in all directions.

| Last views into the inner Gabriels |

The trail tends to go as follows for some time, descending the shaded recesses were over grown & head high with several types of poking & prodding bushes, leaving their itching remnants stuck all over. On the other hand, the exposed sun sections were still manageable by normal hiking standards. As we progressed more fallen trees & soft rock wash outs in certain gullies.

| Lower Strawberry Meadow |

Rounding the last ridge we get our first glimpse of Lower Strawberry Meadow. Still bringing a great smile to our face, even lacking a single living green blade of grass. The last switchbacks down to the Colby Ranch Trail/Meadow Junction are a good combination of all the bushwacking skills & solid footwork that have been building up. I assume this entire trip with a day pack would be about 40% easier.

Stepping into the meadow we can't help but marvel at the views of Strawberry Peak. It's north face, seldom seen up close by travelers. Knowing from the beginning our goal was the upper meadow Carlos & I walked on into the canyon, following a very indiscriminate trail up a wash that would be full of snow in the coming months. Using the trail up the ridge, we encountered the worst section of overgrowth on the whole trail. The last 1/4 mile is over 7ft tall of dead flora & more that one huge downed tree.

| Middle Strawberry Meadow |

Does it sound like complaining? Because I truly was having the time of my life. Finally emerging onto the Upper Strawberry Meadow we reached our destination, hidden away from the millions of city dwellers in Los Angeles.

After exploring the area before nightfall, from a distance I saw an area of rockfall that looking like a nice cave. Moving closer due to human curiosity, I started to notice many large pine cones eaten to the core, then wasit & head high branches were broken on almost all the trees in the area. Still a good 30 ft from the "cave" I decided there were too many signs of larger animals to investigate further.

| North Face Strawberry Peak At Night |

The night ended with another interesting note for Strawberry Meadow. It seemed that it's positioning receives the moonlight fairly late after the sun setting behind the ridge. The darkness that falls over the area is like no blackness I had ever experienced in the outdoors. For almost two hours if one of us turned off our headlamp, we were gone.

The morning brought promising signs of winter coming. Frost covered the meadow in a small way, but beautiful none the less. I grabbed for my new down jacket & thanked myself for spending just a bit more for this techno comfort.

| One of many tree falls |

Armed with knowledge, we dawned pants & hardshells to tackle the worst of the bushwhack in the cool morning. BEST IDEA EVER! Making our way through the meadow section, past the Colby trail Junction & up the switchbacks to the long stretch of winding trail to Strawberry Saddle. On the way up hill we encountered; tree falls, bushwhacking, wash outs, rock slides & a large swarm of what could have been bees or hornets?

The last section from Strawberry Saddle to Red Box parking lot was uneventful, but stunningly beautiful all the same. Looking back towards Mt Disappointment, San Gabriel Peak & down into the LA city basin.

| Can You See The Hiker? |

Strawberry Peak Hike

Carlos & I tackled one of the more strenuous hikes in the San Gabriel's that we have trekked. It was straight out of my newest gift from my girlfriend, Trails of The Angeles (100 Hikes).

Following many unmarked, rock-slide, & snow covered paths we found our way from Red Box up and around Mt. Lawlor to it's north side, crossing to the saddle.

At the saddle just below Strawberry Peak, there is a junction to follow below the ridge-line to the right you wind down to Strawberry Meadow. Carlos & I chose the faint climber's trail to the left that followed up the ridge-line for a solid uphill mile long scramble.

Greeted at the summit with wonderful views deep into the Angeles & far out into the Pacific. Truly the best view from the front range I have had since moving to LA almost a decade ago.

After lingering for some time on the peak & really capturing the moment in my head, there was the traverse down to think about.  Closing in on about a mile left in the trail you can seen in the photo below the sun setting while we are still on the trail. A wonderful glow came over the whole Angeles forest that eve.