Los Padres Trip

[Puddles]

So the trip this weekend went off without a hitch. It was cut slightly short due to some incoming bad weather and an old knee injury of my buddies, coming back but it was still a damn good time. It was my first real backpacking trip so it was good to get an idea of how much weight I can carry, etc. There was tons of water so the bugs were pretty much out of control but keeping a piece of cloth smoldering on the end of a stick seemed to make enough smoke to keep them all away anytime we were camped. I didn't get as many pics as I would have liked but here are a few. I'm the one with the red pack.


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[n2h2o]

looks like a sweet spot to camp.. i wanna go.. where is this? i have been pestering the gf for a while to do an over nighter.,
how many miles was it round trip??

[Puddles]

There are a ton of different trails around the area but the trail we were on was like a 16 mile out and back. There were a couple trail camps along the way though at the 1 and 3 mile mark so you could cut the mileage way back if you wanted. I'll look it up tonight and see if I can get you some links.

[NEJ]

You guys are savy hikers. I can tell by the walking sticks. Must be you learned that from your trip up East Fork of the San Gabriel River. For those who haven't had to cross a stream with a pack on---the walking stick is for balance when you step from rock to rock. Indispensable on the "Bridge to Nowhere" hike.

NJ

[Puddles]

Haha, truer words were never spoken NJ. There are like a half dozen stream crossings on the bridge to nowhere hike. A decent walking stick often means the difference between a soaking wet shoe and a dry sock. Luckily, I always carry an extra dry pair in my pack for just such an occasion. Luck favors the prepared you know :D.

N2 - I found most of the info from this site. Check out the link if you and your girl are interested, we really enjoyed it and would totally go back. I think that in the summer time it probably gets pretty warm though. As a side note, it doesn't mention this anywhere that I found but there are something like 30 (yes... thirty) stream crossings from the trailhead to the schoolhouse. Most of which you have no choice but to walk through the water!

-Damien

[n2h2o]

what link??

[n2h2o]

http://www.troop484.com/camping/manzana1.html
is this it??
for some reason i thought los padres forrest was south of LA... im all turned around,,haha

[Puddles]

Haha yep, that's the one.

[Puddles]

I just realized that I forgot to paste the link, it's been a long day haha.

http://www.santabarbarahikes.com/hikes/sanrafael/manzanaschoolhouse.shtml

[n2h2o]

its all good..
i havent done this bridge to nowhere, this is up san gabriel river right?
there is a hike with a camp ground at the end. ill have to look it up but it looks like a good hike and i think there is water along the way. i have been busy with work and not able to get out and go for an over nighter... i need to do this soon... im jonesin for an over night hike.
puddles... you should gather your posse and come up to Bishop in June. we are doing Bishop pass trail for 3 days then regular camping for 3 more.. i cant wait for this trip!!! i am a little worried about the snow.,, i think we will be sleeping on snow.. ugh~!!

[Puddles]

Yeah, bridge to nowhere is up Azusa so it's just a few minutes away from Pasadena. Here is a link to a write up about the hike itself (http://www.modernhiker.com/2008/08/11/hiking-the-east-fork-of-san-gabriel-river-to-the-bridge-to-nowhere/). This guys blog is one of if not the best hiking blog I've found so far. He has a ton of write ups for stuff all through the San Gabriel's and Santa Monica mtns.

That trip through Bishop pass sounds cool, will there really be snow that late in the year?! What kind of elevation is that trail at? Get me the details whenever you know and I'll definitely see if we can make it as well :D

[n2h2o]

yeah there will be snow.. i dont know how much, i have been there when my truck mirrors were scrapping snow and ive been there in shorts and t-shirt same time of year. with all the snow we have had this year up there i am expecting snow or at least cold weather.. my not be tons of snow., but snow will for sure be on the ground. check it out South Lake Bishop.. google it and you will get something.
we are going june 22-27// the other campground is four Geoffrey's.
ill check that blog out later.. after dinner.. vons had a good deal on pork chops.. got me 9 good sized chops for $7 something.. ;)

[Puddles]

That place looks awesome! Depending on how much snow there is, I'm not sure if we would be able to make it just because neither have a vehicle with any decent ground clearance or 4 wheel drive. If the roads aren't that bad then it might not be an issue at all though. We'll see what the weather is like and whether work will be ok enough to get the time off. Thanks for giving me the heads up, it sounds like it's gonna be an amazing trip.

Enjoy those pork chops, sounds like you lucked out and got a hell of a deal on those :D

[n2h2o]

you do not need a 4 wheeled drive vehicle to get to the trail/. the roads should be plowed and open all the way to the parking lot. i was reading some reports and seemed like the snow was started to melt or clear away on its own.

the chops were mmhmm good.