150mph's Western USA hikes

This site has pictures, descriptions and maps of hiking and backpacking in the mountains of California and the Western USA. I have a big backlog of trip reports that I upload as I get time, not necessarily in chronological order.


Los Angeles
Contact me
I love mountains, discovering new places and connecting with the natural world. (Motorcycles, too.) Whether I have a weekend to day hike or a whole week to explore, I follow the call of the wild to the most extraordinary and magical natural places I can find—to get away from the city, to enjoy this beautiful country, to capture some of that in pictures and relate my experiences in order to help others find their own perfect spot. My hikes range from mountains near my home in Los Angeles area to all over southern and central California. Ringed by tall peaks and ancient forests, Los Angeles offers more natural wonders to discover and explore close by or within a few hours drive than almost any other major US city.

It's trail time again!
My newest posted hike (Jun. 16, 2010) is Trans Catalina Trail

Please check back for other treks that I'm preparing for posting:
• TopaTopa Peak, Los Padres mountains, Ventura Cty., Apr. 19
• Kings Canyon N.P: 3 days to Roaring River, May 23-25
• Mt. San Jacinto, 2nd highest peak in S. California, Jun 27-28
• Yosemite Nat.Pk & Ansel Adams Wilderness: 6 days to the Clark Range Aug. 24-29
• Zion Nat. Pk., UT: Angels Landing & Observation Point trail, Sep. 5-7


Trans Catalina Trail
3 1/2 days across the length of California's most beautiful island
Santa Catalina Island, Los Angeles county, California

Apr. 13-16, 2010

The Great Western Divide
5 day loop through some of the most breathtaking terrain in the high Sierra
Sierra Nevada, Sequoia National Park, Central California

Sep. 14-18, 2009

Rae Lakes Loop, Sixty Lakes, Forester Pass
6 days exploring a watery Sierra wonderland
Sierra Nevada, Kings Canyon National Park, Central California

Aug. 3-8, 2009

Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River
3 days along a wilderness river full of spectacular waterfalls
Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park, Central California

July 16-19, 2009

Mt. Whitney
Climbing the highest peak in the lower 48 states
Sierra Nevada, Inyo National Forest, Central California

July 3-4 2009

Yosemite Falls, Pohono Trail, 4 Mile Trail, Mist Trail
3 days of Yosemite Valley's most spectacular waterfalls and cliff-edge thrills
Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park, Central California

June 11-14, 2009

San Gabriel Peak
One of the San Gabriel front ranges most distinctive peaks
San Gabriel mountains / Los Angeles county

April 5, 2009

Piedra Blanca & Gene Marshall trail
Massive white rock formations on a summit hike in Sespe Wilderness
Los Padres mountains / Ventura county

March 22, 2009

Santa Paula Peak
A steep climb through an explosion of flowers above a lush, green valley
Los Padres mountains / Ventura county

March 8, 2009

Santa Susana Pass State Park
Exploring one of LA's most unique and undiscovered mountain parks
Simi Hills / Chatsworth, Los Angeles county

February 14, 2009

Vasquez Rocks
A fault zone park full of chaotic, tortured rock formations
San Gabriel mountains / Los Angeles county

February 8, 2009

Devils Chair, Devils Punch Bowl
Gigantic rock formations and a precarious cliff edge perch where two faults meet
San Gabriel mountains / Los Angeles county

January 17, 2009

Top of Griffith Park and the Hollywood sign
Wraparound views of LA and the famous landmark up close
Santa Monica mountains / City of Los Angeles

January 11, 2009

Rocky Peak
Up a boulder-strewn mountain to a 360 degree viewpoint
Santa Susana mountains / Ventura county

January 4, 2009

San Gorgonio mountain
Spend the night atop the highest peak in Southern California (11,501 ft.)
San Bernardino mountains / San Bernardino county

November 15-16, 2008

Mount San Antonio - aka Mt. Baldy
Climbing the highest mountain in Los Angeles county (10,064 ft.)
San Gabriel mountains / Los Angeles county

November 8, 2008

Kern Lake and Little Kern Lake
15 mile overnight hike to a pair of wilderness lakes
Golden Trout Wilderness / Southern Sierra / Central California

October 10-11 2008

Maggie Lakes, Frog Lake & Twin Lakes
11 mile overnighter to some pristine backcountry mountain lakes
Golden Trout Wilderness / Southern Sierra / Central California

September 27-28 2008

North Fork of the Kern River above Lake Isabella
10 mile overnight hike along a Wild & Scenic River
Golden Trout Wilderness / Southern Sierra / Central California


September 12-14 2008

Yosemite & climbing Half Dome
Discover Yosemite south to north on a 3 day hike

August 28-31, 2008

Sespe River over night
10 mile overnight hike into SoCals secret grand wilderness
Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest

August 23-24, 2008

Matilija Creek over night
Hiking a deep and twisty mountain canyon to waterfalls and swim holes
Los Padres National Forest

August 16-17, 2008

Citadel Rock, Boney Mountain
Exploring an immense fortress rock above the Pacific Ocean
Santa Monica mountains, N. Malibu, Ventura County

August 8, 2008

Top of Malibu - Schueren Rd - Backbone Trail
Wraparound views via a short climb to one of Malibu's highest peaks
Santa Monica mountains

July 20, 2008

Yosemite National Park, Mist trail, Vernal & Nevada falls
3 days discovering the park for the first time
Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park, Central California

July 10-12, 2008

Santa Paula Punch Bowl and water slides above
Return to one of the most awesome swimming holes in southern California
Los Padres National Forest, Ventura County

July 3, 2008

Matilija Falls
A challenging scramble up a deep canyon to a remote mountain waterfall
Los Padres National Forest, Ventura County

June 28, 2008

Santa Paula Punch Bowl
A 3 mile hike up a mountain creek to an amazing waterfall swim hole
Los Padres National Forest, Ventura County

June 22, 2008

Wildwood Park, Paradise Falls & Indian cave
Discovering geological wonders in a big wilderness park on the edge of town
Conejo Recreation & Park District, Thousand Oaks

June 15, 2008

The Grotto
A watery playground where a mountain stream has carved through giant boulders
Santa Monica mountains, Ventura County

June 1, 2008


Boney Mountain
Exploring rugged peaks high above the ocean
Santa Monica mountains, Ventura County

May 25, 2008

Red Rock park to Calabasas Peak
From one of LA's most hidden parks up to some epic rock formations
Santa Monica mountains, LA County

May 8, 2008

REI.com Camping Gear
If this site has helped you, why not support me and follow this link over to REI for some kickin' gear? (It's where I get all my stuff- it's good quality and they have the best return policy) If you buy something, they give me a few pennies!

 

Since Jan.09