Sunday I ran off for a bit of dirt time along Piru Creek, south from Frenchman's Flat campground. The parking area was crowded and the camp was busy but only one person had taken to the trail and he was in a folding chair about a quarter mile downstream. Didn't even see the usual anglers or crawdad hunters. Starting temp was 88 at noon and final temp was 91 at 5:45. Prolly hit about 98 at midday.
Ordinarily you couldn't pay me enough to hike in those temps but there was lots of shade and plenty of places for a dip in the creek so I figured it was ok. Total round trip was a bit over 5 miles. (I took plenty of dips in the creek.) Went thru 3 liters of water and almost broke out the Sawyer Squeeze.
Wear light colored light weight clothing. Broad brimmed hat is essential. Dip it in creek water and take a break if you start to feel overly hot. The terrain range from gentle to brutal so a pair of solid hikers that you can get wet is necessary.
Here is where I went. The yellow diamond is at my farthest point:
This is where I started out:
A couple hundred meters the easy trail stops and there is a bit of scrambling to be done. Or you could wade downstream and come up at a different point and do your scrambling there.
And then down on the other side:
Now there is a few hundred yards of open terrain before the first creek crossing:
A look down from high up on the trail.
Then there is this delightfully deep pool. The actual crossing is some rocks just to the right. It is also where I met the man in the lawn chair.
Some open space then a thick bit of deep grass:
Further up the trail a much used campsite on a sandy beach next to a deep pool surrounded by cattails. Nobody here today but me.
Another river crossing and the trail becomes brutal. You can see two rock cairns left by earlier hikers to show the way.
Then into more deep grass.
This is the canyon I'm heading into. I doubt if anyone else has been here for weeks.
Yet another idyllic swimming hole. for me to take advantage of.
The Manzanita fruit is now ripe.
And here is what the bears do with them. I swear I'm seeing bear poop every couple hundred feet. More bears use this route than people.
Now we are back to a squeeze between the rock wall and almost impenetrable brush.
By now I have crossed the creek 4 times. At the fifth crossing there is a small campfire ring and then the trail gets sketchy to say the least.
After a bit of this I am tired from heat and exertion. Ahead you see my stopping point. I rest, dip in the water again and retrace my steps back to the car. Someday, if I can ever get a few days free, I want to do the remaining 12 miles from here to Lake Piru. It has been done and is quite the adventure.
Last Sunday's Hike
Ordinarily you couldn't pay me enough to hike in those temps but there was lots of shade and plenty of places for a dip in the creek so I figured it was ok. Total round trip was a bit over 5 miles. (I took plenty of dips in the creek.) Went thru 3 liters of water and almost broke out the Sawyer Squeeze.
Wear light colored light weight clothing. Broad brimmed hat is essential. Dip it in creek water and take a break if you start to feel overly hot. The terrain range from gentle to brutal so a pair of solid hikers that you can get wet is necessary.
Here is where I went. The yellow diamond is at my farthest point:
This is where I started out:
A couple hundred meters the easy trail stops and there is a bit of scrambling to be done. Or you could wade downstream and come up at a different point and do your scrambling there.
And then down on the other side:
Now there is a few hundred yards of open terrain before the first creek crossing:
A look down from high up on the trail.
Then there is this delightfully deep pool. The actual crossing is some rocks just to the right. It is also where I met the man in the lawn chair.
Some open space then a thick bit of deep grass:
Further up the trail a much used campsite on a sandy beach next to a deep pool surrounded by cattails. Nobody here today but me.
Another river crossing and the trail becomes brutal. You can see two rock cairns left by earlier hikers to show the way.
Then into more deep grass.
This is the canyon I'm heading into. I doubt if anyone else has been here for weeks.
Yet another idyllic swimming hole. for me to take advantage of.
The Manzanita fruit is now ripe.
And here is what the bears do with them. I swear I'm seeing bear poop every couple hundred feet. More bears use this route than people.
Now we are back to a squeeze between the rock wall and almost impenetrable brush.
By now I have crossed the creek 4 times. At the fifth crossing there is a small campfire ring and then the trail gets sketchy to say the least.
After a bit of this I am tired from heat and exertion. Ahead you see my stopping point. I rest, dip in the water again and retrace my steps back to the car. Someday, if I can ever get a few days free, I want to do the remaining 12 miles from here to Lake Piru. It has been done and is quite the adventure.
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