Hello I will be visiting from out of town in a couple weeks and I was wondering what hiking is like during the middle of May? I’ll be in the NW SoCal area. I’m not super in shape right now so I won’t do anything crazy. I’m an experienced hiker and know about animal safety, etc... I hike in Canada in the Rocky Mountains (some areas being very remote) so I’m used to grizzly bears/bear/cougar country and adverse weather.

Any animals I need to be aware of? Any tips for hiking in this area? Must have items? Any recommendations? Is it safe to hike alone?

Thanks so much.

Considering this trail I designed but not sure how well maintained the trail is, starts off at the hahamonga water shed and follows the gabrelino trail till it splits at the oak wide trail camp and continues following the gabrelino trail until we get to switzer falls then it goes right towards bear canyon trail camp, then we keep going towards Millard falls then we walk surface streets till back at the car. Would do it as a two day 1 night trip

https://www.gaiagps.com/public/vOJhpSwPvPtyCW8Wk1TyY7zg

I have cell service, so you get a post.

I'm on the flanks of the Sugarloaf (9952'). I found a great site on the long east ridge. It's the perfect time to go. There are snow patches on the ridge -- all the water one needs. Just remember to bring extra fuel (typically double).

HJ

Any good hikin/camping spots in San diego?

I’m looking for suggestions on super easy backpacking trails (mostly flat or not too steep) that are short and would be good for taking a 7-year-old on a first time backpacking trip. I’m thinking maybe just hiking out in one day, camping 2 nights and then hiking back the 3rd day. I just want to find an easy trail that a 7-year old could do in a few hours to introduce him to backpacking and not put him off if it is too tiring and difficult. Does anyone have experience backpacking with kids and have any suggestions?

How much snow would one expect in the area in the second week of May? Would it be unsafe for two relatively inexperienced winter hikers/backpackers to venture out there (while prepared for cold weather, ice/snow on the trail)?

hello!

so i booked this weekend for anza borrego palm canyon campground a couple months back. had wanted to go earlier but couldn't do to friend scheduling stuff. i knew it might be starting to get hot but the temp had been holding in the 80s, however it looks like its gonna be a mean 95 on Saturday, ouch...

the original plan was arrive Friday evening and set up, hike Saturday morning-midday, then maybe drive around and see some wildflowers (cactus loop?), and campfire that evening. sunday I wanted to stop in joshua tree (sightseeing, hiking, horseback riding maybe) before heading home.

SO.... is hiking a terrible idea, or is it ok if we prepare adequately? i had been hoping to do the slot canyon hike, which I figured would provide some shade with the cliff walls

the two alternatives I found are the "maidenhair falls via hellhole canyon" hike, since that leads to a watering hole, but I don't know if there's still water, and also the trek back out might cancel out any benefit from a dip. the second is the palm canyon trail which leaves right from our campground, which may be a bit shorter and easier, though it looks like just a creek, no swimming hole? at this point this is looking like the most likely option.

any info or advice is appreciated, thanks !

Proposed routes...

WARNING! This trip's an xploratory XC route, that'll involve BUSHWHACKIN, tremendous physical xertion, climbing up/down, xposure'ish situ's, n'a general sense of "fear n uncertainty". NOT KIDDING!!!

Owin totha fact that we've already achieved great success, in our efforts to xplore the upper cyn, but did encounter, the xpected "impassable sh*t", we're now forced to attempt to battle our way S, down tha ridgeline, n try to find another spot to drop-in, which'll hopefully allowus to continue our xploration...

There's no guarantee of success, but'a brutal day IS guaranteed, regardless of the outcome, so, if yur thinkin'a throwin-in withus, u should be emotionally prepared to xperience, both, tha "thrill of victory", and the "agony of defeat"...

Even IF we're able to rejoin tha cyn, we may still get c*ck-blocked, by impassable features, in both directions, n our ability to actually see much, could be pretty limited.

4cast for this wknd's pretty decent, w/mornin clouds/fog, n highs of 70/62, for Sat/Sun...

I just day hiked to Gould Mesa in La Canada (Angeles Forest) to scout out the camp ground. Looking at doing a mini backpacking overnight trip here. Has anyone been? I’m going on a weekend and being that it’s a first come first serve site with 6-7 sites, I’m slightly worried about it filling up. Also spotted a few people in the area that seemed slightly off. Appreciate any insights!
Also if anyone is going soon, would love to connect!

I won the lottery for Whitney via Whitney Trail on Memorial Day (5/27) and was wondering if anyone had an estimate on the conditions to expect? I saw on the website it said:

May-June: The winter snowpack slowly recedes. Expect snow on the ground above Lone Pine Lake through Memorial Day weekend, and snow on the switchbacks above Trail Camp through June. Nights are usually still below freezing. Winter-like storms are still possible.

Is it likely a slog through snow/ice the whole way up? Would ice axes be necessary? I've done Half Dome, San Gorgonio, Baldy before so I feel pretty confident endurance-wise, but I'm wondering if the weather conditions might be too extreme for my experience. I did hike about 1/2-2/3 of Baldy during the winter 2 years ago with spikes and didn't find it difficult at all but I don't know how that compares to Whitney. Thanks.

Hi I'll be in LA May 15-19 and might be able to rent a car for a couple days. I was thinking one day going north of LA and one day going to Malibu area. What hikes would you recommend? Looking for something at least 3 hours long and with good views, mountainous for north of LA would be awesome. I'm fine with challenging hikes as well :)

EDIT: I uploaded afew pics, but I guessu can't see that, unlessu actually click ontha post, so, ifu wanna check'em-out, dotha needful...

Season's windin-down, but we might not be done w/this 1 yet. Temps'r lookin tolerable for this wknd, so we might have another go at'r... Any takerz?

Only water we saw all day, on trip 1...

Sat, Apr 20th: Trip 1 waza brutal slugfest, wherewe spent all day, cuttin trail, n din't end-up w/much to show for our efforts, cept bruised egos...

Tue, Apr 23rd: I went back, solo, n broke thru, all tha way totha crk, n xplored everything upstream, that seemed likit had potential. (Rather easily, I might add!)

Sat, Apr 27th: Me n Dina went back n xplored upstream (Since she hadn't seenit yet.), then headed downstream, into tha belly of tha "beast". Shit got "REAL" about where I xpected, but we rigged-up some webbing, n probed abit farther'n we shoulda. Fought like hell, butwe jus cun't ID a route that din't involve a significant "leap of faith", or an arduous bypass, that'd likely only depositus into tha jaws of tha next impassable feature.

Sat/Sun, May 4/5: ? Tentative plan's to cut our way S, down tha ridgeline, n see ifwe can findaway to drop back into tha cyn, that might allowus to xplore ali'l more, w/o gettin "unalived"...

It's just right \"over yonder\"!

The agony of DEFEAT!

Fiendish plans...

Light n breezy upstream stuff...

https://preview.redd.it/uoncbdhb3nxc1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2bb8f865be4fe07c45dfb62f504f8dce1fad6e74

https://preview.redd.it/83umk6aj3nxc1.jpg?width=2992&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d274205b56337a6b8e1862395411e7771e14555

It was, at THIS MOMENT, he knew'e'd done f'd-up! (Well? I knewit was comin! I just was try'nabe optimistic about our chances...)

https://preview.redd.it/sagwo7ux3nxc1.jpg?width=3456&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1c6f23bae133e5ee99b03df20dbd9d3bb19d72ca

https://preview.redd.it/y0gq9ab24nxc1.jpg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d37fdba619f468d505326925ac7ee823b14424e9

Man! That pool down there, looked like HEAVEN!!!

https://preview.redd.it/vk0stdmk4nxc1.jpg?width=2992&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5a898dd8f70d6b683aa4f6d6651d5d8a858b2d89

I really want to do this trek for my 30th birthday this fall. Parson’s Landing is already booked that weekend, and with my work schedule I am thinking about doing the trek in 3 days.

I’m a bit worried about that 15 mile day, however - particularly making it back to the 4:45 ferry home in time. How long does that day typically take, and is it grueling?

I am an experienced hiker, but my husband is not as experienced and will be with me. I don’t think he will have any interest in a day that long.

Is it worth it to skip parson’s and just hike from Avalon to Two Harbors? Should my husband hang out in Two Harbors that third day while I do the 15 miles?

Any recommendations and advice are much appreciated, I really want to make this work!

Last weekend, a buddy coaxed me out to Sequoia National Park on the west side of the low Sierras to gawk at big trees and clear our heads. We started before the washed-out road before the (closed) South Fork Campground & Ladybug trailhead. Our first day, we hiked up to just before the snowline to Garfield Grove. The hike was pretty challenging, with tons of washouts and downed trees, with aggressive elevation gain (around 3000 feet over 4 miles) and steady rain, which turned to hail as we put up our tents. On the upside, we had some truly massive trees all to ourselves! The next day, we messed around with snowshoes in the melt-freeze conditions and freezing fog before heading back down. Snow line is about 7000 feet, and still winter conditions higher up. The best food we found in Three Rivers was the Greek food truck next to the museum. It was a fun excursion in shoulder season, but not for the faint of heart!

Roughest washout, just 1 mile from the trailhead

Misty giant

Snowshoeing at about 8000 feet up Dennis Ridge

Start of Garfield Grove

Looking up at giants

May 10 or a few days later, according to rangers.

What's this about? Storms after the 2018 Woolsey fire took out the old concrete bridge, so a portable aluminum bridge was made and set in place in 2022. It is removed each rainy season to avoid being washed away.

From VC Star, May 2022: Volunteers build temporary crossing at Malibu Creek State Park's 'MASH' set

Hello, I’m a hiker that really wants to start backpacking but doesnt know how. Does anyone know any good 1-3 Night thru hikes near the San Diego area?? Theres a good chance ’ll probably do this alone, so that should be taken in consideration in regards of safety.

https://preview.redd.it/7qvgk2hiufxc1.png?width=682&format=png&auto=webp&s=55f718849bd6e303f0bbbf05961286bbd9900ffa

TONS of water at Rose Valley Falls. Worth a quick side trip on our way up to Topa Topa and Chief Peak.

Hi all,
Anyone have know the latest trail conditions from Red Box trail to West Fork Trail Camp on the Gabrielino Trail? Our Venturing Crew is thinking of hitting that soon. Thanks for the help.

So, is Hwy 38 open now? I mean east from Barton Flats on up over Onyx Summit and down to Baldwin Lake etc.

I was just on the SGWA website, and it says "Highway 38 is closed from Jenks Lake Road east to Big Bear."

CalTrans road info makes no mention of a closure: https://roads.dot.ca.gov/?roadnumber=38

Likewise, QuickMap shows nothing. https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/

HJ