"Comin' from the West Side, West Side. Nuttin but the West Side. It's hittin on the West Side. Fool, you know how we do it." - Ice Cube
This is the post is part of a series I'm writing about local Los Angeles Weekend Adventures.
There are a ton of waterfalls in the San Gabriel Mountains where we go canyoneering, but I think this very lovely, droopy, moss-covered waterfall on the West Side is the prettiest I've seen (so far) in Los Angeles.
If you want to do a short, 2 hour-ish hike that involves some basic rock scrambling with a great visual payoff, then this is the hike for you! There are three distinct waterfall vistas; and after we've had rain, the upper falls are nothing short of spectacular.
What do you mean by "Rock Scrambling"?
When you're hiking and using your hands to climb for balance and support, you're rock scrambling. It's a great introduction to rock climbing, or "technical climbing", where equipment such as harnesses, ropes and hardware may be used for your ascent.
Some basics to remember:
- Be courteous - This is a popular trail, so there are many different types of people with different abilities. Share the trail. When going downhill, the uphill hikers have the right of way.
- Read the terrain and tread lightly - There will be loose rocks, or scree that could be kicked out from under you, and fall on an unsuspecting hiker's head. Test the rocks before applying your weight to avoid dislodging them. If you've kicked a rock free, yell "Rock!" loudly to alert the people below you. If someone above you dislodged a rock, and you hear it tumbling down, yell "Rock!" and protect yourself by ducking and covering your head with your arms.
- Use three points of contact - Always use three body "points" when scrambling, (both feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot should be on the rock at all times) for better stability, and to distribute your weight evenly.
- Wear proper clothing - Longsleeves and long pants protect you from poison oak, and a good boot, or sticky approach shoe will help you navigate the terrain much easier than sport sandals, tennis shoes, or flip-flops.
- Bring lots of water - and drink it. Hydration is very important, especially as temperatures rise.
The turnback point is at the base of the lower falls for those who don't want to scramble.
Unique Wildlife
I've heard rumors that there are giant, red salamanders that hang out in the lower falls, but every time I've gone, I've never seen any.
Evil Plantlife
Where there is water, there is usually poison oak, so be careful and avoid contact. I tested out Ivy Block the last time I hiked this, wearing a spaghetti-strap tank top, and only ended up with a smattering of it on one arm. Buy it if you are like me, and get poison oak just by looking at it. See my blog about poison oak.
How to Get There
(Lat: 34.0258 Lon: 118.78376)
Off of the Pacific Coast Highway 1 in Malibu, turn on Winding Way, where you will see a sign to a parking area, and a small, brown building that disappointingly, doesn't have bathrooms. You do not need an Adventure Pass to park.
Follow the road through the upscale development for about a mile, past the brown park sign, to the grassy trailhead leading down on the left.
While hiking through the canyon, you will cross a creek several times until you reach the lower falls. This is a good place to look for salamanders before you continue upwards on the scramble portion of the trail on the right.
The trail veers left, and descends slightly, where you will cross some boulders, and encounter the middle tier of cascading water (watch for poison oak!) If you don't take the trail on the left and continue to scramble upwards, you will bypass the middle falls, and reach the upper falls.
I don't recommend hiking past the base of the upper falls. The trail is exposed, with a lack of good handholds.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rock Scrambling Classes
Alpine Training Services is hosting the Joshua Tree Rock Climbing Festival May 9th and 10th, with beginner rock climbing clinics on Saturday, May 9th. Click here to register.
Another fantastic program I highly recommend is the Wilderness Travel Course offered by the Sierra Club. There is a basic introduction to scrambling and rock-climbing techniques that are taught on a weekend trip in Joshua Tree. The class also teaches you navigation, snow camping and travel techniques, such as ski pole self-arrest, and how to build an igloo (weather permitting). See video.
0 comments:
Post a Comment