Trip Report:
Date:
| June 13, '13 |
Location:
| Local stretch of Altadena Crest Trail |
Hike:
| RT from debris basin to bridge (elevation |
Today’s miles:
| 2+ |
Total Trip:
| 2+ |
Trail Description:
The East Crest Trail round trip is rated easy unless you have a bum knee. Not recommended for anyone afraid of dogs.
To find the trail head, walk east from the cul de sac fire hydrant. Follow the palm trees for two blocks past the nice houses with big lawns and sprawling sycamores to the bright yellow lot hugger that looks like it landed from Mars. Head up the hill past the busy street to the debris basin. In early summer or late fall, you might see crows circling as they wait to grab a snack from a mostly-2-dimensional skunk or opossum which will often display a variety of tread marks.
East end of Altadena Crest Trail
At the debris basin bear right and head up the hill. There you will see a dessicated stand of agapatha which is why this no-named hill should be called Palatine Hill. The first stretch is slippery, narrow, steep. This is a trademark of San Gabriels trails which tend to melt away with every rain. Fortunately rain is a rare occurrence.
The trail then winds up past a memorial cross that marks the spot where two firefighters died in the '93 fire. Each year these men are honored by their surviving colleagues who place flowers and station caps on the cross. Just head, you will come to the trail apex. There you will have a unobstructed view of a dozen back yards, including one with a swimming pool. (Great viewing with binoculars!)
From here the trail descends a set of switchbacks to a filled debris basin which supports a variety of non-native species. After a short climb you then descend a dozen switchbacks that will trace along the steep escarpment which defines the fault that runs along the south face of the San Gabriels. Soon you will see Eaton Canyon. Stay alert for knotted produce bags, they can spoil your hike. Descend onto the fire road and stroll over to the high bridge for a short break. The bridge spans the dry Eaton Creek bed and provides a fine viewing platform for the parade of fun seekers with boom boxes and ice chests enroute to the trickle at Eaton falls.
Return the way you came.
I have walked the Altadenda Crest Trail dozens of times. This was different. Each step seemed like a gamble. Would the shooting knee pains resume? Would this hiatus be indefinite? The worry was for naught. The knee is fine.
Time to try something more ambitious. Next stop Henninger Flats.