![]() So I could take it or leave it - but it may help. I think poles will be helpful maybe coming down from the peak part - I brought a pole but never ended up using it. And with the wind, I’m really glad I left my hat at home - it’s crazy at the peak - be super aware bc it’ll blow you down! My fingers, legs, butt and face were all numb after being up at the peak! So check the weather before you go. There was no ice or snow, but with the current weather pattern, it was absolutely FREEZING!! Luckily I planned ahead and brought gloves bc I did really need them. It was super windy - especially at the peak. And there’s no people (we got there at 830am on a Monday)!! We only saw 2 other hikers right at the end for about 2 minutes and then 1 mountain biker coming up and that was it! It was so peaceful and quiet! Amazing! We even saw a large group of California Quail and a Red Tailed Hawk! The rain has caused some washed out areas - but the path is well maintained and wide enough to find decent areas to walk. The trail itself has lots of rocks and gravel too. It’s a steep rock face and doesn’t have a well-defined path - and there aren’t too many good foot holes - we did a lot of butt scooting - especially on the way down haha! I’d call it a moderate trail, but the last tiny bit up to the peak is definitely advanced. And we gained just over 1000 feet in the first 1 3/4 miles - so it’s definitely steep. This was also my first peak - and it’s a really great one if you’re looking for a first one to see what it’s like - it’s a relatively short “peak hike” - AllTrails says 3 miles but we did closer to 4 miles actually. At one point I had to stop and take it all in and it was then that I suddenly realized I was looking right at the Pacific ocean lol! You can see absolutely everything it seems like - the SGV, the “valley”, Malibu - you get it all here! This hike has taken the top spot of my fave local hikes, hands down! It’s the highest peak in the Santa Monica range and the views are just breathtaking. Overall, the trail provides a great workout and the opportunity to enjoy some fresh air away from the crowds. You’ll most likely not have signal so bring a map / check the trail beforehand. There’s little shade so wear sunscreen and bring a hat. Wear hiking boots, sneakers work give you good traction. The trail is rocky and to get up to the peak, you might need to strategically rock climb (in the loosest sense). Note that the latter is a trail that’s not maintained by the NPS so it’s overgrown. The trail connects to others like the Secret Grotto and the Balanced Rock trail. You can opt to go clockwise for a shorter but steeper ascent, or counterclockwise for a longer but more gradual ascent. There are two bathrooms available at the Sandstone trailhead. You could also park at the Mishe Mowka trailhead but that lot was a bit smaller and had more people. There’s free parking available if you input Sandstone Peak trailhead. I would have been a couple of liters short and had to resort to filtering / purifying ground water.Moderate to strenuous trail to the highest spot in the Santa Monica Mountains (3133ft elevation). Also, water became an issue on day two, having to borrow a spigot from a horse stable at a vacant home. Recommend you plan to hike from late Spring to early Autumn due to daylight considerations. Even with the break in our plan, this was one of the most memorable trips in my lifetime. We ended the trip at this point, returning 3 weeks later to complete the final leg of our journey. Our third day consisted of the hike to our intended destination the night before where family was waiting. We barely considered hiking with headlamps but wisely decided against it due to lack of knowledge of the train and upcoming terrain. We dry camped again, on the western side of the park. We would have had to make it to the eastern side of Malibu Creek but came up over 6 miles short. Our second day was a bit slower due to fatigue and more difficult terrain. Essentially, we ran out of daylight on day one and dry camped on the trail. The plan was to break up the distance in thirds and camp at an off site private campground on night one and Malibu Creek St. My brother in law and I have made multiple, long milage day hikes and wanted to attempt this as trial to an upcoming overnight trip to Mt. I attempted a thru hike during Spring of 2015, starting from La Jolla Canyon / Pt Mugu State Park and ending at Will Rogers State Park.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |