Comments for SocalHikes.com - Southern California Hike Reports and Trail Information

Comment on Rattlesnake Peak by Scott R

Scott R — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 07:15:12 +0000

I recently tried this trip in the opposite direction. found the views fantastic! but I lost the trail on the way down the SE ridge and had to cut through some brush before I found it as it crossed the canyon and up to the abandoned road fun day!

Comment on Village to Baldy Pace Hike + 3T’s by Chenendez

Chenendez — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:53:26 +0000

I’ve been sitting around and vegetating for the past half year. I need a warm up hike. This looks like a winner. Is there water at Baldy Notch? As in, piped water, like the one outside the Ranger station on San Jacinto? Or do I have to use my after tax dollars to purchase? Or do I have to lug it all along with my Gameboy?

Comment on East Fork to Allison Gulch, Allison Mine, & Heaton Flat Trail by jason p

jason p — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 02:47:59 +0000

wanting to explore allison mine with my medal detector. usnally go up on sundays. anyone wanna go?

Comment on East Fork to Stanley-Miller Mine by Eric Osborne

Eric Osborne — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 08:26:38 +0000

Hi Daven, I haven’t talked with you in years, since you built the coolest rock fireplace in my backyard. I hope you are well. I was actually thinking of you a few weeks back. I was up on Baden- Powell and was thinking about trying to find the old miner’s trail with the blast hole through the rock from mine gulch to the unnamed mine you showed me some pictures of. Happy New Year buddy!

Comment on Mt. Baldy via the Big Horn Ridge by Joe Menard

Joe Menard — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:47:07 +0000

I attempted 3 times from ’09to ’10 and the farthest I could get was peak 7,242. And I’m a badass hiker!

Comment on Gold Dollar Mine – San Antonio Ridge – Iron Mountain Triple by Daven Gray

Daven Gray — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 02:59:18 +0000

The apparatus at the Baldora mine is not a stamp mill. The only standing stamp mill in these mountains is a 2 stamp at the Eagle mine. The machinery the fellow is climbing on is an ore hopper. Ore was brought down overhead by ariel tram from a tunnel 2 or 300 feet up on the mountain across the Dry Gulch stream. The ore was dumped into this hopper and was fed through the bottom into the “Little Giant” ball/cone crusher at the bottom of the hopper. The big overhead axle was run by an engine and canvas belts ran the crusher and other machinery.

Comment on East Fork to Stanley-Miller Mine by Daven Gray

Daven Gray — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:26:27 +0000

The Wetwater Trail is still there, at least the part that was blasted out of the cliff edge overlooking the East Foor stream. Find the remnants of Old Hickory Justices cabin above and behind Dave Cordi’s hut. Make your way through the bay and poisen oak etc, behind (east) of the cabin. The trail starts perhaps 50 or 75 yards from the cabin remnants and curves south up along the cliff for 2 or 300 yards and then abruptly ends at a ridge. From there, the trail was cut, switchbacking up through the brush to the mine. I’m sure it’s still there, hidden under the brush. It will come out of hiding when the next fire burns over the area. Take clippers along as stubborn Yucca is about the only thing that finds root in the hardrock cliffs. I’ve had to clip yucca every time I’ve been up the Wetwater. The trail from the Stanley Miller to the Allison starts on the south side of the ravine (the one with the cable going over it) south of the mine tunnel. I was able to follow it for a hundred yards or so south then it disappeared into the brush. Daven

Comment on East Fork to Allison Gulch, Allison Mine, & Heaton Flat Trail by Mark the Shark

Mark the Shark — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 23:55:19 +0000

My dad and I visited the Allison Mine during the Summer. Both routs were passable (the yucca were trimmed, but I recommend bringing some gardening scissors just in case). I found the route up the gulch to be much easier and even pleasant.

There is water at the mine, but if you’re going to use the Heaton Flats trail, I recommend that you bring LOTS and LOTS of water. Our first attempt was along the Heaton Flats with a gallon of water each and we nearly succumbed to heat exhaustion. Maybe I just sweat too much, but one gallon is not enough for me to make that trip in the summer heat.

Comment on East Fork to Stanley-Miller Mine by Mark the Shark

Mark the Shark — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 23:40:56 +0000

My dad, cousin, and I took a casual stroll up to the Stanley-Miller Mine last month. The mine entrance is still passable without having to crawl, but I suspect that as the years wear on, that will change. We climbed up the angled oblique shaft inside and saw other shafts proceeding down and horizontally, but the air smelled weird up there and, having absolutely no knowledge of the dangers of mines, decided to turn back (I’ve heard that there can be dangerous gasses in mines).

A few words of wisdom: Keep a sharp eye out for Hobo Dave’s hut! We pulled a bone-headed stunt and marched right past it on our first attempt at the Stanley-Miller. My dad is incredibly stubborn, and I take after him, so we pressed on all the way to Fish Fork before conceding defeat. Also, bring a pair of leather/work gloves so you can use the metal cable to help climb that steep slope without getting rusty metal splinters in your hands.

One of these days I’d like to check out the Wetwater Trail. It looks washed out from far away, but I’ve noticed that trails often look deceptively non-existent from afar. Has anyone tried walking out on that crazy thing?

Comment on Gold Dollar Mine – San Antonio Ridge – Iron Mountain Triple by Mark the Shark

Mark the Shark — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 23:28:44 +0000

My dad and I have been attacking the Iron Mountain mine hikes over the last few months, and this site has proven to be an invaluable resource! Therefore, I felt like I should finally contribute by posting a comment or two.

We naively attempted to hike out to the Eagle Mine via the Heaton Flat Trail/Highline Trail a few days ago and BOY HOWDY was the Highline Trail a doozy! We wasted over an hour and a half trimming our way through yocca! I hope our diligent efforts are put to use, as the trail is nice and passable for the time being (until those Yocca regrow their evil stabbing appendages), so anyone interested in a nice leisurely stroll around Coldwater Canyon should do so soon-ish.

It was well past 1:00pm by the time we reached the Baldora ruins and, not wanting to be on the Highline Trail in the dark, decided to turn back rather than press on to the Eagle Mine. I searched around for the stamp mill with the “surprising” ball bearings, but I suspect it might have succumbed to age. There was wooden wreckage that resembled what I’d imagine a toppled stamp mill would look like. However, we didn’t have time to comb the area thoroughly, so it is possible that the mill still stands and we simply did not find it.

We’re going to see how we hold up on a hike to the top of Iron Mountain next month. If that goes well, we might start toying with the idea of descending to the Gold Dollar and Eagle Mines from above (though, Gunsight Notch sure looks terrifying).