The Benefits of Solo Backpacking?

• Freedom – You can choose when & where to go.
• Hike Your Own Hike – You can set your own pace.
• At One With Nature – When you’re solo it’s quiet. You can really hear the birds, water, wind, etc.
• Accomplishment – You will discover how capable, strong, and brave you are.

Planning

After deciding on Dinkey Lakes, I looked at recreation.gov to see what permits were available. There are 6 main trailheads to choose from and a few require 4-wheel drive. The trailhead from Courtright Reservoir is paved and one of the most popular. I chose a permit from Willow Meadows and it requires a high-clearance vehicle to get there. My permit was for 4 days and 3 nights and I picked up my permit from the High Sierra Rangers District in Prather, CA.

Packing a Backpack

I’ve always heard that you pack your fears for backpacking. Usually, I don’t over pack but this time I had a few extra items just in case. I brought the larger canister of fuel, because what if I ran out and couldn’t boil water? In addition to my water filter, I also brought water purification tablets because what if something happened to my filter? My pack was heavy. I didn’t weigh it but I’m guessing it was 50 pounds. My bear canister, hammock, and dog food were added weight.

Picking Up My Permit

High Sierra Rangers District requires you to call and confirm your permit 3 days before the start day of your hike. On the day of the hike, I went inside their office to pick up my permit. If you are not going to be able to pick up your permit during office hours you can arrange for them to leave it outside. When I picked up my permit the ranger went over how I was planning to store my food (bear canisters aren’t required in the Dinkey Wilderness they are just recommended.) He also went over LNT (leave no trace) and tips about picking an appropriate place to camp.

The Road to Willow Meadow

I read online that the trailhead to Willow Meadows is the shortest hike into Dinkey Lakes, however, the road is for 4-wheel drives and high-clearance vehicles. I can now speak from experience the road is horrible. The first 6 miles are on an old logging road that was paved once but is no longer maintained. Giant pieces of pavement are missing and there are many places to pop a tire. The next 6 miles are on a dirt road with potholes as large as a bathtub and lots of huge rocks that require some maneuvering to get around. I have a high-clearance vehicle and I’m pretty sure my car scrapped the rocks a few times.

Hiking to Swede Lake

Starting from the Willow Meadow Trailhead there is a 6.7-mile loop. Along this loop are Dinkey Lakes 1 & 2, South, Swede, and Mystery Lakes. After the first initial mile of the hike, you can go clockwise or counterclockwise. Heading clockwise is easier and heads straight to Dinkey Lake. If you choose counterclockwise it is much steeper and the first lake you will see is Mystery Lake. I headed counterclockwise because I was going to camp at Swede Lake. It was a tough hike up the steep parts with my heavy backpack.

Picking My Campsite

When I got to Swede Lake I found the perfect campsite. There were a few big boulders that I could put stuff on and trees that I could use to hang up my hammock. I had an amazing view of the lake. I set up my tent and then my hammock and then went to explore the lake.

The Nights are Long When You Solo Backpack

When I was in the Dinkey Wilderness there was a fire restriction in place so that meant no campfire for me. In the evenings after I had cleaned up dinner and filtered water I got in my tent and read. I love bringing my Nook with me because I can have multiple books loaded on it, the battery lasts for at least a week and it only weighs a few ounces.

Dinkey Wilderness has Many Lakes to Explore

I spent 4 days and 3 nights camping at Swede Lake. During the day I would pack a lunch and hike to the other lakes to explore. I was there in August so the water was warm enough to swim and I saw lots of people fishing.

A Great Location

I think I hit the jackpot in picking Dinkey Lakes for my first solo backpacking trip. It is beautiful scenery and the permits are far easier to get than in the Sierras. The hike in was moderate and my campsite was spectacular. I would definitely recommend Dinkey Wilderness to a solo or beginner backpacker.

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Practice

Practice before you go. Ideally, you have gone on a backpacking trip before your first solo trip. I started with short 1 and 2-night trips with a friend. We gradually worked up to more nights and longer distances. This gave me the opportunity to dial in my gear and figure out what works and what doesn’t. I also went to a class at REI that went over how to pack my backpack for multiple nights. Before my first solo trip, I was 100% confident in setting up my tent, filtering water, and cooking in the woods.

Planning

Planning, planning, and planning will help eliminate some of your fears. Step number one is picking where you want to backpack. For a first-time trip, it’s a good idea to pick a location that you are familiar with and that isn’t too remote. For my first solo trip, I went to Dinkey Lake Wilderness in Central California. I only hiked 5 miles and set up my tent. I felt a little more confident knowing that I was close to the car. After picking my location, I did my research. I contacted the ranger’s office and requested a permit. I also read recent trip reports from other backpackers so I had an idea of what to expect.

While planning out what to bring, I did add a few extras such as an extra pack of matches in addition to a lighter that is always with my stove. I also packed iodine tablets in addition to the Sawyer water filter that I always bring. Lastly, I brought a larger can of fuel because I was scared I wouldn’t be able to boil water if I ran out.

Being Prepared

Being prepared for your trip will help ease your mind. For every backpacking trip, I always have the 10 essentials.

• A map ( an actual paper map in addition to any maps on my phone.)
• Sun Protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.)
• A headlight (for backpacking I also carry a portable lantern for around camp & in the tent.)
• A Knife or a multitool that has a knife inside.
• First Aid (My first aid kit has bandaids, ointments, and medicines in addition to insect repellent.)
• Fire starter ( lighter & matches.)
• Shelter (For backpacking a tent & for day hikes at least a space blanket.)
• Extra Food (It’s always a good idea to have a little bit extra in case you have to stay an extra night.)
• Water (I typically only backpack where there is a water source. I bring water, but then filter more at camp.)
• Extra Clothes (It’s okay to wear the same clothes for multiple days, but you want to make sure to bring appropriate jackets for the location and possibly rain gear. In addition, a clean pair of socks and something to sleep in will go a long way to making you comfortable at night.)

Getting Over the Fear

For my first solo backpacking trip I spent 3 nights. During the day I hiked, took pictures, napped in my hammock, and waded in the lake. In the evenings, I read in my tent. At night I put my hiking poles in my tent thinking I could use them to poke something if I need to. I also had pepper spray and a knife, but I’ve never needed them. My solo backpacking trip was magical, the weather was great, the mosquitos were minimal, and the lakes were pristine. I conquered my fear of going solo with practice, planning, and being prepared and I will always cherish the memory of that trip.

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Driving to Green Lake 

We had a long drive to Green Lake from the Los Angeles area. It took us about 6 ½ hours. Green Lake is approximately 4 miles south of Bridgeport. Heading North on 395 the turn-off is just past the sign for Bodie and you need to make a left-hand turn across traffic onto a dirt road. From 395 it is 11 miles on Green Creek Road which is well maintained, but dirt. At the end of the dirt road there is a parking area, a vault toilet, and a water faucet, however, when we were there the water was turned off. 

Hiking to Green Lake 

After putting on our hiking shoes and backpacks, we started up the mountain. The trail is rated as moderate on Alltrails and it is approximately 3.2 miles each way. The first part of the trail is relatively flat and gradually gets steeper. A lot of the trail is parallel to the creek. My favorite part was when we passed by a pond that beavers had created. We saw some trees that had been recently gnawed on by beavers but we weren’t lucky enough to see any. In late June parts of the trail were wet with streams of water on it and we saw tons of wildflowers. 

Trail Sign to Green Lake 

After hiking for 2 ½ miles we came to sign for Green Lake. This is where there is a split in the trail we headed left for Green Lake and East Lake. Heading right takes you to West Lake. A quarter mile after the sign is when “choose your own adventure begins.” The only way to get to Green Lake is to cross Green Creek. We chose to cross by balancing on some fallen logs. This was a drought year so the crossing wasn’t as high as it could have been, but we needed to be extra careful. It’s always a good practice to unbuckle both your sternum and waist belts before crossing in case you fall off and end up in the water. 

Camping at Green Lake 

After maneuvering across the water it’s just a short walk to some campsites. We looked around for a good spot remembering to stay at least 100 feet from the water. There are a few signs nailed to the trees in spots where camping isn’t allowed. There were big thunder clouds looming and we decided we better pick a spot and set up our tents before it started to rain. 

Setting up Camp

I had a hard time setting up my tent. The shock cords in my tent poles had stretched out and I couldn’t get my poles together. Finally, I used my Swiss Army Knife to stuff the extra cord into the poles. With our tents set up, we climbed inside and took a siesta, and waited for the storm to pass. There is no internet at Green Lake, but when I got home I looked up how to fix my poles, and luckily for me there are YouTube videos showing me how to do it. The first part of the storm was howling winds. At one point it stopped raining and I was able to quickly cook some Ramen, but the storm wasn’t over so I had to eat it inside my tent with a spoon.

Filtering Water

The nice part of backpacking in the Sierras is the amount of water. We were easily able to filter water from Green Lake and Green Creek using my Sawyer Mini to filter. 

Hiking to East Lake 

The next day we woke up to a beautiful view of the lake and perfectly clear skies. After breakfast, we packed up our day packs with our lunches and headed to East Lake. The trail to East Lake starts at the beginning of Green Lake. The hike up is moderate and it’s a little over a mile each way. This trail also involves crossing the creek several times. 

East Lake

East Lake is gorgeous. The lake is rimmed by snow-capped mountains. I sat on the bank and took in the beauty. At one point I heard splashing that was so loud I thought there was someone swimming in the lake, but when I went to investigate it was huge Brook Trout jumping out of the water. I spent about 2 hours relaxing and exploring the lake, but I could see big thunder clouds building and I decided I should head to a lower elevation in case of lightning. On the way back down I talked to a man coming up to fish and he told me that the last time he fished East Lake he caught 62 fish and he returned most of them back to the lake. 

Thunderstorm in the Sierras

Afternoon thunderstorms are a common occurrence in the Sierras. While we camped at Green Lake we had thunderstorms on two of the three days. Luckily we were back in camp before the storms hit and we waited them out in our tents.

Hiking to West Lake

On our third day, we hiked up to West Lake. This hike is a steep route and it’s a little over 1 mile each way. Parts of the trail are beautiful and we walked through shaded woods and parts of the trail were switchbacks in direct sun. When we got to West Lake I was disappointed. It’s a small lake that isn’t very scenic. If you have a choice between hiking to East or West Lake definitely choose East Lake. The best part of the hike was the patches of snow that we found because the dogs loved playing in it.

Hiking Back to the Car

We spent 3 nights at Green Lake and on the last morning after breakfast, we packed up our backpacks and headed back to the car. It took us a little less than 2 hours to hike down and we passed so many beautiful wildflowers on the way. Green Lake is a good backpacking destination for beginners and it is so much easier to get an overnight permit than in some of the other Eastern Sierra locations.

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Making Reservations For Overnight

I made reservations for Sally and me at Lower Morro campsite, however, the first two times we tried to go we got rained out and a ranger called to cancel my reservations. The third time was the charm. I made reservations at Reserve California. It costs $15 a night to primitive camp at Crystal Cove and the price covers the $10 parking fee for one car although you park your car near the ocean you will be hiking into the foothills to camp.

Backpacking to Lower Moro

Maybe I should have started with the fact that the only way to get to any of the primitive sites is to hike. It’s a little over 2.5 miles to Lower Moro, 3.5 miles to Upper Moro, and 2.9 miles on a different trail to Deer Canyon. It is also really important to know that once you leave the parking lot there is no water available. You have to carry all your water with you for cooking, drinking, washing your hands, and brushing your teeth. The first part of the hike is straight uphill. I’ve seen it referred to on a few maps as BFH (big, f…ing hill.) My backpack weighed over 35lbs with all the water and I felt every single pound as I struggled up the hill. After the first mile, the trail levels out and actually becomes flat.

Camping at Lower Moro

With camping reservations, you are guaranteed a campsite, but they are first come first serve. We arrived at the campsite in the early afternoon and it was still empty. Sally and I walked around and looked at all the sites to pick which one we liked the best. We chose a site that has an amazing view of the ocean.

Exploring

Sally and I set up our tents and put some water in our small daypacks and left camp to go exploring. First, we found the bathroom. It is a pit toilet, but it has an air vent so it wasn’t too stinky. Just remember there is no water, so bring hand sanitizer. We continued walking up the trail to Upper Moro Canyon. There was no one camping there for the night. The sites are similar to Lower Moro. Along the way, we saw lots of wildflowers, cactus, and even a roadrunner. We decided to save Deer Canyon for another day and we went back to our camp. It was too early for dinner, so I crawled into my tent to read. I left the doors open and I enjoyed the ocean breezes.

Dinner Time

Each campsite has a picnic table and it was nice to have a place to sit and cook. I used my tiny stove to boil water and I made couscous. In a freezer ziplock bag, I added my couscous and hot water. When the couscous had rehydrated I added sliced almonds, a little olive oil, and some sliced green olives. I found my meal to be just as filling as a Mountain House Meal and it was way less expensive and it tastes great. Unfortunately, you can not have a fire at these campsites. We sat around watching the sunset and then because we had nothing to do we crawled into our tents to read.

Rise and Shine

I woke up bright and early Sunday morning and everything was covered in dew including my tent which was dripping wet. The sun was coming up and the flowers looked beautiful with the dew covering them. We ate breakfast and waited around for the sun to dry off some of the dew from our tents.

Hiking to The Car

Eventually, we gave up on our rainfly drying and had to pack up our tents while they were still damp. With our backpacks loaded up, it was time to head down the hill. Going down was way faster than going up. We still had to take our time going down because it´s steep. When we got to the bottom we put our backpacks in the car and changed out of our hiking boots into flip-flops.

Gear Shake-down

As far as a gear shake-down this was a good trip. We were able to carry our heavy backpacks even with all the extra water. Furthermore, we set up and took down our tents and my couscous turned out great. Lower Moro is a good and easy overnight for a first-time backpacker. It’s close enough to civilization that you can just walk back out and be in your car in a short amount of time. After practicing at Little Morro we felt more confident to backpack to Henninger Flats and Little Jimmy.

Heading to the Beach

After leaving our backpacks in the car we walked through the tunnel walkway to the beach. We walked a few miles on the beach and checked out some tide pools.

Time for Lunch

All backpacking trips should end with a good meal. Fortunately, the best fish burritos are just down the street in Crystal Cove Shopping Center. Bear Flag Fish Company sells the freshest fish. Their burritos and Poke are amazing. There are a few tables inside and some outside. Be prepared for a wait if you arrive at lunch or dinner time. It’s not unusual for people to be in a line far out the door. After our delicious lunch, we drove home. When I got home I put my tent on the grass to dry and hopped in the shower. All in all, we had a great gear shake-down.

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Before Backpacking

Normally to receive a permit I would go into a visitor’s center and meet with a ranger, however, this year the meeting had to be done online. I logged in with other permit holders and a ranger went over all the basics with us and gave us info about being safe in a national park during a pandemic. I learned that some popular hikes such as the Mist Trail are one way and face masks and social distancing are encouraged. The ranger let us know that bear canisters are required and we covered the leave no trace policies. After my hour-long meeting, I was given a code to finalize my permit. The Yosemite Conservancy emailed me my final permit.

Day One

Sally and I left Southern California in the morning and drove to Yosemite. We entered Yosemite through the South entrance. This year due to COVID you must have a reservation to enter. Our backpacking permit allowed us to enter the park. The entrance fee is $35 for seven days. Taft Overlook was our first stop. This is an easy 2.2-mile roundtrip hike to the most amazing view of Yosemite Valley. If you have ever seen pictures of wedding proposals from Yosemite this is probably where they were taken. It is possible to get right on the edge and every so often you hear about people falling to their deaths so we proceeded with caution. Overall the views are spectacular and well worth the detour.

Night One

Our backpacking permit allowed us to spend one night before and after our trip in a backpacking camp. This year in the valley the only backpackers’ camp is located in the Upper Pines Campground. We parked the car and put on our packs and headed to the camp. Oh my, we were in for a shock. Yosemite was having a heatwave and by the time we hauled our backpacks to the camp and set up our tents we were roasting. We walked back to Curry Village and ordered some dinner from the grill. There are only a few places open for food in Yosemite, but there were 2 food trucks parked at Curry Village. Back in camp, it was so warm that I slept on top of my sleeping bag and with both doors of my tent open.

Day Two

After packing up camp and hauling backpacks back to the car we walked to Curry Village for breakfast. We wanted to go to the store and it doesn’t open until 10:00 a.m. so we walked around the valley. This is when we really noticed how few people are in Yosemite compared to a normal summer. There were plenty of parking places and very few people on the river trails. It was weird to walk past Housekeeping Camp and to see it completely empty. After we shopped at the store we then drove up Tioga Pass to where we would leave our car. There isn’t a parking lot for Cathedral Lakes. We parked on Tioga Road. As soon as we got out of the car we had a great view of Tuolumne Meadows. At the trailhead, there are porta-potties, bear boxes, and trash cans.

Time to Start Hiking

The trailhead elevation is 8,500 feet which makes this hike seem hard with a 35-pound backpack on. Roundtrip the trail is approximately 9 miles, but depending on which lake you are heading to and where you decide to camp it can be even longer. The first few miles are the hardest, because it is a steady uphill climb, but the scenery is beautiful. Big trees provide shade and we saw lots of ferns and wildflowers. A couple of miles up the trail we came upon a natural spring. Cool refreshing water was bubbling up through the sand. We stopped and filled up our water bottles.

Lower Cathedral Lake

The entire time we were hiking we could hear thunder and see the clouds starting to roll in. When we arrived at a trail sign we decided to head down to Lower Cathedral Lakes instead of continuing to the upper lake. From the sign, it’s about 1/2 mile down through some rocks and then 1/2 mile through a meadow with a creek meandering through. When we arrived at the lakes we looked around for a good spot to set up camp. We settled on a small peninsula that became our own private island. By the time we picked our spot and took off our backpacks the thunder was booming. We quickly set up our tents which was no easy task with the wind howling. I quickly threw my backpack in the tent and it started to rain. It rained for about an hour and a half and the temperature dropped dramatically.

After The Rain

When it stopped raining we climbed out of the tents and we had a chance to look around. Our first chore was to filter water. Next, we got out our stoves and cooked some dinner. We sat up on a granite ledge and we had a great view while we cooked our dinner. After dinner, we walked around the lake. At the end of the lake is a view that looks down to Tenaya Lake. We tried to stay outside to look for the comet that was passing by, but it was too cold and we ended up in our tents reading until we fell asleep.

Day Three

We woke up to a beautiful sunny day and after breakfast, we decided we would hike to the Sunrise High Sierra Camp. The camps are closed this year, but we were curious about what they look like. From Cathedral Lakes there are a lot of inclines and we were happy we didn’t have on our big packs. It was a little over 9 miles roundtrip. The trail travels up and down through big trees and then across several meadows. There was still water in the creek in July and we saw a bald eagle and a few marmots. Sunrise Camp looks like it would be a fun place to spend the night especially since in season they provide you with everything you need including a bed inside a tent and your meals. After lunch, we hiked back to Cathedral Lakes.

Night Three

Back at camp we again had to filter water. I stretched out my towel on the rocks and watched the fish jump while I stared up at Cathedral Peak. We hung out on the rocks drinking whiskey and laughing until it was time to cook dinner. No fires are allowed at Cathedral Lakes, so by the time the sun sets, we would crawl into our tents and read until bedtime.

Day Four

Day four was a zero-day, meaning we didn’t hike anywhere. After breakfast, we filled up a collapsible bucket and washed our hair with some biodegradable soap. I then decided to go swimming. The water was freezing so I didn’t stay in long. I was also apprehensive about leeches because the day before we heard some people yelling that they had them attached to their bodies. Luckily no leeches for me. Unfortunately, by 2:00 pm a thunderstorm rolled in and we had to retreat to our tents. It rained hard for about 4 hours.

Night Five

After the rain stopped we were able to come back out and cook dinner. After dinner, we walked around the lake and scrambled up some rocks so we could take pictures of Cathedral Peak at sunset with the puffy cotton candy clouds that were leftover from the rainstorm. John Muir said it was the first time he had been to church in nature when he saw Cathedral Peak and he was right on the money. That night it was warm enough to be outside after dark. I walked around looking for the comet, but I never found it. I saw millions of stars and even a little bit of the Milky Way.

Day Six

We packed up camp and hiked back down to our car. It was a lot easier going down than it was on the way up. Sally and I decided we didn’t want to go back and camp in the valley, because it was too hot. Since we were close to 395 we drove out of Yosemite on Tioga Pass. We stopped for lunch at Whoa Nellie Deli in the Mobile Gas parking lot in Lee Vining. The inside seating was closed, but we ordered outside and sat at a picnic table on the grass with an amazing view of Mono Lake. After lunch, I drove us the 6 hours back to Southern California. I arrived home dirty and tired, but so happy to have been able to spend all those days in nature.

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Camping Reservations For Catalina Island

Reservations for camping are a must. Depending on when you want to go reservations can book up months in advance. We chose to stay at Parsons Landing. I was able to make my reservations through Reserve America. There is a two-night minimum when you make reservations. If you are hiking the TCT it is possible to contact them and book the site for only one night. The fee to camp at Parsons Landing is per person not per campsite. Our fee for two nights was $89.25. $20 per person per night and then a service fee.

Boat Reservations

We made reservations on Catalina Express out of San Pedro to Catalina. The price is $37.50 each way. We chose to leave on the 9:00 am boat and return on a 4:30 pm boat. Parking at the San Pedro dock costs $19.00 a day. Be sure and read the information for campers. Coast Guard regulations do not allow you to bring fuel on the boat.

The Boat Trip to Catalina Island

We arrived at the Catalina Express office in San Pedro an hour early. Maybe because it was a rainy day there wasn’t a crowd and we were plenty early. At 8:40 we carried our backpacks over to the dock and the crew put them below the boat. I getting really seasick so I headed to the top of the boat and I chose to sit outside. It was cold and windy and it rained a little bit on the ride over. Avalon is the first stop and it takes 1 hour and 15 minutes to get there. Our boat only stayed in Avalon long enough to drop off and pick up passengers. After Avalon, we hugged the coast and it took us 30 minutes to get to Two Harbors.

Two Harbors

We docked in Two Harbors a little late. The crew took our backpacks out of the boat and we carried them up the dock. The first stop is the Two Harbors Visitor’s Office and which is right at the end of the pier. This is where you check in for camping reservations. Your reservation is also your hiking permit.

Wood & Water

We had called ahead and preordered wood & water, so this is where we picked up our locker keys. The fee is $20 for one bundle of wood, a fire starter, and 2.5 gallons of water. Thankfully they drive over to Parsons Landing once a day and leave the wood and water in a locker. We were staying 2 nights so we ordered 3 locker keys because we wanted the extra firewood. There is not a water source at Parsons Landing so you will only have the water you carry in or purchase in the lockers.

Lunch

Our next stop is West End Galley for some lunch. After we checked in with the Visitor’s Office it was still sprinkling luckily The West End Galley was open. They serve drinks and have a small menu. They seem to be open around the time the boats arrive and dock. We order coffee and lunch and sat inside and tried to unthaw from our boat trip.

Backpacking to Parsons Landing

The hike from Two Harbors to Parsons Landing is about 7 1/2 miles. When we were done with lunch it had stopped raining and the sun was out. We set off on the trail around 12:30 p.m. The trail is basically a fire road, but it hugs the coast so you are in for million-dollar views most of the way. The water is so clear that we could see the bottom. We passed two Boy Scout camps and one private camp along the way.

Parsons Landing

It took us about 3 1/2 hours to hike to Parsons Landing. We stopped a lot to take pictures and adjust our boots and backpacks. We didn’t weigh our packs this time, but I’m guessing they weighed about 30 pounds and this was our first time out with them this season. Somehow the first mile is always the hardest until I get used to carrying that heavy pack. The last mile of the trail was up and down hills so we were happy to finally see the sign and know we were almost to camp.

8 Beach Front Campsites

There are only 8 sites at Parsons Landing. Site one is the most secluded, but it is mostly rocks instead of sand. Campsite 8 is on the opposite end and gives you a little more privacy, but you still have an amazing view.

Campsite #7

We had site number 7 and we liked it. There was room for two tents and someone had already made the windbreaks out of rocks. There is a fire pit with a windbreak, a picnic table, and a critter locker. We set up our tents. Sally cooked her dinner. I couldn’t eat because my stomach was still upset from the boat. At dusk, Sally made a fire and I made Hot Toddies. We sat on rocks inside the windbreak and enjoyed our warm drinks and the fire. We climbed into our tents by 8 p.m. to read and get warm. During the night the wind blew so hard that I thought my tent was going to take flight.

Sunday at Parsons Landing

When we woke Sunday it was a beautiful morning. As we were drinking coffee and making breakfast we spotted some whales offshore. Breakfast with a view. We also watched a Bald Eagle fish in the ocean and a seal kept popping his head up to see if the beach was vacant yet.

Hiking on the Trans Catalina Trail

We packed our lunches and hiked to Starlight Beach. First, we hiked back to a freshwater spring. There was a little water flowing and we heard frogs, but couldn’t see them. Starlight Beach used to be the ending of the TCT it is at the Western End of Catalina. We hiked above it but didn’t go all the way down to the beach. Although we saw lots of bison tracks and some scat we never saw a bison. I saw one Island Fox run across the trail in front of us, but nothing like when I backpacked on Santa Cruz Island. We ate lunch high up on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Our hike was around 8 miles roundtrip.

Camp Life

When we got back to camp we took off our boots and explored all the other campsites. Our favorites in order are #8, #7 & 2. I would avoid numbers 3, 4 & 5 they are lacking privacy and are right in the middle of the pathways. If you look closely you can find amethyst on the beach. I found two great pieces and debated about bringing them home because I didn’t want to add any extra weight to my backpack. Sunday we had extra time to lounge around, read and look at the scenery. For dinner, I made mushroom risotto and watched the lobster fisherman set up his traps in our cove. Sally made another fire and I made more Hot Toddys. We sat out by the fire and watched the lobster guy check his traps in the dark.

Hiking Back to Two Harbors

Monday morning we took our time packing up camp. There are two boats that leave Two Harbors for San Pedro. The first boat is at 11:30 a.m. and the last boat is at 4:30 p.m. Instead of rushing and trying to make the earlier boat we took our time and opted for the 4:30 p.m. boat. When our backpacks were all loaded we started the trek back to Two Harbors. Keep in mind that there is little to no shade on the road back. The day we hiked back was only in the ’60s but we were in full sun and we got hot. Both Sally and I ended up with blisters and we think it was a combination of the heavy packs and our feet being hot in our boots. We stopped often and enjoyed the views along the way.

Back at Two Harbors

We arrived back at Two Harbors around 12:30 p.m. After peeling off our backpacks we went into the general store and ordered a pizza and bought some beers. The store will make either a large cheese or pepperoni pizza for $20. It comes out piping out in about 25 minutes.

Harbor Sands

After we were done eating we asked someone in the restaurant if we could take a nap on the lounge chairs on the beach and because it was a Monday and not in season yet they were happy to let us lounge. They even suggested we hang out in the cabana on the beach so we wouldn’t get too much sun. We spent a couple of hours lounging and it was heaven.

Ravens

Before we arrived on the island we had been warned about protecting our gear from the ravens. While we were lounging we looked over and saw a raven unzipping someone’s unattended backpack. While I was walking over to shoo it away it stole their bag of chips and poked a hole in it. I put their chips in their cooler, but later Sally had to go over and cover up their backpack because the raven was trying to take stuff out of it again.

Buffalo Milk

Buffalo Milk is the name of the most popular cocktail on Catalina Island. The Harbor Reef Restaurant opens at 3:00 p.m. so when it opened we went inside to try a drink. The bartender made us our cocktails in plastic cups so we could take them back out to our lounge chairs on the beach. Buffalo Milk is made with the following:

• 1/2 shot of Creme de Cocoa, Kahlua, & Creme de Banana
• One shot of vodka
• Half & Half

It is then topped with whipped cream and nutmeg. Buffalo Milk is delicious it tastes like an adult milkshake.

Back to San Pedro

We boarded the 4:30 boat and we were sad to find out that the boat goes to Avalon and then San Pedro. It took us 2 hours to get back to San Pedro and then 1 1/2 hours to get back home. I dropped Sally off at her house and came home and went straight into the shower and then bed. We had a great trip!

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Making Reservation

Little Lakes Valley is a chain of lakes that were carved by a glacier. Today the area is used by hikers, backpackers, and fishermen. Permits are required for all backpacking trips and can be reserved up to 6 months in advance at Recreation.Gov. Day hikers and fishermen do not require a permit.

The Beginning of The Trail

In July my friend and I set off for a backpacking trip from Mosquito Flat to Gem Lake. The hike is considered moderately strenuous and I think it is mostly because of the elevation. The trail starts at 10,000 feet. We spent the first night at the backpacker’s camp at the beginning of the trail. The mosquitos were relentless. The trailhead definitely lived up to its name. The next morning we loaded up our backpacks and started up the trail to Gem Lake. Our backpacks were extra heavy because of the required bear cans. There are no bear boxes once you start up the trail. On the way up you are walking alongside a river. We went in 2019 and that was a high snow year. We walked through ankle-deep water on parts of the trail and we were thankful that we wore waterproof boots.

Balancing On A Log

We made it past Box Lake and then we had a water crossing that we were uncomfortable with. It is hard to balance on wet logs with a 35-pound backpack on your back. Somehow we eventually made it across the rushing water, but Sally got really wet.

Picking The Perfect Camp Site

At Long Lake, we met a couple that said it was not a good idea to head to Gem Lake because there was too much snow. We chose to hike around Long Lake until we found the perfect place to set up our tents for the night. The view of the lake is awe-inspiring. We did some exploring and filtered water and generally just soaked in the beauty. Fires are not allowed anywhere in the Little Lakes Valley, but we were able to use our stoves for cooking. We took our stoves down to the shore of the lake and made our dinner and ate watching the fish jump in the lake.

Mosquitoes Are Not My Friend

Unfortunately, by 6 pm we were in our tents with nothing to do but read. The mosquitoes at Little Lakes Valley are a force to be reckoned with and no amount of Deet would keep them away.

The next morning we took our daypacks and headed off for Chickenfoot and Gem Lakes. We made it to Chickenfoot without any problems. Getting to Gem was a lot harder. We climbed through giant mounds of snow and it was hard to see the trail.

Using Microspikes

Sally gouged her leg on a sharp branch and we almost gave up after that. While she sat down and bandage up her leg I scouted around looking for the trail. I eventually found it. We made our way to Gem Lake and it was beautiful.

Gem Lake

For the longest time, we were the only two people there. The weather was nice. The wildflowers were in full bloom and the best part is all the snow was keeping the mosquitoes away. After a beautiful afternoon, we headed back to our tents at Long Lake.

Long Lake

After staying at Long Lake we packed up and headed back to Heart Lake. It is a pretty alpine lake with views of Bear Creek Spire as its backdrop. We set up our tents on a hill overlooking the lake. We spent the rest of the day hiking and exploring.

The End Of Our Trip

The next morning we packed up and hiked back out to our car. This backpacking trip was Plan C for us. 2019 was just a high snow year and our Plans A & B were not safe so early in the year. Although this was plan C we had a great time. Little Lake Valley is perfect for day hikes or extended backpacking trips. We saw a lot of people in the daytime and then by late afternoon it would just be the two of us. I’m sure there were other people camping around the lakes, but we never saw anyone after 4 p.m. Other than the mosquitoes (that are no joke) it is the perfect place for a little getaway.

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It Was Supposed To Be An Easy Overnighter.

Our latest trip was to Little Jimmy Campground. It is located off SR2 (Angeles Crest Highway) in the Angeles National Forest. You can only reach the campground by hiking in. There are 16 sites, picnic tables, fire rings, bear boxes, and a vault toilet. There isn’t running water, but Little Jimmy Spring is just 1/4 mile away.

Lesson #1: Watch Out For Detours

We started our trip around 11 am so that we could avoid commuter traffic. Unfortunately, they were doing road work on SR2 and we had to make a major detour. We found some friendly firemen that were able to give us directions to detour around the road closure. There is no cellphone signal in the canyon. Our detour took us 2 hours.

Lesson #2: Eat Breakfast

We finally arrived at Islip Saddle Parking lot. The trail is part of the PCT and it follows steep switchbacks for the first mile. I wasn’t feeling it. Some days your body just doesn’t feel like hiking up a steep hill with a 35-pound backpack on. Looking back now, I realize it was probably because I didn’t eat breakfast and it was afternoon time when we actually started hiking and I had only eaten a protein bar on the drive up the mountain. I munched on a few sour gummy worms on the way up hoping it would give me a burst of energy. Luckily, after the first mile, the trail levels out a little bit.

A Hammock & Book Are Backpacking Essentials

We made it to camp and there was only 1 other camper there so we had our choice of spots. After putting up our tents, unpacking, and setting up our hammocks, we decided instead of hiking we would just relax in our hammocks and read. It was peaceful and relaxing for about 30 minutes and then it got windy and cold. After 45 mins we had to get out of the hammocks because it was too cold.

Little Jimmy Springs

One of the best things about camping at Little Jimmy is the proximity to Little Jimmy Springs. The spring runs year-round and the water comes out fresh and cold. Some people filter the water, but numerous Boy Scouts and a ranger have told us that it isn’t necessary. We walked down to the spring and filled up our empty water bottles for drinking and cooking.

Lesson #3: Make a List

When we got back to camp I decided it was too cold to be sitting around in shorts even with a fleece top on. I climbed into my tent to change and found out that unfortunately, I packed a long sleeve shirt instead of my long pants. They are both black and made of the same material. unfortunately, I made the very bad decision to put on my sleeping fleece pants even though it wasn’t time for bed. I came out of my tent in my fleece top and bottom that I sleep in and a fleece hoodie. I was warm and cozy for a few minutes. We started dinner.

Lesson #4: Accidents Happen

Sally found out that she had forgotten her backpacking stove. Luckily it wasn’t a problem, because we just used mine. Over the last year, we have narrowed down our backpacking dinners to what we like and what we can eat without having leftovers that we have to pack back out. I had picked up a lentil soup at REI. We boiled the water I added water to Sally’s couscous and then I added two cups of boiling water to my package. After adding the water I realized the package didn’t come with the standard top that allows you to reseal it after you add the hot water. Generally, after adding water the food has to sit for 10 minutes while it rehydrates. I use a mailing envelope as a cozy to put my food in while it’s rehydrating. It helps retain the heat.

Somehow while I was transferring the package to the cozy I knocked over the soup onto myself. I was sitting at the picnic table and the soup poured onto my ribs, thigh, calf, and inside my camp shoes. I let out a blood-curdling scream, but I couldn’t do anything. The hot water was trapped between my fleece and my skin.

A Long Night

When I calmed down I pulled my clothes off and realized how bad it actually was. I had to leave all my clothes outside the tent. Inside the tent, I put on my long sleeve shirt and a puffer jacket. Unfortunately, I only had my shorts to put back on. I opened my first aid kit and slathered myself with antibiotic cream. My dinner was all dumped out on the ground so, I ate a small baggie of trail mix that I had packed. Sally made a fire and I sat with the burned side of my body away from the fire, because I was cold! I remained fairly calm. I made some trail margaritas and took some Advil.

When it came time for bed I had to put all my fleece clothes in the bear box. We were in bear country and my clothes all smelled like lentil soup. I had to sleep in my underwear and I was cold all night.

Packing Up

After a rough night of trying to not pop my blisters, trying to stay warm, and trying to sleep I was ready to go home. We had planned to hike up to Islip Saddle in the morning. It has a beautiful view and both times I’ve been up there I’ve seen Bighorn Sheep, but I didn’t want to hike anywhere. We had coffee and then packed up. While I was packing up my tent, I felt something on my leg. I looked down and a spider almost as big as a tarantula was climbing on it. I again started screaming and somehow got it off my leg. Thankfully, Sally came to my rescue and relocated it with a hiking pole.

Hiking Back To The Car

All packed up we hiked back out to the car. I was so happy that I made it to the car. I leaned my hiking poles against the trunk and hoisted my pack in the backseat. Later after we had been driving for over an hour I realized that I had left my hiking poles against the trunk and now they were laying in the parking lot. I went to the doctor the next day and I have 2nd-degree burns on my rib and thigh. The burn on my thigh is worse and will leave scarring.

Lessons Learned

Here is a list of things I learned from this backpacking trip.

• Google Maps and Waze are not always up-to-date for road construction.
• If you are in Southern California and using route SR2, good luck. This isn’t the first time we’ve run into road closures and I even called Cal-Trans the morning we left to check for closures.
• It’s a good idea to have a permanent packing list. This would have helped with the forgotten stove and missing pants. I’m thinking of making a list of things I have to pack in my backpack and then laminating it.
• Never change into your sleeping clothes until you are ready to climb into your sleeping bag.
• When buying dehydrated food check the top to make sure it’s resealable or have another way to cook it. If I would have realized about the top before we got there I would have dumped everything into a ziplock freezer bag. You can pour boiling water into the freezer bags and cook that way.
• Ice cubes will stay in your Hydroflask. Perfect for trail margaritas.
• Accidents happen, not much you can do about this. I told Sally this trip was to teach us humility. We’ve been on so many backpacking trips where nothing went wrong something was bound to happen eventually.
• Make sure all your gear is in the car before you drive away.

Little Jimmy Trail Camp

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Hiking from Dry Lake to San Gorgonio Peak was our goal. Friday morning we backpacked from the South Fork trailhead to Dry Lakes. We woke up early on Saturday morning. I had actually woken up a few times during the night. The first time was to a chorus of coyotes. The second time I woke up because something was sniffing around my tent. I almost had a heart attack and was way too scared to look and see what it was.

Backpacking Breakfast

Even though it was only 6 am we climbed out of our tents to make coffee. The only problem was it is so hard to open a bear canister when your hands are cold. I couldn’t get mine open and thank goodness for Sally being able to open mine or I would have starved to death. After a healthy breakfast of Pop-Tarts and coffee, we decided we would try to summit San Gorgonio. We have both summited from Vivian Creek, but never from this side. We packed up a lunch and put our supplies in small packs. The day before we had stopped at REI and picked up microspikes.

Using Microspikes

We were following Alltrails. There are two ways to go. One is to hike back to the saddle of Dry Lake and Dollar Lake and head up from there or to start the trail near where we had camped and headed up Mine Shaft Trail. We opted for the closer trail. Within a 1/4 of a mile of camp we were in serious snow and we had to stop and put on our microspikes. It was early in the morning and the temperatures had been cold the night before so the snow was still solid and we had no problem walking on it with the microspikes and our poles.

Navigating In The Snow

The real problem became navigating. It’s impossible to follow a trail that is covered in snow. Every couple hundred yards we had to stop and see how close we were to the red line on All Trails. After we made it to the top of a canyon we found out that we somehow got off course. At the top, we were on dirt and we had to sit down and take off our microspikes.

Using All Trails

Using the red line on All trails we went straight up a side of a mountain and somehow found our trail. We were at 9,960 feet above sea level, which meant we had 2,000 feet more to climb. Sally had a huge blister on the back of her heel and she wasn’t feeling it. We decided that San Gorgonio wasn’t in the cards for us that day. I again looked at All Trails and saw that we could continue on the trail we were on and we would be able to loop back to camp.

Looking Up At San Gorgonio Peak

When we made it to the saddle we could either continue on Sky High Trail and in another 3.6 miles we would be at the top of San Gorgonio or we could take Fish Creek Trail and eventually end up back at Dry Lake we opted for Dry Lake. When we looked up at San Gorgonio there was so much snow we couldn’t even see the switchbacks. We were pretty confident that we could make it to the top, but we were scared of what it would be like coming back down after the sun had been out all day.

A New Plan

Fish Creek Trail had way less snow than the way we came up, but unfortunately, we ran into 100 feet of dirt and then huge mounds of snow completely covering the trail. We tried going over the snow, but we would either post-hole or start sliding downhill. Eventually, when we got to the snow we either went up or down the mountain to go around it. On the way back to camp we found Lodgepole Spring which we had looked for the day before. All together we hiked 8 miles and made it back to camp in one piece.

We spent one more night at Dry Lake and hiked back down to our car the next morning. We hiked a total of 25 miles and got experience with our bear canisters and microspikes. It was a good practice trip for the Sierras.

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Backpacking to Dry Lake

My fellow adventurer, Sally and I are training for a trip to the Sierras. We decided on a 3-day 2-night backpacking trip to Dry Lake. The trail starts at the South Fork Trailhead in Angelus Oaks. This is the one lot that has plenty of available parking spaces. Adventure Passes are required to park in the parking lot. At this time permits are not required for day hikes, but permits are required for overnight.

South Fork Trailhead

We struggled to get our packs on. They were heavy. This was our first time hiking with bear canisters. Black bears are prevalent in the San Bernardino National Forest, however, bear canisters are not required for Dry Lake. If we didn’t carry a canister we would have had to hang our food. This trip was a practice run for the Sierras so we opted to add the extra weight of a bear canister. I could feel the extra weight and it took up so much room in my backpack, but I wouldn’t want to have an encounter with a bear in the middle of the night.

A Little Detour

This winter’s weather played havoc on the beginning of the trail. The first 1/4 mile of the trail has too much debris to make it safe. Forest Service has marked an alternate starting point. It is easy to follow, you can follow the pink ribbons until you meet up with the original trail.

Horse Meadow

The trail to Dry Lake is 6 miles. At the 1.5-mile mark, you find yourself in a meadow with some old structures. This is Horse Meadow and it is a beautiful spot for a picnic. There is a picnic table, but there is no overnight camping allowed. We took a little break and enjoyed taking off our backpacks and getting a drink.

Poop-Out Hill

After leaving Horse Meadow you walk through the low brush on the way to Poop Out Hill. At 2.5 miles you can take a slight detour to take you to the top of Poop Out Hill. There is a sign for San Gorgonio Wilderness and an amazing view of San Gorgonio.

Water Crossings

We got back on the trail that was heading up, through an area that burned in the 2015 Lake Fire. We spotted plenty of wildflowers, mushrooms growing on the dead trees, and carpets of green grass. After you get to the junction of where to turn off for either Dry Lake or Dollar Lake we had to cross the river 4 times. Some of the crossings were easier than others. One crossing required us to walk all the way across on a downed log. Luckily we made it across without falling in.

Switchbacks All The Way To Dry Lake

After the water crossing, it’s just straight up the switchbacks until Dry Lake. On the way up we had to climb over two large trees that were blocking the trail. It wasn’t easy getting over the top with full packs on without falling down the other side of the mountain.

A First Patch Of Snow

A little before the 6-mile mark we started to see patches of snow. At 6 miles we could see Dry Lake. We walked on the right side of the lake looking for a place to camp. The next day when we walked around the entire lake we found out we should have walked along the left side of the lake. On the left is a sign with a map showing where the designated campgrounds are and also where the Spring is.

Finding The Campground

Since we walked the wrong way and missed the sign we set up our tent closer to Lodgepole Springs Campground. A large group that we had walked up behind sat up their tents on the edge of the lake. No camping is allowed within 200 feet of the lake, stream, spring, meadow, or other campers. The following day when we got back from hiking the large group had relocated farther back away from the water. We assume a ranger had come and asked them to move.

Filtering Water

We didn’t bring a lot of water with us, so we had to filter water. The first night we couldn’t find the spring so we used our Sawyer Water filters to filter water from the lake. After our camp chores were done we sat down to heat up our dinners on our camp stoves. No campfires are allowed in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. While our meals were rehydrating I made us some Trail Margaritas. I mixed one packet of Crystal Light Lemonade with 1 1/2 shots of tequila, a slice of lime, and lots of fresh snow. They were seriously the best margaritas I’ve ever had. We called it an early night and got into our tents and read. We had big plans to try and get to the top of San Gorgonio the next day.

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