Socal Hikes – Page 14 – Serafina Hikes

Backpacking PCT Section A – Day 1

April 11, 2023January 8, 2024 @serafinahikes

I have thought and wondered about hiking the PCT a lot of the years. Living in Southern California, not far from the trail, I had hiked on short sections of it, out and back. I had not yet backpacked or thru hiked an entire section before. Section A starts in Campo, CA and is 107.1 miles long, ending in Warner Springs, CA. The prospect of hiking 100 miles was exciting to me. I knew the time to do it was in spring, after the nights warmed above freezing, and preferably after the winter time rains ended.

Los Pinos Peak

April 1, 2023January 30, 2024 @serafinahikes

It was a beautiful day for a 6 mile hike to Los Pinos Peak. I decided to head off into the Santa Ana Mountains. Heading north on Main Divide Road from Ortega Highway, there were two water crossings we had to make, which was not expected.

PCT Section A – 35 Miles from Scissors Crossing to Warner Springs

March 28, 2023May 9, 2023 @serafinahikes

I section hiked PCT Section A, starting in Scissors Crossing, as a solo female backpacker. I planned to hike to Warner Springs, and flip back to Campo, when I had a permit, which would be April.

San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

March 21, 2023April 1, 2023 @serafinahikes

We went for a 4 walk around the 300 acre San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary between rain squalls of the atmospheric river that was hitting California. The wetlands here act as a natural water filter. The plants found here, such as bullrush, help to filter urban runoff from San Diego Creek before it reaches Upper Newport Bay.

Meadows Trail

March 10, 2023June 2, 2023 @serafinahikes

I wanted to take on the "mentally sensitive," trail for a long time. Part of the trail travels along Meadows Trail, and the rest of it is called Sheep Run. But aside from feeling a little mentally sensitive, I would be adding part of Wood Canyon, and Car Wreck, for a 9.65 mile hike. The name of the trail was changed on alltrails from Mentally Sensitive , and is now called Meadows and Aswut Trail Loop. The trail begins at Moulton Meadows Park in the Alta Vista neighborhood of Laguna Beach, California. This park has grassy fields, a dog park, and restrooms. There is street parking all along Balboa Road, adjoining the park. Nobody knows for sure how the car wreck got there. Was it driven off a cliff on purpose or for a prank? Perhaps a storm washed it down the mountainside. Nobody seems to know for sure. There were so many wildflowers in bloom all along the way. This was a perfect springtime hike in Orange County in March.