Today I hiked from Chantry Flats to Spruce Grove to Sturtevants Camp to Mt. Wilson to Hoegees to Chantry Flats. 15 miles round trip. Almost everytime I come to California I feel the need to do this hike, just to prove to myself that I still can. Fun story, I think ... Several miles of today's hike was shared with three Mexicans. Real nice guys. Their English was better than my Spanish. I told one that I knew a little Spanish. "Hablo poquito Espanol". This same fellow, whose English was probably the weakest of the three responds, without hesitation, "Well then, be careful." ha ha |
![]() At Chantry Flats. At this point I am undecided as to how far I will go. [01] |
![]() Lots of fern growing amongst the rock in this area. [02] |
![]() I took this picture for a friend of mine who has commented on this sign before, and who had an unfortunate encounter with an icy road last week which might well have ended in him becoming a part of the land. [03] |
![]() Sturtevant Falls had a lot of water but the view from the trail was obscured by the trees. [04] |
![]() Trailside water feature. [05] |
![]() Trailside water feature. [06] |
![]() My first backpack was to Spruce Grove, circa 1968. [07] |
![]() The trail from Sturtevant's Camp to Mt. Wilson is brutal, climbing 2500 feet in three miles, for an average grade of 15%. Seeing this sign -- which has been here at least since 1974 -- is always both a relief and a disappointment. [08] |
![]() Typical Mt. Wilson trail shot. [09] |
![]() There were a few patches of snow. [10] |
![]() This was as bad as the snow got. It was a bit unnerving though: this was a little icy and, for me, ice is a bigger concern than snow. [11] |
![]() Much of the trail from Sturtevant to Wilson has a lot of trees. But as you get higher and the trees get thinner, you start to see some magnificent views. [12] |
![]() Almost to the top. [13] |
![]() At the peak. The view from Echo Rock (adjacent to Mt. Wilson). You can see where last year's fire went through. Quite a dramatic difference from what I have seen so far. It is not until you get to Echo Rock that you see any evidence of the fire. The route from Chantry to Wilson was completely spared. [14] |
![]() I'm pretty sure that's Saddleback Mountain in the distance. [15] |
![]() Here was the most dangerous part of the hike: the road used by those who work and live on the mountain, There was a thin layer of ice, and twice I almost went down despite trying to be very careful. Wouldn't it be ironic, after all these years of hiking alone, if I was done in by ice on a paved road? [16] |
![]() The snack bar was open. I understand it has been open intermittenly over the years, but the last time I saw it open was in 1974 when I came here with my high school hiking club, the CalHi Hikers. "We get high on mountains." I know...corny. [17] |
![]() On the way down now. I took the Rim Trail to the Mt. Wilson Toll Road. This is looking into the depths of Eaton Canyon. [18] |
![]() From the Rim Trail, just below Mt. Wilson, Mt. Lowe looked so dignified. [19] |
![]() I cannot remember a clearer day up here: there's Catalina Island. [20] |
![]() Zooming in to Catalina, you can see the isthmus, and water beyond the isthmus. A clear day indeed! [21] |
![]() And after 7.5 miles of downhill, I am back at Chantry Flats. Writing this the next morning, my legs are really sore, but not the worst they've been after a hike like this. [22] |
Copyright © 2010 by Bill Qualls. Last updated November 29, 2010.
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