Tuesday, December 22, 2015

easy hikes

Easy hikes are hikes that we can do with friends, family, and other people. I am going to list the hikes:

Oak glen
Forest falls

1. Oak Glen

Hiking date: February 5 2013 
Location: Oak glen CA
Rate: easy
Oak Glen is a enjoyable hike that is good for kids. You start off at the little buildings in Los Rios Ranch. Walk over to the parking lot and see the trail. As you hike, notice some small buildings such as a little building, a building that has some pictures of wildlife, and eventually, a fire hose. Turn left and go across a bridge and you might see a pond. Turn left and go down a shaded path for a while. You'll come across a another pond and go down. Go through some big trees and reach a picnic table. This is a good place to stop and have a picnic lunch. Then go up the trail and see some stair like logs. Go up the trail, make one switchback and enter a meadow. After you leave the meadow, go north on a road to get back to your car. It is a good and fun hike.
Sitting on a bench


Building a dam:


2. Forest Falls


Hiking date: February 9 2012 
Location: Forest Falls CA
Rate: easy

I haven't been on this trail in a long time so I am going to tell you what we did there. The trail was really nice because it was pretty and peaceful. I got a bloody knee, ate a snack, and more.

Sitting on a log



Monday, December 21, 2015

Hiking gear

A few of you are probably wondering what type of stuff I do these hikes with. So I will tell you!

I hike with a Camelbak, (a type of backpack that has tube that supplies water)


 


a compass,







a flashlight,





 a first aid kit, 







an altimeter,



enough water,


and much more, it is good to be prepared.

Wildwood #4

Hiking date: December 20 2015
Location: Yucaipa CA 
Rate: hard

After all these times hiking Wildwood, we finally finished it! It took about 4 hours for us to do the hike. We were actually going to do Skyline again and get to the first rescue box, but my mom wasn't feeling the best, so we did this instead. You start in the parking lot, and go north on the dirt road. Do NOT go on any trails that veer off in any other direction because that will take you on the easy loop, (see Wildwood, just the name). Keep going north and reach a big farm. Unfortunately, the farm was boarded up but I think that it would be beautiful if it was still in use. Go up, see a town below, and see another building. Then, start ascending the first half of the loop and Pisca Peak. Keep climbing the ridge and see two wooden markings. If you see them, that means you are on the right track. Eventually, you reach a gate that leads to Pisca Peak. If you want to complete the loop, turn right. Go south and see a radio tower and some dirt paths below you. At this point, you are heading over to the opposite side of the ridge. Hike for about five minutes and then start descending Wildwood #1 ( it's on the blog) to reach your car. It was long but fun to complete the hike.

Huge chunks of ice!


On the north side of the ridge:

Monday, December 14, 2015

Wildwood

Hiking date: all the time
Location: Yucaipa  CA
Rate: easy


This is one of those hikes that we can do anytime. But today I am going to tell you about the time that we have done this trail recently. You start at the parking lot, and go down to some benches. Keep going and the trail splits into two parts. Turn right and go up the path. Make a right (just so you know, this part may be steep for some people) and go out into the sunlight. Keep going and run into another junction. You can either go through a shortcut, or you can continue. Keep going until you reach a picnic table. Turn left and run into a house. Then keep going and turn left into some brush. Go out into a field. Then make a bend, go down, and see a dirt road that will lead you to your car. There are so many trails but it is fun.

On the way down:


The bench:


Tuesday, December 8, 2015

South Lykken

Hiking date: January 6 2015
Location: Palm Springs CA
Rate: Normal

 This is the hike that got me going with the hiking business. Today, we did a hike called South Lykken. The part that we went on was basically a bunch of switchbacks. You start at the southwest part of palm springs on highway 111. Go by some houses and start climbing. It may be a little challenging for some people who are not used to this type of thing, But you will get used to it in a bit. Make a bend and go up to some picnic tables. If you want to see more, search for, " South Lykken#2". It was fun and a good fit hike for us.

The parking lot


The benches

 

South Lykken #2

Hiking date: January 19 2015 
Location: Palm Springs CA 
Rate: Normal

We did South Lykken trail again only we went a little further. From the point we stopped on the first round of South Lykken, we went down the hill and the trail splits up into 2 parts. One trail goes higher, and the other goes down. The upper path goes on the side of the mountain. On the other trail, you can see a water tower and a bunch of little trails. Go down and you might see a rock pile. Then keep going, make a bend around a rock, and go down into a small neighborhood. Unfortunately, you are about a mile north from your car. It was fun and good.

On a rock:


On the side of a large mountain:

Friday, December 4, 2015

Museum trail/ Skyline

Hiking date: February 23 2015
Location: Palm Springs CA
Rate: Very hard

The Skyline trail is a trail that starts in Palm Springs and goes all the way up to the tramway with an elevation gain of about 8000 feet. This is the lower segment of the trail which is known as the Museum Trail. Start at a museum and go through the parking lot and you will see the trail. Do one switchback and cross a paved road and cross a another trail which is the real trail. It is very rocky and steep for the first part. Then the trail is easier to follow.  Follow the trail by finding white marks
 It was hard but fun.

Skyline trail:
 

Looking at the view:


Skyline #2

Hiking date: April 12 2015
Location: Palm Springs CA
Rate: very hard

We did Skyline again, only this time we went a another hour further. From the point we stopped on Skyline, ( just Skyline, no number or anything) go up a small hill. Next, go down and see a sign that says to stay on the heavily used trail. Turn right and remember that because if you don't, you will be going on the North Lykken Trail. If you go north, you should see a couple signs and keep going. Next, go southwest up a hill. It was fun to see what was beyond the benches. ( which is on Skyline, Just the name), but I really wanted to do the whole thing.

One point of the trail:

                                                                 
                                                                 Beyond the benches: 
                                                     
                                            

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Skyline #3

Hiking date: April 25 2015
Location: Palm Springs CA
Rate: Very hard

Skyline is here once more! We did the same thing as Skyline #2, only we went about a hour further. At the point we stopped on Skyline #2, go up some ways and see a valley. Then, go between some rocks and start doing some switchbacks. Go left and make a bend. We don't know what is beyond there, but you can click here to see the rest of the trail. It was hard but fun.

Me and Papa in front of a rock cove:


Our stopping point:

Monday, November 30, 2015

Murray Hill (in training)

Hiking date: May 30  2015
Location: Palm Springs CA
Rate: Hard


Murray hill is a hike that goes up to the highest point in the area, Murray Hill. You start off at the west side of the peak. Next, head up the, "Garstin Trail" to some switchbacks. Hike along the top of a hill and hike down. You will see a few tall peaks and the tallest one out of them is Murray hill. Go up the, "Clara Burgess Trail". Next, you'll reach some small bumps and then go up to a tall peak. Go about 45 minutes further to reach the summit. It was tempting to do the whole thing.


Going down:   







Sunday, November 29, 2015

Wildwood #3

Hiking date: August 16 2015
Location: Yucaipa CA
Rate: hard

Wildwood is back! We did the same thing only we went 30 minutes further. From the point we stopped on Wildwood #2, go around a bend and go north. Next, go on the side of a large hill and you will see a tower. We don't know what is beyond there, so I recommend you check somewhere first before you keep going. It was sad that we couldn't go further, but it was amazing how challenging it was compared to the easy loop.

Our stopping point:


One of the hardest parts of the hike:

Diamond Valley

Hiking date: November 29 2015
Location: Hemet
Rate: easy


Diamond Valley is a great hike that goes all the way around the lake. You start by driving down into the valley and stop at the tollbooth. The cost is $9 per car and $2 per person. go west and go up and wide path and turn and go around a few half oval shapes for the rest of the time. There is about three benches and a lot of porta potties. The views are beautiful and we thought it was a great hike.

Our stopping point:


San Jacinto peak from the valley:

Massacre trail

Hiking date: November 28 2015
Location: Near San Jacinto CA
Rate: Hard-Very hard (I guessed)  

The Massacre trail is a trail that leads through the Badlands. It is not a safe hike due to narrow paths and loose gravel. You start a little ways off the 79. Head north and you will see a bunch of vandalism and a few pumpkins which have been shot. Next, go past a vandalized rock building and then a another trail goes the opposite direction. You can keep going on the path or go up the other path, which is the risky way. Head up the risky path and you will see some tall grass. You can head south and go back to where you started, or you can go north and go on. For the first part, the trail is nice and wide, but as you keep going, the trail gets really narrow. So one side is a tall slope and the other leads down to the canyon where the other trail is. It is actually good training for the trail Devils Backbone. We stopped and turned around and did the trail, "Diamond Valley" instead.

The parking lot:



One of the steep slopes:

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Wildwood #2

Hiking date: June 19 2015
Location: Near Yucaipa CA
Rate: hard
Wildwood actually expands a lot more then we thought. We actually were planning to do Momyer trail, but that was when the 31,359 acre Lake fire started (which was close to Momyer), so we did this instead. You start 2/3 of the way through Wildwood #1, only make a right this time. Head toward a hill and go up it. It will have a lot of brush. As you make a bend, it will clear up. Go north on a ridge and go up a steep and small hill. Than go east for about 20 minutes to reach the top. By the way, about half of that time is steep. It was challenging but fun. Sorry that the pictures are blurry.

Our way to keep cool:



Toward the end of the hike:

Friday, November 27, 2015

Mt Baldy Loop

Hiking date: July 17 2015
Location: Mt. Baldy CA
Rate: hard


Mt. Baldy Loop is one of the many trails that goes up to Mt. Baldy. It is one out out of four of the major peaks in Southern California. You park at Manker flats and should see a few porta potties. You actually start at San Antonio Falls. Head up a paved road for about five minutes and you can see the gentle San Antonio falls. Next, head up a dirt road and keep a sharp eye out for a narrow path that goes the opposite direction. Make a curve and head up the side of a canyon for about 30 minutes. Go North and the trail goes all sorts of directions. Pass a few creeks and do several switchbacks and reach a ski hut. Then go another two hours to reach the summit. It was warm but great. 


At the ski hut:



Cameron on a slope:

 

Plunge creek truck trail

Hiking date: October 10 2015
Location: Highland CA
Rate: easy

The Plunge Creek Truck Trail is a hike that starts in Highland and goes to the 330. You go to a cul-d-sac and you will see a path. Turn left and go up a paved road until you reach a water tower. Then keep going and go on the side of a small meadow for about 10 minutes. Cross the meadow and see the two humped San Bernardino peaks. Then go up several switchbacks and head west to a service tower. Then head 1 and 1/2 hours further reach the 330. Be sure to have a shuttle waiting to pick you up. It was easy but fantastic.


Ready to go







At the service tower

Murray Hill (east flank)



Hiking date: November 8 2015
Location: Palm Desert CA
Rate: hard 

Hi! My name is Cameron. I LOVE to hike. I have done so many of them that I just can't help doing this. This is a blog of the hikes that I do. And I will be adding more all the time.

In late October, we went on The Murray Hill Trail for the second time. This time we did the east side of the peak. You start off at a store, then head up a path and turn left and come to a junction.Then, turn left and climb up a path that gets steeper the higher you get. Keep going and you will find a bunch of little trails. Turn left on a wide one and keep going. As you keep going, you will run into a canyon and pass an area called Jane's Hoffbrau Oasis. Then, keep going until you reach the, "Clara Burgess trail". Keep going until you reach the peak. It took us 5 hours but it was a good hike. You can click here to see a video of us reaching the peak.

Taking a break 

Here is a video of us reaching the summit