Bear Canyon Trail Camp

It's funny how after a five day camping trip it only took one off day to draw me back into the woods. I had been eyeing an area of the Gabriels every single time I drove out of the mountains, but had not yet explored. From the highway it looked like some far reaching canyons away from the normal front county trails.

 

 | Stunning trail section cut above Bear Canyon River |

Beyond the need to explore mountain solitude I had some serious gear testing to do & needed to scout a trail camp for further adventures. Thanks to my great girlfriend Georgette for blessing me with a new Camelbak medium day hiking pack. Filled the pack with just under 20lbs to really test it out.

 

Starting from Switzer Picnic area my goal was Bear Canyon Trail Camp, some 8 miles round trip from the car & back. This was my first time down the popular Switzer Falls trail seeing several people enjoying mid week.

| Rock formations above Bear Canyon |

The hike eventually crosses high onto the west slope to avoid down-climbing the waterfall. After a fun narrow sky high trail, one drops back to the water with a junction. Most travels head left to the waterfall up canyon, I was off the the right, down the canyon further.

Now passing several large natural pools, great for swimming in the hot afternoon sun. Some pools even chest deep & large as your bedroom. On further down the trail I passed an interesting natural wonder, or in my opinion at least. The whole hike had followed the river downhill, then all of a sudden the water was running the opposite direction of the trail. 

| Small Bear Canyon Fall |

Logically this meant I had reached my half way point where Bear Canyon reaches the Arroyo Seco I had been following. A deep swath had been cut where the two rivers turned into one. Learning from past experiences, I have been trying to hike smarter, not harder. This trip I had been filtering water along my hike so as to not carry too much weight. Just fill up in the river when the CamelBak runs out.

| Becoming more remote |

Within the first five minutes of being in Bear Canyon the trail conditions were less traveled, less maintained & all the perfect surrounds I had been looking for.

| More stunning trail cut on the left in Bear Canyon |

The walls of the canyon began to narrow and grow taller on all sides as I winded around the cuts the river had built over the years. There seemed to be only one other footprint repeating on the trail, I was slowly gaining the solitude I was working so hard for.

| Believe it or not, the right side of the pic qualifies as trail in Bear Canyon |

Water was cold & looked much cleaner coming down this river, mostly due to its source in such a lightly traveled area. Dropping in small waterfalls all throughout the canyon, breaking the silence of my soft tread.

| Narrow bend in Bear Canyon |

The two miles of trail that it takes from the river junction to Bear Canyon Camp are a serious rock hop, ridge line walk & ten plus river crossings (all on rocks). Someone has nicely flagged certain areas were the trail hits the river bed & then picks the trail back up some 30 feet down the river with an orange plastic flag.  I built a few rock cairns where markers could have been used, but with a little patience each time you think the trail is lost, it will only take seconds of scanning to reveal the route.

| Beautiful rock walls along Bear Canyon |

At an elbow in the river coming from Switzer, the Bear Canyon Trail Camp sign is very visible. I had no problem seeing the camp & singing praises of the beauty and challenge that was the last two miles. If a group was coming from Tom Sloane Saddle, the sign would be a bit hard to see on your left.

To my surprise, the camp was beautifully maintained, shaded all throughout within 25ft of the river for water to filter. There appeared to be three sites, all with picnic tables, however, two of the sites were equipped with firepits and logs for seats. The third site seemed to just have a table. Each pit even had a metal shovel head to assist in maintaining the pit.

After a fun magazine article about climbing in Patagonia over a sandwich, it was time to slowly press on, back the same direction I came. Just a hint, you will know you are getting closer to the camp when the trail rises above the creek for a while, then drops down & hits a short stretch of knee high grass (dead on my hike).

| Sky high portion of the trail, fun stuff |

The hike down Bear Canyon was much easier that coming up the canyon, leading me to wonder if this would be the best way to come to the camp in the future. Cursory searches seem to reveal that Tom Sloane Saddle is a bit tricky to reach, but could happen. Then thru hike to Switzer, with a night at Bear Canyon Camp and a swim the next after noon in the natural pools halfway to the car on day two.

West Fork Bith Path - Hidden LA Gem

I'm going to come right out and say it... I went on the best bike ride I have ever been on this past weekend.



The West Fork Bike Path combines everything one could love about the mountains, hiking, rivers, waterfalls & puts them on a bicycle path through the canyons outside Azusa, California.



After a winding drive up Hwy 39, past two resivors, you will find yourself deep in the what I believe is call the San Gabriel Canyon. A ranger station meets you as you pass the second resivor & visitors must purchase a $5 day pass or opt for the risk of towing or ticketing.



The path begins at a bridge crossing & follows the river for 8 mile w/ a class 1 path. Slowly taking the rider past several small waterfalls, many people 'catch & release' fishing, along with a few families splashing around in the water.



The whole experience left me with a need for more adventure. Another ride will soon be taken through the canyon... who's coming next time?

Outdoors in Montecito

This past weekend some great friends & I got to take a mini vacation to the Montecito area of California. This small, southern town is marvelously dotted with multi-million dollar estates sprawling across the foothills of Los Padres National Forrest.

The dudes & I swapped stories while enjoying our comfy settings with some drinks in hand. We also worked on a plan for the next days adventures.

This particular vacation was a bit of a whirlwind. I had spent the day of departure at work since 2am... and didn't hit the bed that night in Montecito till 2:30am the next day. Spent close to 27 hours awake.

Our eventual plan was to take a scenic drive through the foothills, winding us through the country. Collin & Pouya were taking us to a previous hike they had traversed in the past, but they had said there was much more water in the river this time around.

The five of us set out on our trek, following the Cold Springs Trail along the river, deep into the canyon foothills. Switch backs for some portions of the trip, while other sections allowed for long gradual inclines up a shaded hillside.

There are several route choices along the way that will result in different destination outcomes. We opted for a trial that would take us up to a lookout of Montecito & Santa Barbara.

The trails prove to be mostly covered with a small, slow elevation gain that kept the workout at a good level. Connecting with a fire road that ran along the rim of the foothills, our trail popped us out right on the edge of the hills looking down on small towns, huge estates & the Santa Barbara harbor.

Every time I am invited to spend some time in Montecito I am totally awe struck by the wealth & lifestyle that is pursued in this small area of California coast. It also reminds me of how thoroughly thankful I am to have such great friends to share amazing experiences with.

Bear Encounter & Monrovia Falls

Just east of previously trekked Chantry Flats, Andrew & I embarked on a midday journey to Monrovia Falls. This was a good hike I had found online that neither of us had explored on before.



First & foremost, Tuesdays = front gate closed. Visitors can park for free in the neighborhood south of the entrance on Canyon. Adding another paved 1/2 mile to the hike you had already planned on.



Normally there is a $5 dollar fee to use one of three parking lots within the park. Andrew & I opted for the the longest of three routes to the falls for our accent, with a shorter trip on our way back. The Bill Cull Trail switch-backed up the hillside & wondered above the creek with grand views of the San Gabriel Mountains. Dropping down a bit over a mile to meet back with creek & the main trail to the falls.



What happened next on our adventure was an unexpected miracle. The two of us were approaching a blind left bend in the trail & heard rustling above. Paused, we looked not twenty feet in front of us, two brown bears coming down the hill towards the trail we were on. Below the bears spotted up & proceeded slower.



Moving slowly, Andrew & I paused while the two bears crossed the trail & down a small incline to the waters edge. A mother bear & her cub drank from the creek. After a moments rest, there was a sense of urgency to move on by everyone involved. The two bears slowly made their way into the thick underbrush, while Andrew & I turned to each other in total disbelief in what had just happened.



The trail gave way to more elevation change with the scenery changing to a more rock surfaced canyon. Opening up at one point to a monumental double rock face with fifteen foot tall roots clinging to the rocks. Andrew stand in glory below.

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.” - Ansel Adams

New adventures soon...

Hermit Falls - Round Three

This weekend's outing found the four of us marching through the forest, down river, the waters flowing sound's filling the canyon. Descending down we can hear bird calls surrounding on all sides.



Chantry Flats is by far the best 30 minute escape from Los Angeles there possibly is. Located just outside Pasadena off the Santa Anita exit, it's no wonder the weekends are full of hikers looking for a breath of fresh air.



This will be our third trip to Hermit Falls in the past few months. The water level was quite high this time, but still no trouble to cross the river a few times as the hike switch-backed across.



"A photograph is usually looked at - seldom looked into."
- Ansel Adams

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Where Did Los Angeles Go?

This past weekend in November quite possibly could have been the best weekend all year... and that doesn't even include Friday.



My good friend Pouya & I spent a good portion of Saturday taking the extremely scenic route to Neptune's Nest on P.C.H. This involved one and half lane roads through the Los Angeles hills, gorgeous countryside & amazing times. This one photo below I feel sums up that day quite well.


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That evening I achieved, to date, my finest cooked New York steak. Followed with some good beers. Sunday morning found us parking along a narrow canyon road with our eyes set on a new adventure.



Carlos, Georgette & I were in search of Hermit Falls in the San Gabriel Mountains. We had only heard about this waterfall through the grapevine, but none has been hiking in the area before know as Chantry.



We found ourselves moving away from the crowded parking area towards the canyon floor on a pleasantly shaded narrow trail lined with beautiful views of the adventure that was before us.



Along that canyon floor the three of us slowly followed the river down the canyon. Past secluded & privately owned cabins that rest on the valley floor. Giving the whole region a very backwoods feel.



Hermit Falls can not be seen till you are almost on top of it... you'll see what I mean once you go. The trail leads down on to large areas of rock that have been slowly carved away by rushing water. At many points you can see how the water has shaped much of the falls.



With a small upper section, that can be used as a waterslide in warmer seasons, drops into a medium sized pool that is calm to wade in. The water then falls another twenty or so feet down to a much larger & deeper pool. Quite calm once down there... quickest way is to jump. Alas, with any rock jump there is necessary precautions of checking the area and the water before had. We only witnessed another hiker make the plunge (which is a decent 30 feet down from the only jump spot).



Close to three miles round trip, made for a nice half day hike with some sandwiches. Great times with good friends.

Kings Canyon in Motion

Kings Canyon National Park 2010

HELLO LIVING!
*Click any image to enlarge*

Spent four nights camping at Canyon View Campground in the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park. Couldn't have went at a better time, just a week after Memorial Day crowds & must have only seen ten other campers in the area around us.


Lookout Peak - 8,600 ft


HWY 180


Mist Falls Hike - 4,500 Feet
A decent 8.5 miles round trip beginning at what is quaintly named Roads End, where Hwy180 ends in the canyon. This being a moderate hike there is some climbing & flood tip-toing, but nothing too strenous. The travel will leave hikers with a breathtaking image of Kings Canyons hidden depths. Along this hike it is easy to see the years of glacier shaping & gives you a moment to marvel in mother natures wonder. Misty Falls will refresh the spirit & provides many excellent vantage points to rejuvenate before the journey back to Roads End.


Grizzly Falls - HWY 180 Turnout




Knapp's Cabin


Generals Highway 198 - Giant Sequoia amongst the clouds


Lookout Peak - 8,600 Feet
This was a great hike, with an excellent payoff for hikers efforts. However, it is a strenuous 8 mile up hill hike. Set a committed pace & you're hike will be rewarded with backwood meadows, a little scene wonderful waterfall & a shaded hiking path for you're journey to the summit.




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