Just a half hour drive east of Los Angeles settled in the San Gabriel mountain range stands Mt. Wilson. It's part of the Southern California Six Pack of Peaks Challenge and with a peak 5,710' of elevation, it's the lowest of the six. That being said, the hike is far from a walk in the park. The challenge calls for a start from the Chantry Flat trailhead, however that road was closed the day I and some fellow coworkers came to tackle the mountain. Luckily, the Mt. Wilson trailhead was still reachable. The downside of this was that it make the hike longer and higher. Stats online suggest a 14 mile hike with an elevation gain of over 5,000', both of which were under my strava stats (17 miles, 5,300' elevation). Regardless, the hike was very rewarding as you ascend through several different environments. As suggested on several websites, this hike is best in the winter months as it can be very hot during summer. That being said, we were treated with a rather surprising damp and green hike. After a couple thousand feet of elevation we were met with a cool fog and then eventually snow near the top. Perhaps the most interesting part of the hike was an area before the peak where the trail was flanked by slopes of burnt trees revealing incredible vistas of the canyon below.

 

If you are planning on doing this hike, bring lots of snacks, plenty of water and a fresh shirt and sandals for when you are done. There were people of all shapes and sizes on the trail. It's very strenuous, but not technical. Just start early and be prepared for a long day. That being said, this hike exceeded my expectations.  

 

A mile or so in. The town of Sierra Madre sits below.

 

Throughout much of the day, we hiked in and out of clouds.

 

 One of the more visually appealing parts of the hike. A small, but memorable area of vibrant orange leaves littered the ground and made you swear it was autumn. An odd feeling when you're so close to Los Angeles.

 

The fog created a very moody atmosphere and cooled us off as we ascended.

 

As my buddy Raibar and I turned a switchback, this scene of light rays shining through the fog and the trees immediately stopped us in our tracks.

 

Eventually, after several hours of hiking, we reached snow. This was particularly exciting knowing we were a stones throw from Los Angeles.

 

Raibar catching a breather.

 

A couple inches of snow welcomed us as we neared the top, however the temp was well above freezing so it was melting pretty quickly. I wouldn't be surprised it this was a muddy mess the next day.

 

One of my favorite parts of the hike was this slope of burnt trees. A reminder that nothing in life is permanent, so take in the views and enjoy life!

 

Another shot of the canyon and cities below through the burnt forest.

 

Descending the foggy and snowy path. Food on our minds and giggles a plenty.

 

Looking down at two different trails that lead hikers up Mt. Wilson.

 

At this point, the only thing coming out of our mouths were comments about food and angry feet. About two hours later, we were sitting and crushing food.