Category: LA County Peaks

Hiking Icehouse Canyon to Bighorn Peak

@serafinahikes

I started my hike up to Bighorn Peak a lot later in the day than I was hoping to. It was around 11:30 am when I arrived at the parking area, to find it completely full on a Saturday morning. I drove downhill, parking along the road. By the time I had gotten ready to head out and reached the trailhead, it was now about 12 noon. My goal today was to head to a peak, and there were several choices. I could hike to Timber Mountain, which was the last peak I hiked to here. I could go on to Cucamonga again, a peak I have been wanting to re-visit for years. It’s 4000 feet of gain, making me re-consider if I am ready today, with this late start. Then there is Etiwanda, beyond Cucamonga, which was also on the list.

Pacifico Mountain via the PCT

@serafinahikes

Today I would be hiking another short section of the PCT, bound for Pacifico Mountain, elevation 7104 ft. It was my first time hiking from the trailhead at Mill Creek Summit, to the peak. I knew there were several other peaks, a short distance from Pacifico, such as Granite Mountain, and Roundtop. Hiking to Pacifico Mountain is no easy feat, since it has over 2300 feet of gain. There is a PCT hiker friendly campground right at the peak.

Getting Lost in Mount Gower Preserve – 10.5 miles in the San Diego Backcountry

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The hike to Mount Gower sit's deep within in the backcountry of San Diego, in rural Ramona, CA. This area is the site of many popular hikes such as Cedar Creek Falls. It also is prone to becoming notoriously hot, especially in the canyons. Aside from the potential for suffering heat exaustion, having a run-in with rattlesnakes, and the other wildlife which frequent the area. To minimize my chances of encountering snakes, I had chosen to hike here during a cooler month of the year, early in the morning. This does decrease, though not eliminate the chances for snake encounters.

Timber Mountain via Chapman Trail

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Today my plan was to take Icehouse Canyon to Chapman Trail, before hiking on to Icehouse Saddle. I had been planning to hike to Timber Mountain, one of the Three’s T’s, the last of the three I had not summited after Thunder Mountain and Telegraph Peak.

Mount Islip Elevation 8250

@serafinahikes

I drove up to Crystal Lake Recreation Area from Hwy-39, parking at the Islip Ridge trailhead. After climbing up to four peaks a year ago, to “The Four Hawkins,” I was back again in a beautiful alpine wilderness, standing deep within a giant granite bowl. But there was one more adjoining peak I had not climbed, Mount Islip, which is included in the Sierra Club’s Hundred Peaks section.