This hike was all about trusting my instincts… and my instincts failed me.
Near the top of Mount Hillyer
For my second hike on this Angeles National Forest weekend (see Hike #16), I headed a little deeper into the forest. The hike begun at the Horse Flats Campground, a mile or so from the Chilao Visitor Center up Chilao Campground Road. The thin road looks like it has seen many decades of cars, but it isn’t suffering from any major potholes or storm damage. The trailhead for non-campers has been moved past the Horse Flats Campground, adding at least a mile in each direction to the three-mile hike. It was 2pm and I was hoping to get a third hike in after this one, so I cheated and parked in a campsite. I figured that with only a few of the 26 sites filled, I wasn’t doing much harm. I parked at campsite #8, the equestrian site with horse ties.
My first “mistake” of many happened just as I started the trek. The trail I started walking down was not the official trail head. I would learn later that this was just 100 yards further into the campground, near campsite #10. I realized my mistake fairly quickly with just a glance at my GPS, but continued on believing (incorrectly) that this trail would hit the main trail to Mt. Hillyer. The area here was much different than my earlier hike in the day. This hike took me through chaparral and pine, but mostly shadeless exposed boulder outcrops. (Add to the list of mistakes my decision to take the sunscreen out of my backpack for hike #16 and forget to put it back in for this hike.) The trail I was on had a few steep inclines up sandy paths, following the spine of rocks right up to the top. But after a mile or so, the path evened out on a plateau of about 6,000 feet in altitude. The summit of Mount Hillyer was difficult to find. This landscape has been worn down by wind and water, and the mountain top is long and flat. However, on the northeastern edge of this plateau is a steep hill. This is the summit of Mount Hillyer… I think.
It seemed to be the summit, at least. My GPS showed it as the summit, at 6,165 feet. But there were no trail signs or other hikers to confirm this.
Most of the problems I had on this trip was due to my final mistake: to trust my GPS. I had made it to the peak, where my GPS showed the dotted line of the actual trail ending. I figured that if I headed down the eastern side of the peak, I’d hit the trail and looping me back to Horse Flats campground. Almost immediately after leaving the summit, I “lost” the trail. It simply vanished among the Yucca, Mountain Mahogany, and Manzanita. I hiked up and down the side of the mountain in a search pattern, watching on the screen of my GPS the green dashed line representing my path crossing the black dashed line representing the trail.
I could have turned around and gone back to the peak, heading down the mountain the way I came, but I didn’t. Instead I continued whacking through the bushes, following animal paths or making my own. It wasn’t easy. Chaparral and Manzanita are strong plants with stiff branches, not caring to move for anything, let along a big hiker. The worst though were the Yucca whipplei, more commonly called Our Lord’s Candle. These spiky plants showed no mercy for my clumsiness. A brush up against one of these spiky plants and I’d have a sharp blade-like leaf puncturing my leg.
When I finally made it back to my car, blood from wounds sustained by stabbing agave had stained my pants and socks. I had blood caked onto one of my legs from the knee to the ankle. But I felt like I accomplished something much greater than expected. An adventure was had and I explored the unknown. I could have been smarter on my navigation, but I never felt in immediate danger. The last mile took me though some killer terrain, but I always stayed in visual contact with the campsite. If worse came to worst, I could have yelled for help down to the campsite.
What I learned on the hike:
- Sometimes the trusty GPS can be GP No. My guess is that the trail had been moved but the map inputted in the device was old.
- One of my favorite natural smells is that of Ponderosa Pine trees. Their bark smells like vanilla or butterscotch. Next time you see one, stick your nose into it and give it a good sniff!
- I saw some indistinct tracks in the silty dirt that looked like they belonged to a heavy animal. I wonder if there are any bears or mountain lions in this area?
Hike #17 Trip GPS Stats:
- Date of hike: June 13th, 2009
- Location: Horse Meadow Campground, Angeles National Forest, California
- Length: 2.8 miles
- Duration: 2 hour, 26 minutes
- Average speed: ±2.3 mph
- Altitude at start: 5,651 feet
- Altitude min.max: 5,640/6,171 feet
The map below was made with the data my GPS captured on the hike.
For a more detailed trip report map, check this out.
[VIDEO COMING SOON]
Photos:
Big Boulders and lightning-struck trees were a common sight on this trail.
Small purple flowers
More trees! More boulders!
Honey bees gathering water from a damp stream bed.
Impressive views near the top
A velvet ant, which is actually a wingless wasp. Red means 'go away' for this insect: their sting inspired the exaggerated nickname of 'cow killers'
I'm lost with a GPS, if that's even possible. I'm hiking a trail that's not on the GPS, but when I go to where the trail should be, it isn't there!
The last of the cloud cover
Bloodied by a yucca.
#1 by The Loop on July 2, 2009 - 1:32 am
Seriously, you're hardcore. Are you doing these hikes solo?
#2 by Zé on July 3, 2009 - 3:38 pm
welcome to the San Gabriel cross-country experience! it's fun as long as you can avoid yucca, and are dressed to block the other brush from hurting.
well the gps's “trails” I wouldn't rely on. its good to look at satellite images even and make some waypoints where you can see a trail or an area that “looks” reasonable. you have the same gps model I do (it's a good one), but the built-in tracks are not necessarily “true”. They are based on USGS topo maps, which include old trails that are not maintained any more.
A bunch of my hikes (like the mine hikes) have “trails” marked on the map, but they aren't maintained and now are basically cross country.
agree on the Ponderosa pine smell. that's why that area of the ANF is my favorite.
we saw a bear on one hike around Mt Waterman and Twin peaks. there are black bears. there are certainly mountain lions too. they traverse a lot of territory so it's hard to say where they 'reside'.
#3 by Henry W. Robison on July 5, 2009 - 6:39 pm
You are my hero man! Bloodied, but not down….that is perseverance! Keep up your great hiking idea Kolby! I can not wait to read them all.
Rob
#4 by Rick McCharles on July 8, 2009 - 7:15 pm
Gave you a shout out …
http://besthike.wordpress.com/2009/07/09/kolby-...
#5 by Kolby on July 8, 2009 - 7:44 pm
Thanks, Rick!
#6 by Ralpht1965 on September 22, 2009 - 12:12 am
Hey Kolby! Read about your hike on Hillyer. Was kinda surprised you had any problems there. The trail from Horse Flats up and over Mt. Hillyer is generally a pretty easy hike, with the trail being very visible and well maintained until it reaches the opposite end on Santa Clara Divide Rd. Anyone heading into the backcountry should carry a USGS map of the area and a compass and learn how to read them, rather than trusting a GPS. I hope you're carrying a personal first aid kit wherever you go, those yucca spikes can do some damage. If any of your hikes go into the desert, watch out for Cholla cactus they slip right in nice and painless but take chunks of flesh when they are pulled out. Oh and they go through leather too. Anyway, I would like to wish you lots of good times and many safe returns in all your hikes. Good Luck! and thanks for sharing.
#7 by Kolby on September 22, 2009 - 1:16 pm
Hi Ralph,
Thanks for your comment. I didn't have trouble getting to Mt. Hillyer, but rather the way back. My GPS and the most recent USGS have a trail heading along the eastern ridge of Hillyer. It's also interesting to note that the well defined trail I took to get to Mt. Hillyer is NOT on the map.
Thanks for the well wishes. Happy travels.
#8 by Zé on September 24, 2009 - 4:56 pm
yeah there are plenty of “trails” on the usgs maps that do not exist anymore. trust me many of my cross country explorations were allegedly following a “trail”.
2 good things to do: 1) check out the area on google earth / map satellite 2) ask people on the san gabriel mountain forum. tons of good info to get for a future hike there
#9 by Zé on September 24, 2009 - 11:56 pm
yeah there are plenty of “trails” on the usgs maps that do not exist anymore. trust me many of my cross country explorations were allegedly following a “trail”.
2 good things to do: 1) check out the area on google earth / map satellite 2) ask people on the san gabriel mountain forum. tons of good info to get for a future hike there