Camping/Backpacking Suggestions in a 5 hour radius of LA

myninjaway · 2012-05-24T07:36:06.030628+00:00

Yeah we took the Catalina Express ferry for $70, but it was also my girlfriend's birthday so she got the free round trip ticket.

The first reservoir has a picnic area right next to it with drinking water, but there was nothing else until Blackjack. The reservoirs looked pretty sketchy, especially considering all the bison using them. I wouldn't mess with it without a reliable filter and chemical. We did fine with each having 3 liter platypus bags and only using the available drinking water.

Yeah, island plaza and the Pavilion hotel are both in Avalon.

Have fun and watch out for the cow (bison) pies!

scientologist2 · 1 day

Donde esta uh.... pizza?

myninjaway · 1 day

I've been camping on Catalina twice. The first time I went kayak camping which was a cool but totally different experience. The second time is what I described above. I know many people make a multiday trip of hiking the Trans-Catalina Trail across the entire island. That's the trail we were on most of the way to Blackjack out of Avalon. Actually, we walked up to Hermit Gulch from the ferry, then hit the trailhead there to intersect the TCT for the hike to Blackjack.

I'm in average to below average shape and both my girlfriend and I found the trail to Blackjack to be fairly challenging. I was a little better off then her. She was getting quite moody toward the end of the hike. The first part of our trail out of Hermit Gulch was an immediate 1500 ft climb. From there it levels out somewhat, but there is still quite a bit of elevation changes. There are steep areas with loose scree which made for some tough descents. Poles would have helped.

I'd say if your looking to camp and maybe hang out in Avalon a bit, do Hermit Gulch. If your looking to hike and get away from people, Blackjack is great. I highly recommend the trip I describe above, as we got to hike, camp, and hang out in Avalon!

Oh, and regarding hiking permits and campground reservations - I did both online, but Blackjack campground said I had to check in at the island plaza... This is NOT true! We got the run around for a while until someone sent us to the Pavilion Hotel. Go here first to get your permits - its right on the main street facing the harbor.

dodadoo · 1 day

Red tailed hawks are so cool. I once saw one chasing bunnies around a building I was working at in Sorrento Valley. The next morning I found a mostly eaten bunny carcass on the sidewalk.

eddiexmercury · 2 days

Yeah, I second Iron Mountain! Can be a bit crowded though.

eddiexmercury · 2 days

I just went to the Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve off the 78 for the first time this past weekend. Not really challenging, but it was very scenic with lots of rolling hills and oak trees. The area is used to graze cattle so we had lots of moo encounters on the trail. We also took a long break at a really nice spot to enjoy a cold beer (yes we packed in a few to have a picnic) and watch quite a few turkey vultures and golden eagles soaring above. There's a nice creek to dip your feet in also. Oh, and wild turkeys too. Total distance was a relatively easy 5.5 mi or so. (at the west preserve loop) It got really hot mid day (93) so bring plenty of water.

This is a great hike to combine with a trip to Julian, just a few miles up the road. Enjoy some Apple pie post hike.

IAmTheQ · 2 days

They really need to better police Everest. With all these people paying so much and training for so long, they feel that they MUST summit. Even if the cost is their own life.

I understand their desire to summit, but when you can clearly see that there is going to be a massive traffic jam, just let it go. Live to try again another time.

Fun_Crusher · 2 days

I certainly don't mean to be inconsiderate of you or the young man who died. But I saw a LOT of stupid behavior the one time I went down there. Whether or not it contributed to this death, someone was likely going to be seriously injured or killed there. It's the poor decision making of teenagers and lack of supervision here that were the main problems. Add in alcohol and guns and it made for a place that as a nature hiker, I didn't want to visit again. It was dirty and crowded. I can get that at home in the city.

Fun_Crusher · 3 days

You may be right, but if you google "Devil's Punchbowl San Diego", cedar creek falls dominates the results. That's where most people learn to associate those two. I know that's where I learned it.

apex800t · 3 days

Cool! I'm super busy for the next few weekends also, but I thought I'd throw it out there. Ballast Point is a great brewery. Msg me whenever you want to hit it up.

Fun_Crusher · 3 days

AKA the devils punchbowl. I went there once, it was horrible. There were about 50 teenagers down there swimming. We couldn't even get next to the water because so many kids were sitting on the edge.

One teen died while jumping off the rocks into the water. It was only recently reopened. What day/time did you go? It doesn't look crowded from your pics. I might consider going back on a weekday or something.

apex800t · 3 days

Hey new Linda Vistans, I'm a little older than you (34) but my girlfriend and I live about a half block from Ballast Point brewery. They have delicious beer. Perhaps we could do some tasters and then grill up some steaks and stuff on my tiny balcony. As long as you aren't creepy murder-types.

MrMakeveli · 3 days

Did you get scorpioned at all? Cause that looks like the desert. Nighttime is scorpion time!

mojowo11 · 3 days

Kansas City BBQ downtown is a bar to hit if you are spending any time in the Gaslamp area. It's a total dive, full of "Top Gun" memorabilia. The regulars are a usually a pretty friendly and fun bunch. Make sure you ask to take a ride on the night train.

DavinciSmurf · 6 days

Ah I remember hearing all the issues CA was having with Amazon tax stuff, but since they never started charging I had assumed that Amazon won. Then it makes total sense for them to start opening shipping centers here. Cool! I wonder how they treat their employees. I may attend this job fair then! Thanks for the info!

SDThrowaway5days · 6 days

If you head all the way out to the Salton Sea, be sure to check out Salvation Mountain http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2042. It's actually a really neat place, even if your not religious.

Also there are some mud pots near that area.

tdabit · 6 days

Looks like they have a shitty law on their side. I park my car all the time on my street for longer than 72 hours. That is a total garbage law - zone a street full of apartments that don't have enough parking and then fine people who are forced to park on the street.

Anyhow, your neighbors are COMPLETE assholes for reporting this, but I don't think there is much you can do. Do you know who it is? Maybe build them a cake or something and play nice?

DavinciSmurf · 6 days

It doesn't look like the jobs are going to be here, just the job fair. Amazon would be out of their minds to open a physical location in California. They would then be REQUIRED to collect CA sales tax.

trevercj · 6 days

Haha cool. Glad I'm not a total buzzkill! Everyplace has it's issues, and in all honesty San Diego > Oklahoma, probably.

ozone63 · 6 days

Next you will need to construct a dreamatorium and invite a hot girl named Annie in to 'play' with you.

andieOO7 · 6 days

Lol I wish reddit had been around when I was in school.

trevercj · 6 days

I moved to SD in 2005 and my income has decreased every year I've been here. Looking to get out, but staggering debt has me trapped. Be prepared for a long job search, only to accept a job for less pay. Most SD folks definitely pay the 'sunshine' tax, as in decreased salary but you live in a very cool beach town.

Not to get you down or anything, but after my first few years here, it's essentially become just like any other place I've lived. San Diego has some awesome things, but California is a disaster financially and politically. The roads here are the absolute worst. There are literally parts falling off my car from all the potholes and TRENCHES on the streets. And I hope you don't bring kids here. They are constantly cutting teachers and class sizes are already very large.

Damn, I'm Debbie Downer, huh?

Cool things: La Jolla cove, Breweries, Weather (duh), Variety of outdoorsy things! (beach, mountains, desert - all in SD county!), Surfing, Balboa Park, Mission Bay, Boating, Cycling, Gaslamp

There now I feel better. This is a great city, with downsides like any other.

KAPT_Kipper · 6 days

Well I guess that's the end of my podcast for prisoners.

TheVentura · 7 days

I thought this was going to be super dumb. I clicked it anyhow, and laughed my ass off. Well done!

JayV30

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JayV30

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