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cadesun 
Group: Members
Posts: 31
Joined: Dec. 2009
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Posted on: Nov. 02 2012, 1:55 pm |
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Hi all!
My wife and I are taking a trip to the Los Angeles area the first week in December and were hoping for some recommendations on good overnight backpacking trails in the area. We will be doing some car camping with another couple as well so any input on good spots would be greatly appreciated! I think anywhere within a 6 hour drive or so is fine with us.
We are used to backpacking the Rockies so we are wondering what to expect weather-wise too.
Thanks!
Cade
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Adventures in travel, cooking, photography and life...
cadeandmolly.com
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| Post Number: 2
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tarol
Well I never!
Group: Members
Posts: 10294
Joined: Mar. 2003
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Posted on: Nov. 02 2012, 6:41 pm |
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Weather - who knows. It's highly variable that time of year. Sometimes it's dry warm and sunny - other times we start getting rain/snow.
Anyway, here are some So Cal backpacking ideas:
Santa Cruz Island, a one hour boat ride from Ventura - Scorpion Camp (easy overnight, with dayhiking opportunities) or Del Norte to Scorpion (two nights, gotta carry your water) - it costs a little bit of money for the boat ride and camping fees but well worth it!!! May see some migrating gray whales on the way there. You can also go kayaking 
Joshua Tree NP, within 2-3 hours of LA - Boyscout Trail, Lost Palms Oasis - or if you're comfortable navigating off trail - Quail Mountain or Carey's Castle - gotta carry all your water.
Angeles NF - close to LA! Chantry Flats to Spruce Grove - gotta get to Chantry early if you do this on a weekend! (small parking lot fills up quick) Need an adventure or interagency pass to park - obtain at REI or Big 5. You can climb Mt. Wilson after you reach camp if you want a more strenuous hike. May have to carry your water.
Cucamonga Wilderness, within an hour and a half or so of LA - Middle Fork Trail to Third Stream Crossing is usually snow free - and there is water - and bighorn sheep if you're lucky - need a high clearance vehicle and an adventure pass and a wilderness permit - obtain the latter two at Lytle Creek Ranger Station open Friday-Tues 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
San Gorgonio Wilderness, within 2 hours of LA - Momyer to Alger Camp is usually still snow free that time of year, and there's water - need an adventure pass and a wilderness permit - obtain at Mill Creek Ranger Station open Thursday-Monday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
More ideas here:
http://www.tarol.com/backpacking
For car camping I'd recommend Joshua Tree NP, Death Valley NP, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, or maybe one of the CA State Beaches - we like Pt. Mugu near Malibu.
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Got elevation? www.tarol.com
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| Post Number: 3
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High_Sierra_Fan
Group: Members
Posts: 39514
Joined: Aug. 2005
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Posted on: Nov. 02 2012, 9:08 pm |
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Depending on weather, I've been blown out of Joshua Tree, though usually later in the spring, the landscape at Joshua Tree has unique offerings for car campers.
The coast will be more reliably milder, true. One of the Big Sur parks would be great.
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| Post Number: 4
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cadesun
Group: Members
Posts: 31
Joined: Dec. 2009
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Posted on: Nov. 06 2012, 3:28 pm |
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Thanks for the input!
We were also thinking of journeying up to the Big Sur area for a couple days, any good backcountry trips in that neck of the woods?
Cade
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Adventures in travel, cooking, photography and life...
cadeandmolly.com
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| Post Number: 5
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toejam
the high road is hard to find
Group: Members
Posts: 1458
Joined: Mar. 2002
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Posted on: Nov. 07 2012, 8:35 am |
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In the Big Sur area the Buckeye Trail in the Silver Peak Wilderness is my favorite easy backpacking trip. You'll find lots of suggestions here:
http://www.ventanawild.org/forums/
The weather is usually great but it has to rain sometime.
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| Post Number: 6
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SW Mtn backpacker
Born to hike, forced to work ...
Group: Members
Posts: 6711
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Nov. 16 2012, 6:45 pm |
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If you get up in Big Sur, there's both trips that go the oceanview and those on the other side (I did Arroyo Seco - had to pay $5 parking but there was a shower to come back to ... for 50 cents more).
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Usually Southwest and then some.
In wildness is the preservation of the world. - Henry Thoreau
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| Post Number: 7
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tarol
Well I never!
Group: Members
Posts: 10294
Joined: Mar. 2003
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Posted on: Nov. 20 2012, 6:44 pm |
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Just got back from the Chantry Flat area - we stayed at Hoegees Camp - or there's Spruce Grove - both have water right now and very pretty fall colors
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Got elevation? www.tarol.com
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| Post Number: 8
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| Post Number: 9
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cadesun
Group: Members
Posts: 31
Joined: Dec. 2009
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Posted on: Nov. 29 2012, 12:18 am |
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Thanks all! Hoping for good weather!
Brett - ??
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Adventures in travel, cooking, photography and life...
cadeandmolly.com
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