Pacifico Mountain

Overview

A trek on the Pacific Crest Trail to the most western 7000-foot peak in the San Gabriel Mountains and one of the most prominent peaks in the entire range. This route requires a little bit of snow-hiking (in the winter), some bouldering, and good backcountry navigation skills – especially since the Station Fire ravaged much of the region. NOTE: This area was badly burned in the 2009 Station Fire. The landscape was opened but has been closed again due to proximity to the 2016 Sand Fire. Expect the conditions to be different than those represented here. If you’re in the market for a moderately difficult, lengthy trek on the Pacific Crest Trail that avoids some of the crowds of the lower San Gabriels, then Pacifico Mountain on the north side of the Angeles National Forest might be a good stop for you. Head to the Mill Creek Picnic Area, lace up your boots, and head southeast on the PCT. The Pacific Crest Trail runs straight through the picnic area and this was my first time hiking on any portion of it. Last year, I hiked a tiny section of the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut and was lucky enough to meet a thru-hiker on his way north. No such luck on the PCT this time, but I did get to see a note someone had scrawled on a trail sign back in 2003. The trail itself was in great shape and very easy to follow. I guess when you’re a famous and popular trail, you get a bit more attention when maintenance time rolls around. The trail starts out in the pines typical of the higher San Gabriel elevations, which provided some nice shade and even nicer scents. Because this part of the trail is on the north face of the mountain, it’s cooler and gets more shade than the more accessible peaks of the front range. Snow will linger here longer than in other places – and it’s more apt to re-freeze after melting a bit. If you;’re traveling in the winter be sure to take good boots and maybe even some traction devices or trekking poles if we’ve had a good snow season. Continue east on the PCT making a very gradual ascent on a pleasant st

Trail Stats

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