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Health, Safety, and Courtesy

GOOD PREPARATION is always important for any kind of recreational pursuit. Hiking the Southern California backcountry is no exception. Although most of the Southland’s natural environments are seldom hostile or dangerous to life and limb, there are some pitfalls to be aware of.

Preparation and Equipment

An obvious safety requirement is being in good health. Some degree of physical conditioning is always desirable, even for the trips in this book designated as easy or moderate. The more challenging trips require increasing amounts of stamina and technical expertise. Running, bicycling, swimming, aerobics, or any similar exercise that develops both your leg muscles and the aerobic capacity of your whole body are recommended as preparatory exercise.

For the longest hikes in this book, there is no really adequate way to prepare other than hiking itself. Start with easy-or moderate-length trips, and then work gradually toward extending both distance and time.

Several of the hiking trips in this book reach elevations of 7,000 feet or more—altitudes at which sea-level folks may notice a big difference in their rate of breathing and stamina. A few hours or a day spent at altitude before exercising will help almost anyone acclimate, but that’s often impractical for day trips. Still, you might consider spending a night or two at a campground with some altitude before tackling the likes of 11,500-foot San Gorgonio Mountain. Altitude sickness strikes some victims at elevations as low as 8,000 feet. If you become dizzy or nauseated, or suffer from congested lungs or a severe headache, the antidote may be as simple as descending 1,000–2,000 feet.

Your choice of equipment and supplies on the longer hikes in this book can be critically important. The essentials you should carry with you at all times in the remote backcountry are the things that would allow you to survive, in a reasonably comfortable manner, one or two unscheduled nights out. It’s important to note that no one ever plans these nights! No one plans to get lost, injured, stuck, or pinned down by the weather. Always do a “what if” analysis for a worst-case scenario, and plan accordingly. These essential items are your safety net; keep them with you on day hikes, and take them with you in a small day pack if you leave your backpack and camping equipment behind at a campsite.

Chief among the essential items is warm clothing. Inland Southern California is characterized by wide swings in day and night temperatures. In mountain valleys susceptible to cold-air drainage, for example, a midday temperature in the 70s or 80s is often followed by a subfreezing night. Carry light, inner layers of clothing consisting of polypropylene or wool (best for cool or cold weather) or cotton (adequate for warm or hot weather but very poor for cold and damp weather). Include a thicker insulating layer of synthetic fill, wool, or down to put on whenever you need it, especially when you are not moving around and generating heat. Add to these items a cap, gloves, and a waterproof or water-resistant shell (a large trash bag will do in a pinch)—and you’ll be quite prepared for all but the most severe weather. In hot, sunny weather, sun-shielding clothing, including a sun hat and a light-colored, long-sleeve top, may also be essential.

Water and food are next in importance. Most streams and even some springs in the mountains have been shown to contain unacceptably high levels of bacteria or other contaminants. Even though most of the remote watersheds are probably pristine, it’s wise to treat by filtering or chemical methods any water obtained outside of developed camp or picnic sites. Unless the day is very warm or your trip is a long one, it’s usually easiest to carry (preferably in sturdy plastic bottles or a CamelBak) all the water you’ll need. Don’t underestimate your water needs: During a full day’s hike in 80° temperatures you may require as much as a gallon of water. Know, too, that many springs and watercourses—even some shown as being permanent on topographic maps—may run dry at some point during the summer. Food is necessary to stave off the feeling of hunger and keep your energy stores up, but it is not nearly as critical as water is in emergency situations where you are in danger of dehydration.

Farther down the list but still essential are a map and compass (or a GPS unit and knowing how to use it), a flashlight, fire-starting devices (for example, waterproof matches, a lighter, or a candle), and a first-aid kit.

Items not always essential, but potentially very useful and convenient, are sunglasses, a pocketknife, a whistle (or other signaling device), sunscreen, and toilet paper. (Note: Sunglasses are an essential item for travel over snow.)

Every member of a hiking party should carry all these essential items because individuals or splinter groups may end up separating from the party for one reason or another. If you plan to hike solo in the backcountry, being well-equipped is very important. If you hike alone, be sure to check in with a park ranger or leave your itinerary with a responsible person. That way, if you do get stuck, help will probably come to the right place—eventually.

Special Hazards

Other than the possibility of your getting lost or pinned down by a rare sudden storm, the most common hazards found in the Southland are steep, unstable terrain; icy terrain; spiny plants; rattlesnakes; mountain lions; ticks; and poison oak.

Falls

Exploring some trails—especially those of the San Gabriel Mountains—may involve traveling over structurally weak rock on steep slopes. The erosive effects of flowing water, of wedging by roots and by ice, and of brush fires tend to pulverize such rock even further. Slips on such terrain usually lead to sliding down a hillside some distance. If you explore crosscountry, always be on the lookout for dangerous run-outs, such as cliffs, below you. The sidewalls of many canyons in the San Gabriels may look like fun places to practice rock-climbing moves, but this misconception has caused many deaths over the years.

Snow and Ice

Statistically, mishaps associated with snow and ice have caused the greatest number of fatalities in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains. This is not because our local mountains are inherently more dangerous than the Sierra Nevada, the Cascades, or other ranges. Rather, it is because the novelty of snow and easy access by way of snow-plowed highways attract inexperienced lowlanders, who never picture their backyard mountains as true wilderness areas. Icy chutes and slopes capable of avalanching can easily trap such visitors unaware. Visitors can explore the gentler areas of the high country on snowshoes or skis, but the steeper slopes require technical skills and equipment such as an ice ax and crampons, just as other snow-covered mountain ranges do.

Winter at 6,000 feet in the Laguna Mountains

Puncturing Plants

Most desert hikers will sooner or later suffer punctures by thorns or spines. This is most likely to happen during close encounters with the cholla, or jumping, cactus, whose spine clusters readily break off and attach firmly to your skin, clothes, or boots. A comb will allow you to gently pull away the spine clusters, and tweezers or lightweight pliers will help you remove any individual embedded spines. Another problematic spiny plant is the agave, or century plant. It consists of a rosette of fleshy leaves, each tipped with a rigid thorn containing a mild toxin. A headlong fall into either an agave or one of the more vicious kinds of cacti could easily make you swear off desert travel permanently. It’s best to give these devilish plants as wide a berth as possible.

Rattlesnakes

Rattlesnakes are common everywhere in Southern California below an elevation of about 7,000 feet. Seldom seen in either cold or very hot weather, they favor temperatures in the 75°–90° range—spring and fall in the desert and coastal areas and summer in the mountains. Most rattlesnakes are as interested in avoiding contact with you as you are with them.

Watch carefully where you put your feet and especially your hands during the warmer months. In brushy or rocky areas where you cannot see as far, try to make your presence known. Tread with heavy footfalls, or bang a stick against rocks or bushes. Rattlesnakes will pick up the vibrations through their skin and will usually buzz (an unmistakable sound) before you get too close for comfort. Most bad encounters between rattlesnakes and hikers occur in April and May, when snakes are irritable and hungry after their long hibernation period.

Red diamond rattlesnake

Mountain Lions

Mountain-lion attacks, although statistically rare, have been increasing all over California in the past three decades. This trend may continue as the natural habitat for these carnivorous cats becomes more and more fragmented by suburban and rural development. Several attacks and many more incidents of threatening behavior by mountain lions toward humans have taken place in urban-edge park and national-forest lands, such as those covered in this book.

Here are some basic tips for dealing with this potential hazard:

• Hike with one or more companions.

• Keep children close at hand.

• Never run from a mountain lion. This may trigger an instinct to attack.

• Make yourself large: face the animal, maintain eye contact with it, shout, blow a whistle, and do not act fearful. Do anything you can to convince the animal that you are not its prey.

Ticks

Ticks can be the scourge of overgrown trails in the coastal foothills and lower mountain slopes, particularly during the first warm spells of the year, when they climb to the tips of shrub branches and lie in wait for warm-blooded hosts. If you can’t avoid brushing against vegetation along the trail, be sure to check yourself for ticks frequently. Upon finding a host, a tick will usually crawl upward in search of a protected spot, where it will try to attach itself. If you are aware of the slightest irritation on your body, you’ll usually intercept ticks long before they attempt to bite. Ticks would be of relatively minor concern here, except that tick-borne Lyme disease, which can have serious health effects, has been reported within Southern California.

Poison Oak

Poison oak grows profusely along many of the coastal and mountain canyons below 5,000 feet in elevation. It is often found on the banks of streamcourses in the form of a bush or vine, where it prefers semi-shady habitats. Quite often, it’s seen beside or encroaching on well-used trails. Learn to recognize its distinctive three-leafed structure, and avoid touching it with skin or clothing. Since poison oak loses its leaves during the winter months (and sometimes during summer and fall drought), but still retains some of the toxic oil in its stems, it can be extra hazardous at that time because it is harder to identify and avoid. Mid-weight pants, like blue jeans, and a long-sleeve shirt will serve as a fair barrier against the toxic oil of the poison oak plant. Do, of course, remove these clothes as soon as the hike is over, and make sure they are washed carefully afterward.

Other Safety Concerns

Deer-hunting season in Southern California usually runs through the middle part of the autumn. Although conflicts between hunters and hikers are rare, you may want to confine your autumn explorations to state and county parks, as well as wilderness areas where hunting is prohibited.

Poison oak leaves

There is always some risk in leaving a vehicle unattended at a trailhead. It may be worthwhile to disable your car’s ignition or attach an antitheft device to your steering wheel. Never leave valuable property visible in an automobile, so as to be an invitation for a break-in. Report all theft and vandalism of personal or public property to the local county sheriff or the appropriate park or forest agency.

Permits and Camping

Some trails on national-forest lands (Angeles, San Bernardino, and Cleveland National Forests) are at present subject to the National Forest Adventure Pass program. This applies only to vehicles parked on national forest land and not to users who arrive on foot or by bicycle. Adventure passes are available at all national-forest offices, ranger stations, and fire stations. They are also sold through hundreds of vendors—typically sport shops throughout the region, gas stations and markets near the principal national-forest entry roads, and small businesses within national-forest borders. Adventure passes cost $5 per day or $30 for a year. The adventure pass must be prominently displayed on your parked car—otherwise your car will likely be ticketed and fined.

If you plan to visit national-forest territory more than two or three times a year, it is time-efficient at the very least to purchase the $30 yearly pass instead of worrying about obtaining one each day you come up for a visit. Rules for the adventure pass program tend to change rapidly; in fact, the program may be rescinded in the future. Another option is the $80 Interagency Annual Pass, which also covers national parks and many other federal lands.

If you are planning an overnight trip of some type into the Southern California backcountry, be aware that camping in roadside campgrounds is not always a restful experience. Off-season camping (late fall through early spring) offers relief from crowds, but not from chilly nighttime weather. Most national forest campgrounds are less well supervised than those in state and county parks, which means that they sometimes attract a noisy crowd. In my experience, facilities with a campground host promise a quieter clientele and a better night’s sleep.

The nice advantage of a developed campground is that you can always have a campfire there—unless the facility is closed. On trails where backpacking is allowed, fire regulations vary. Most jurisdictions prohibit campfires all or part of the year. Others permit fires, as long as you have the necessary free permit.

Some national forest areas allow remote, primitive-style camping: you are not always restricted to staying at a developed campground or designated trail camp. For sanitation reasons, you must locate your camp well away from the nearest source of water. And, of course, you must observe the fire regulations stated earlier. Always check with the US Forest Service to confirm these rules if you intend to do any remote camping.

Most federally managed wilderness areas around the state require special wilderness permits for entry. Many in Southern California have self-registering permits at trailheads; others require permits only for overnight visits. The San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Wildernesses are so popular that their managing agencies sometimes implement trailhead quotas.

Trail Courtesy

Whenever you travel the backcountry, you take on a burden of responsibility—keeping the wilderness as you found it. Aside from commonsense prohibitions against littering, vandalism, and inappropriate campfires, there are some less obvious guidelines every hiker should be aware of. We’ll mention a few:

Never cut trail switchbacks. This practice breaks down the trail tread and hastens erosion. Try to improve designated trails by removing branches, rocks, or other debris. Springtime growth can quite rapidly obscure pathways in the chaparral country, and funding for trail maintenance is often scarce; try to do your part by joining a volunteer trail crew or by performing your own small maintenance tasks while walking the trails. Report any damage to trails or other facilities to the appropriate ranger office.

When backpacking, be a Leave No Trace camper. Leave your campsite as you found it—or leave it in an even more natural condition.

Collecting specimens of minerals, plants, animals, and historical objects without a special permit is prohibited in most jurisdictions. These regulations usually cover common things, such as pinecones, wildflowers, and lizards, too. Leave them for all visitors to enjoy. Limited collecting of items like pinecones may be allowed on some national forest lands—check with the local agency first.

We’ve covered most of the general regulations associated with Southern California’s public lands, but you, as a visitor, are responsible for knowing any additional rules as well. Each hike described in this book includes a reference to the agency responsible for the area you’ll be visiting. Phone numbers for those agencies appear in the back of this book. Internet research is often helpful, too. Using a search engine, enter key words for the park or area in question to find an abundance of information. The quality of this information, however, varies, and it is important to note the date of its posting and the source itself.

Water Canyon Trail, Chino Hills State Park