This is part 5 of the “Why We Hike” Series
Given the ambitiousness of the “1000 Mile Plan”, it was obvious that we needed to trim down and tone up. A lot. So we took a better look at the training resources close at hand. Most of all, we were bless/cursed with Mount Lukens. It is a 5000′ peak, the tallest within Los Angeles city limits and it was located only a few blocks uphill from our house.
From the south, you can start at Deukmejian Park and take Crescenta View trail about 4.5 miles and 3000′ up to the top. More often Kelly and I would turn around at the 2 mile point in the mornings so we could get back in time for work. On a relatively clear day from the top you can see all the way past Los Angeles to Catalina Island.
In addition to this all too convenient trail, we had others to choose from too. From the north side of Mt Lukens is Stone Canyon trail. The first 3 miles of the ascent here gains 2700′ before mellowing out on the last mile to the top for a total of 3300′ gain in 4 miles. Kelly and I only did this trail twice and we descended down the south side of the mountain and walked to the house each time.
Just north of Mt Lukens is Trail Canyon and as you might suspect, it does have a trail going through it. A mile or so into Trail Canyon trail there is a nice waterfall when the watershed and springs are flowing.
The ascent was sort of nice, the crossing back and forth of the creek, often being under a canopy of trees and the waterfall. But getting to the ridge was anticlimactic. The view wasn’t very good and there weren’t even any good rocks to sit on for lunch.
Just to the east of Trail Canyon is Condor Peak. If I remember right it is close to 6000′ tall. Anyhow, there is a trail that takes you just under the peak and we decided to give it a try. Here is the only photo we have from that day, I’m not sure what we are seeing or where on the trail it was taken, but there you go, enjoy.
This Condor Peak trail tale isn’t about photos anyhow. It’s really about poor decisions, misery and accomplishment. It turns out that due to heavy rains, there were several washed out sections of trail. We gingerly crossed each one but soft dirt sliding down steep mountainsides was anything but confidence inspiring. Then just when we could see Condor Peak in front of us, it threw us one more set of obstacles, a series of 45 degree climbing slopes over loose rock. Nice.
So we ascended the ridge that runs under the peak and while we were eating lunch discussed the idea of continuing to the next ridge then descending down Trail Canyon trail to the road. We figured maybe a mile on the road and we would be at the trailhead where we left the car.
We were wrong.
As the sun set, we FINALLY made it to the car after a 6.5 mile trek up the road. I check the GPS and we had just put in a 20 mile day. At least it was new record for us.
Oh yeah, beware of ticks.
There were a few other hikes we made exploring the Angeles National Forest (that is quite literally in our back yard) and although I wouldn’t want to do these in the heat and crowded summer, for the off season it’s pretty cool to have them so close.
Continued here: Year of the Dog
Dude, I didn’t know my life’s story could be summed up in one sentence until I read it here: “It’s really about poor decisions, misery and accomplishment.”. But I hear you loud and clear and I love it. Anything worth having you have to earn- most of the time ‘earning it’ involves varying degrees of pain. At least in my experiences anyways. Thanks for sharing.