Hitch 5: Adventures in the High Desert (J “Chewie" Bunville) [4]
June 27-July 3,2012
The season is quickly coming to a close as the temperatures continue to rise. From June 27 to 29, we stationed out of Chilao Fire Station, as we headed back to Bear Canyon Trail, to finish the work we started. The commute was only half an hour by vehicle and the hike at 7 in the morning was peaceful, as it was almost completely absent of other hikers and cool under the trees beside the creek. The work included mostly retread and lopping, with some timber removal. The hike at the end of the day was long, especially on the second day, when we reached our stopping point 4 miles from the trailhead. But walking along the creek and daydreaming about swimming in the pools on days off had everyone in a good mood.
The third day consisted of moving out of Chilao and moving up to 7100ft to camp at Mt. Pacifico. The crew was excited to be headed to a completely different part of the forest and to be working on the Pacific Crest Trail. In the morning, we headed to town for a few last minute supplies; we made good time to our campsite (despite another flat tire along the rugged steep road up to the campground). Once we reached it, we were all amazed at the view: one can see both Palmdale (a desert town on one side of the mountains), LA (on the other side of the mountains) and a whole new view of Angeles National Forest. The best: while watching the sun setting, seeing the lights in the cities slowly ignite, the vibrant orange from the sun over the desert and the brightness of the rising full moon. Despite what we thought, the nights were pleasant, with a constant wind but not as chilly as we suspected it would be.
The next two days were spent doing some much needed tread work on a closed section of the PCT. PDB filled the landscape around us, but the trail was completely clear of it (until about 2.5 miles in). A series of small unfortunate events plagued our project this hitch (including another flat tire on the second day of PCT repair), so on our third day at Mill Creek, we packed up our camp, worked our last day on the PCT and headed back to Chilao Fire Station. Despite the bumps in the road (figuratively and literally), the highlights include a trip to Coldstone Creamery (completely filthy from a day of work), our awesome isolated campsite at Mt. Pacifico, and working on the PCT!
On our last day, since we had gotten all the cleaning and meetings for post hitch out of the way the day before, we took a stroll into Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness and enjoyed a small picnic beside the waterfall around 2 miles down the trail. The water was freezing yet two LA gentleman stood in their bathing suits, fishing in the small pool with a net, which the five us were quite entertained by. And of course, per tradition, we ate our last-day-of-hitch meal (lentil quinoa coconut curry), while discussing our plans for the 4th of July.
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Hitch 4: The Great Wall of Poodle (by J “Shuga Bear” Otto) [6]
June 13-20, 2012
We spent this hitch on a five mile stretch of the Gabrielino Trail. We found two sweet remote campsites (West Fork and Valley Forge) right next to our work sites in the middle of the woods right next to a creek. Pros: nalgenes filled with ice cold crisp water, after-work trail running, and the small joy of rinsing off all that dirt from hands, arms and face at the end of the day. Cons: all the bugs. Oh, and flat tires. On our drive in, one of our tires punctured on the side wall. All of our stuff was in the back of the truck. Within half an hour, we were back on the road.
The trail to and at work was gorgeous (and relatively flat for the first 1.5 miles, hugging the creek). We finished that first 2.5 miles within a day and a half. The trail was in pretty rough shape and some sections we needed to build new trail, as a result of erosion. Annie and I got to build six bomber check steps in a section of trail reroute. The last mile and a half was almost all retread. We were all beat by day 8.
In the middle of our hitch we left the Gabrielino to work with the Bear Canyon Trail volunteer group. Despite two of our members getting a little lost on the sometimes disappearing trail, it was a successful day of digging retread and sawing. This hike was also spectacular. It followed the creek for most of it, had a sick waterfall (a popular spot with the locals), and multitudes of swimming pools and dwarf waterfalls. Despite the heat, the breeze flowing through the canyon against the water made for wonderful trail digging conditions.
Overall a great hitch...
Except for the Great Wall of Poodle. Our struggle with our arch nemesis continues. While walking down the Gabrielino, there suddenly appeared a vast field of purple flowers, littered with butterflies and hummingbirds. Up to seven foot tall plants, branching over the trail, marked our stopping point for trails maintenance. We worked around it by moving camp and entering the trail from higher up. From afar, the landscape was beautiful, with the purple and green creating a stark contrast against the blackened trees and chaucy granite slopes; on closer inspection, we perceived the impenetrable blockade in the trail, as one couldn’t even see the tread for the vast amounts of PDB. Not letting it break our spirits, we shook our fists at it while we dug tread up to the point where it first appears.
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Hitch 3: Lost and Found in Big T Canyon [8]
Despite our struggles with the heat, the PDB & poison oak and the sun from our previous hitch, we arrived back into Big T canyon ready to continue our work. The arrival of two new crew members had everyone renewed with energy, as well as knowing that we had finished Stone Canyon and would be moving on to other trails within the area.
The first day we attempted to finish Trail Canyon, but because of the years of neglect, the trail disappears around 2.5 miles in. There beside the creek, the trail suddenly vanishes into seven foot poison oak bushes and human sized yucca plants, which blocked our progress. We moved to Condor Peak, where the sun exposure, heat of the day and severe trail erosion prevented us from completing the 8-mile hike. Next we spent a morning hunting for the remnants of Grizzly Flats trail; from Big T canyon, it has been swallowed up by the forest regrowth but from Angeles Crest Highway we were able to clear and retread the first 1.5 miles. C.B and J. Otto took turns running the saw, taking out the fallen snags blocking these trails. Finally, we had to report to our site contact that there was nothing further we could do in the area, short of rebuilding whole trails. It was humbling to see the affect the fire had on the soil, trees and trail stability.
On Saturday, we went to Red Box for National Trails Day. We worked on the Gabrielino Trail, reinforcing the first 10 feet from the trailhead with timber structures and restoring an area where mountain bikes had been eroding the hillside. We planted yucca plants to deter any further passage. For the next day and a half, we worked on Mt. Disappointment Trail, repairing switchbacks, repairing drains, and clearing brush. Our final day of work consisted of summited Mt. Wilson (in our truck) and working down on the Kenyon-Devore trail. The view from the top was spectacular; on that particular day, the formation of cumulus clouds (not often seen in this area) offered a cool breeze and occasional shade from the sun.
Despite our frustration with the work, spirits were high for the majority of hitch. The creeks were our reprieve from the heat and good cooking from everyone had us sitting around at the end of the day, happily full, laughing and playing cards while the sun set.
The last day we received the news we had all been anticipating: next hitch we will be working elsewhere in the forest. Our exact location is unknown but our final meeting was filled with excited speculation.
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Hitch 2: Conquering Stone Canyon (by C.B. Maddox) [10]
At the beginning of hitch 2 the Angeles Crew picked up where it left off last time - working on Stone Canyon Trail in Big Tujunga Canyon. We spent several hot and sunny days clearing the trail to make it usable for visitors by memorial day weekend. Even with two members down, through days of sunburns and poison oak, the hard work all paid off as four new miles of trail were opened to the public on time!
The crew was also fortunate enough to spend a day working at Chino Hills State Park with a wonderful group of volunteers from Union Bank. Together we worked to remove invasive species, construct drainage structures, and help beautify the new Visitor's Center. It was an awesome chance to work with the public and the State Park employees. And we made out like bandits with a whole container of subway sandwiches and cookies left over from the event!
While it may sound like the past few days were full of work, the crew has found plenty of ways to relax - from the frequent trips down the the (occasionally) cool waters of Big Tujunga Creek to eating our way through tubs of ice cream before they could melt (many thanks to Josh for his impeccable ice cream selections).
The crew was glad to finish its first trail this hitch, and is looking forward to knocking out many more miles next hitch, especially with the arrival of our two new members, Jon and Charlie!
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Chainsaws! and A Big T Welcome [14]
May 2 - 9, 2012
After a short break, we were back; this time, with chainsaws in our hands. I admit that we were all excited and anxious to fire up those machines. We were lucky to have Hotshot Captain Stenmo as our S212 instructor; he filled our first day with a vast amount of information, covering chainsaw maintenance and safety, all incorporated through stories from his years of experience running a saw. The second day we turned on the saws, learned to start reading the trees, calculating tension, compression, and potential movement in every piece of timber before we began to cut. Everyone passed the final test and despite the PDB in the work area, we all successfully avoided it.
Once we were done with training, we said good-bye to Chilao Fire Station and set up camp at Vogel Flats picnic area in Big Tujunga Canyon. Cool, windy nights and tall Ponderosas were replaced with warm evenings and acres of chaparral. The fire season was getting under way, and Engine 13 out of Big Tujunga Fire Station welcomed us to the area, offering a place for showers and laundry. And good company.
It was hard the first few days, working in the sun, clearing away the trails that through years of neglect had completely grown over. The erosion in some areas required the team to think together on the best way to incorporate long-term solutions in a landscape still recovering from the devastation of a fire. We began on Stone Canyon Trail; we couldn’t find the trailhead and the first mile was completely overgrown. We finished clearing the first mile, building a beautiful 25ft drainage, and flagging sections that required further attention; then we moved to Trail Canyon. The trail was even more overgrown and the clearing went slowly; yet the days were easier, as the trail follows the creek for the first mile and a cool breeze occasionally came from it.
By the end of the hitch, everyone was exhausted and a few shades darker. Showers were salvation on days when poison oak and ashy dust clung to our skin. Upon return to Chilao Wednesday evening, we were working together to become prepared for a hot, sunny summer of work.
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In the Beginning... [22]
Through the smog and over the endless line of cars, the Angeles crew members caught a glimpse of the Angeles forest and its mountains towering above LA. Some drove; some flew; but we all converged at the Chilao Fire Station and Meadow Campground to begin this 3 month adventure. We were lucky to share these first few days in a new strange place with the Las Vegas Bird Squad. The nights were unexpectedly cool and the days predictably hot, as both crews crash coursed through SCA orientation and quickly learned the ropes of non-stop living and working in an outdoor setting.
Bird Squad stayed with us through Aerie Wilderness First Aid. Once we all had proven our new wilderness medicine prowess, the WFA instructors were gone, along with the Bird Squad; but the fast pace of training and orientation did not cease. From WFA to trails training. In three days we learned how to dig tread, construct trail structures to counteract erosion, and successfully avoid our arch nemesis: Poodle Dog Bush. We realized the drastic effects the Station Fire had on the area and immediately jumped at the challenging opportunity of repairing the Silver Moccasin Trail. Check steps transformed an area that was a two foot gully and ankle twisting hazard area into a healthy passable trail. Our main frustration with the area was not the heat or the lack of any overhead reprieve from the sun but that our nemesis had taken root in some of the major areas needing work. Some areas PDB just filled the trail.
By Sunday evening, the crew was happily exhausted and looking forward to their first two days off but still thinking with excitement about the next week’s training and work.
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Benjamin Maddox [29]
After graduating from the University of Central Arkansas in 2011, I moved to California where I worked at the ski resort in Mammoth Lakes. I then spent the spring working on a farm in the Seattle area. I am
currently on a bike tour from Vancouver, B.C. down to San Francisco. This is my first SCA assignment and my first time in Southern California. Things I like: bluegrass, coffee, my bike, and warmer weather.
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Josh Otto [32]
Hello, my name is Josh Otto. I'm from Washington state and this will be my 4th crew with SCA. I worked on the Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts and Connecticut, Denali National Park in Alaska and all over Northern California with Wildcorps. I live close to the Olympic mountains along with the Cascades and Mount Rainier. I like camping, hiking, hanging with friends and working on my car when I get the chance.
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Annie Armstrong [35]
Hello everyone,
Just a little about myself, I am a mature and dedicated person, very outgoing. I like being creative and thinking outside the box. I have a very laidback personality once you get to know me. I can be very sarcastic at times so, don’t take it personal, I’m only joking. I have traveled around the states a lot, which has given the opportunity to see and meet many people. My two favorite things in the world are Ice cream and fruit, simply because those are two things that can always put you in a good or make you smile while eating them. I’m into Japanese animation movies and 1980’s classics, old school music, Rock, Alternative and not much, but some Hip hop (Odis Redding, LL Cool J, Sade, Foo Fighters, The Fray, Kid Cudi, Maroon 5, OutKast, Plain White T’s, Etc…). I can be picky when it comes to my food. I like to design clothes so, when I’m not at work I like to dress really nice, because I’m into clothes like that. As far as being outdoors goes, I like rock climbing, boating, hiking, playing touch flag football, etc. well guys; I think I have definitely said enough. See you soon!
Annie “Ann”Armstrong
Hello everyone,
Just a little about myself, I am a mature and dedicated person, very outgoing. I like being creative and thinking outside the box. I have a very laidback personality once you get to know me. I can be very sarcastic at times so, don’t take it personal, I’m only joking. I have traveled around the states a lot, which has given the opportunity to see and meet many people. My two favorite things in the world are Ice cream and fruit, simply because those are two things that can always put you in a good or make you smile while eating them. I’m into Japanese animation movies and 1980’s classics, old school music, Rock, Alternative and not much, but some Hip hop (Odis Redding, LL Cool J, Sade, Foo Fighters, The Fray, Kid Cudi, Maroon 5, OutKast, Plain White T’s, Etc…). I can be picky when it comes to my food. I like to design clothes so, when I’m not at work I like to dress really nice, because I’m into clothes like that. As far as being outdoors goes, I like rock climbing, boating, hiking, playing touch flag football, etc. well guys; I think I have definitely said enough. See you soon!
Annie “Ann”Armstrong
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Zuri Moreno - Project Leader [38]
Tolkein said not all those who wander are lost. Ask me where I am from and I usually just smile, as traveling has been a major part of my life. I began working trails in the summer of 2010 with the SCA New Hampshire Conservation Corps. After a leading a crew with the Montana Conservation Corps in 2011, I am pumped to be back with the SCA and to experience my first summer in the Southwest. When I am not at work, my time is spent exploring, climbing, running, kayaking, and finding a place with a great view to set up my hammock.
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