Ok, let’s try this hike again…
Josh, Melanie and myself on First Water Trail near Hermit Falls
This would be the second outing for Melanie, Josh & I in this area of the Angeles National Forest. When we came here last week (hike #26), we didn’t have enough time to get down to Hermit Falls from Chantry Flats before I had to rush home to get ready for work. So we met up a little bit earlier – at 7:15am – and didn’t dilly dally around. We picked a good morning to hike, seeing only five people on the trail (highly unusual for the Chantry Flats area).
The falls were a let down. The natural beauty of the area was stained by graffiti and trash. There were coolers, underwear, socks, a half-eaten paper-bag lunch… it was as if there was an emergency evacuation and everybody left their crap at the falls. Nevertheless, the trail to the falls was clean and, in fact, quite beautiful.
Thoughts about the hike:
- I found a pair of sunglasses at the falls that I liked. Unfortunately, the owner realized he left them and was prepared to run from the parking lot back down to the falls to retrieve them. Lucky for him, we had hiked most of that distance before he ran into us on the trail. He thanked me for saving him the trip as I reluctantly returned his sunglasses. Easy come, easy go.
- We celebrated the completion of the hike by going to Robek’s Juice and getting smoothies.
Resources:
Hike #29 Trip GPS Stats:
- Date of hike: July 16th, 2009
- Location: Big Santa Anita Canyon – Sierra Madre, California
- Length: 2.8 miles
- Duration: 2 hours, 36 minutes
- Average speed: ±1.4 mph
- Altitude at start: 2,216 feet
- Altitude min.max: 1,539/2,216 feet
This map was made with the data my GPS captured on the hike.
For a more detailed trip report map, check this out.
Photos:
Posing along the river at First Water
Glorious morning light shining on Melanie.
I love the reflective power of a calm stream.
Melanie photographing me photographing her.
This isn't a camera's trick - the morning light made some portions of the water golden in color.
My favorite spot on the trail - even better than the falls.
So clean! Love it!
Josh posing along the stream.
Notice the graffiti below the final falls.
Hermit Falls
Adventurers!
An ironclad beetle found near the falls.
"SAY WHAT??"
Melanie before the return up hill. "The up is still gonna suck."
#1 by Casey on September 24, 2009 - 8:10 am
Whoa – that ironclad beetle looks pretty bad-ass.
The last time I was here, my friend Will and I watched in horror and amazement as a group of rowdy teenagers leapt from the top of the falls into the pool and scrambled back up slick rock to do it again.
#2 by Robb on September 28, 2009 - 4:52 pm
That uphill does suck, especially after a very long hike, and in the heat. That valley though is very nice to hike.
#3 by Robb on September 28, 2009 - 11:52 pm
That uphill does suck, especially after a very long hike, and in the heat. That valley though is very nice to hike.
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#4 by David Lockeretz on June 24, 2010 - 3:40 pm
Nice hike pictures! Congratulations on making your 100 hike goal.