will be in LA area in a couple of weeks…looking to take a 3 day hike…(as close to Venice CA as possible)
(jan 14,15,16th)will have a dog along…any ideas as to an itinerary…? 10-15 miles a day. are there shelters like the AT? or do i need tent?..i hear water is a problem on PCT.
bondboy
The Santa Monica Mountains are closest to Venice but probably aren’t the place to spend 3-days. Also, the PCT doesn’t touch the Santa Monica’s.
The San Gabriel Mountains have many backpacking options including the PCT. Not sure about the dog thing though, try calling Angeles National Forest headquarters 626-574-1613.
This web site - http://tchester.org/sgm/hikes.html - has maps and trail descriptions for the whole San Gabriel range.
Trips I might think worthy of spending 2 nights:
Icehouse Canyon to Timber, Thunder & Telegraph Peaks (could also include Mt. Baldy); East Fork San Gabriel River; Silver Moccasin Trail; Access PCT somewhere along Hwy2 and follow it to Mt. Baden Powell; High Desert Trail + PCT could make a cool loop exploring a diverse sample of the range.
Top Harrison Maps at – www.tomharrisonmaps.com – sells great maps of many Southern California backpacking areas. The trail maps titled “Angeles High Country” and “Angeles Front Country” cover all the hikes I mentioned as well as many more.
Feel free to email me - vainbigot@yahoo.com - if you have specific questions.
Carl
Carl
carl has good information for you. my only caveat about his suggestions is that in January the San Gabriels will be COLD and quite possibly very icy. last winter a lot of folks died in the Gabriels, both the inexperienced, the experienced, and one world-class mountaineer (he decided not to put on his crampons, it was as simple as that).
in January the Mojave section should be very doable, as should parts of the San Gabriels at lower elevations (the trail south of Agua Dulce, for example) and maybe even some of the trail north of the Mojave. not sure how bad the water situation is in the Mojave this time of year - it would depend on whether we get a wet January or a dry one. could still be quite cold.
i’m pretty sure dogs are fine in the National Forests out here, but calling to make sure is always a good idea. i think the National Parks are the rules problem when thru-hiking with a dog.
tarbubble