I hiked to Mt. Wilson and back from the top of Lake Ave.
Started at 8:30 and got back at 6:00.
mapI started at "A" (The start of the Sam Merill Trail) and through "B" (The Castle Canyon Trail) to "C" (Inspiration Point).
From there I took "D" (East Mt. Lowe Trail) and connected with "E" (The Mt. Lowe Fire Road at Markham Saddle) which goes through the Muller tunnel and ends at "F" (The Mt. Wilson Road) which I walked to "G" (The Mt. Wilson Toll Road).
When I got to "H" (The Mt. Wilson Trail Junction) I noticed a huge bar leaning against a tree. Actually I saw it last week at the same location during a hike up from Bailey Canyon. We had taken a break there and I found it down behind a tree stuck half way in the ground. I pulled it up and claimed it was my hiking stick. This bar is about 60" long and weighs 25 lbs at least. I leaned it against a tree in full view so when I saw it still there I was really excited! It's so cool looking, has a sharp point on one side and like a nob on the other. Just like a hiking stick but like 20 times heavier.
So I packed my hiking sticks in my pack and walked down the Toll Road with it. Trying to exaggerate the down hill action on my legs that Joe was talking about. Without using sticks to take the pounding off my knees and adding this weight really did me in. I wanted to take it home but only managed to make it back to the end of the Idlehour Trail. Where I died!
Actually that section of the trail seemed to never end. FOR EVER! It just wore me out.
So anyway I carried this bar in each hand at first like a regular hiking stick till my arms got too tired. Then I alternated just carrying it in each hand. I got pretty good rotating it around my waist. Felt like one of those baton twirlers at a parade! Then when that got old I alternated across each shoulder. By the time I got to "I"(The start of the Idlehour Trail) my spine and knees and legs were really sore. Somebody has a tent set up at "J" (Idlehour Camp). Well that's the rumor according to some guy I met just past that point. He said it was abandoned. I think someone is in there I saw it moving around when I was taking a picture of it. Still there though. Free tent!
From "J" to "K" is mostly up hill and at this point I was coming up on 20 miles. Really hard hauling this thing up. Can't use sticks and the lopsided weight on each side as I carried it felt like monkey was jumping up and down from one shoulder to the other and stomping away. So after 8.6 miles with it I had to let it go. (at least I passed the bar!) At "K" I put my sticks back together and zoom! What a difference!
It was wet the whole hike but it stopped once I got back to Inspiration Point again. From there I went back the same way.
The area in Idlehour looks pretty nice. Even though there wasn't much visibility because of the clouds I occasionally got a glimpse of the canyon walls along the way. Pretty neat area.
Despite the drizzling almost the whole day I saw many hiking groups and solo hikers.
I took some pics but my camera got wet and I can't get the pics until it's repaired.
If anyone wants to have a go at carrying my hiking stick just let me know and I'll tell ya where it is.
