My sense of home in the Big Santa Anita Canyon began in 1974 when I was 12 years old. Within 24 hours of first seeing the place during a family picnic on a hot June day, I was on my first backpack trip to Hoegees with a friend of the same age. My curiosity and … Continue reading “About Chris Kasten”
FEBRUARY 20, 2019 BY CHRIS KASTEN Joanie and I got out for a great afternoon of snowshoeing up on Wrightwood’s Table Mountain about a week and a half ago. Since then, more storms have dropped even more of the precious powder on our local mountains. Whether you like to cross-country ski or snowshoe, it’s a … Continue reading “Snowshoe Wrightwood’s Table Mountain”
MARCH 14, 2019 BY CHRIS KASTEN Hike Details for – WRIGHTWOOD’S HEATH CREEK Distance and elevation gain / loss: Approximately one mile (one way) with 400′ of elevation gain. Follow the gated dirt road that runs atop levee on north side of Heath Creek stream bed. Hike begins on Thrush Rd, just east of the … Continue reading “Wrightwood’s Heath Creek – Quiet Portal into Forest Trees”
MARCH 29, 2020 BY CHRIS KASTEN Here’s a Douglas Wallflower alongside the Upper Falls Trail, as seen this last Monday while hiking up the Big Santa Anita Canyon under cloudy skies. Our series of much-needed rain storms have brought back thick green grasses and the start to what’ll most likely be a colorful Spring of other … Continue reading “Douglas Wallflowers in Blossom”
Hike the Dawson Saddle Trail for Cooler Temps AUGUST 19, 2020 BY CHRIS KASTEN Hike the Dawson Saddle Trail for cooler temps and beautiful views of canyons and desert. A few days ago, Joanie and I drove up to Dawson Saddle for a late afternoon hike. Located approximately 13 miles west of Wrightwood, Dawson Saddle is the … Continue reading “Dawson Saddle Trail”
/wrightwood-ca/ AUGUST 19, 2020 BY CHRIS KASTEN Wrightwood’s Blue Ridge Trail hike, located just three miles west of this scenic mountain village, is a good place to get some shade and maybe even a little cooler weather, this time of year. The trail runs between Big Pines and Blue Ridge Campground, traversing richly forested mountainsides. Total … Continue reading “Blue Ridge Trail Hike”
Big Santa Anita Canyon SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 BY CHRIS KASTEN Attached are two photos taken of Big Santa Anita Canyon in the aftermath of the Bobcat Fire. There’s a third photo here, too. It is of the flames dropping into the upper Big Santa Anita Canyon during the fire’s early stages of development. The first photo … Continue reading “Bobcat Fire Aftermath”
SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 BY CHRIS KASTEN Hike Mount Baldy to Wrightwood via the North Backbone Trail. This trip takes you from south to north, traversing the San Gabriel mountains eastern high country. The terrain is high and dry, passing amongst wind bent pines, colorful outcroppings of rock, and views in all directions while taking you through … Continue reading “Hike Mount Baldy to Wrightwood – North Backbone Trail”
March 20, 2022 – Chris Kasten Mid-winter through spring is a good time to hike up to Mt. Wilson. Even as Chantry Flat in the Big Santa Anita Canyon continues to heal from the Bobcat Fire of 2020, don’t feel like there’s no good way up to Mt. Wilson. If you’ve never done it, hiking … Continue reading “Now’s a Perfect Time to Hike to Mt. Wilson”
JULY 3, 2023 BY CHRIS KASTEN Vincent Gap trailhead is once again open to vehicles coming in through Wrightwood. Highway 2 continues to be gated to any driving west of the trailhead. If you’re looking to hike up to Mt. Baden Powell or drop down into the East Fork, all this is possible now and through the … Continue reading “Vincent Gap Trailhead is Finally Open”