On Day 6 we had four hikers: Diane Phillips (CSUN alumnus, left-front), Gene Fritsche (left-rear), Pam Irvine (from the California Geological Survey in Los Angeles), and Sue Fritsche (taking the picture). There was a nice breeze and it was cooler than it had been on previous days.
The first segment of the Pacific Crest Trail followed an old dirt road, so there was plenty of room for Pam, Diane, and Sue to spread out. The forest also provided lots of shade.
At Cloudburst Summit we encountered an unforeseen obstacle. Part of the Pacific Crest Trail was closed because of the presence of the endangered Mountain Yellow-Legged Toad. Also because of the toad, the Angeles Crest Highway was closed just west of Eagle's Roost Picnic Area, rather than at Islip Saddle, as we had been told. Our plans for the day, therefore, had to be altered. We followed the Pacific Crest Trail into Cooper Canyon in order to see the falls, then came back up to the Angeles Crest Highway on the Burkhart Trail detour. We had to end our hike at Eagle's Roost Picnic Area because the shuttle car could go no farther.
Cooper Canyon turned out to be a delightful place to hike. The trail followed along Cooper Creek, the first creek of any size that we had paralleled since the beginning of the hike. The creek provided lots of greenery to the scenery.
The Pacific Crest Trail crossed Cooper Creek just west of the falls. The water was low enough to allow boulder hopping across, so we didn't need to take off our shoes.
Diane, Pam, and Sue enjoy the view at a perfect lunch spot. Cooper Creek Falls plunges over a resistant exposure of granite into a pool carved out of less resistant gneiss.
The only way to the base of the falls was down and up a rope tied onto a tree. Pam makes it look easy as we head back to the trail to continue the hike after lunch.
The Burkhart Trail, presently being used as a detour for the Pacific Crest Trail, winds through shady groves of incense cedar and Jeffrey pine as it makes its way up to Buckhorn Campground.
Because the day's hike was shortened by the extended road closure, we finished the day in good spirits after a great day of very nice mountain scenery.
The first segment of the Pacific Crest Trail followed an old dirt road, so there was plenty of room for Pam, Diane, and Sue to spread out. The forest also provided lots of shade.
At Cloudburst Summit we encountered an unforeseen obstacle. Part of the Pacific Crest Trail was closed because of the presence of the endangered Mountain Yellow-Legged Toad. Also because of the toad, the Angeles Crest Highway was closed just west of Eagle's Roost Picnic Area, rather than at Islip Saddle, as we had been told. Our plans for the day, therefore, had to be altered. We followed the Pacific Crest Trail into Cooper Canyon in order to see the falls, then came back up to the Angeles Crest Highway on the Burkhart Trail detour. We had to end our hike at Eagle's Roost Picnic Area because the shuttle car could go no farther.
Cooper Canyon turned out to be a delightful place to hike. The trail followed along Cooper Creek, the first creek of any size that we had paralleled since the beginning of the hike. The creek provided lots of greenery to the scenery.
The Pacific Crest Trail crossed Cooper Creek just west of the falls. The water was low enough to allow boulder hopping across, so we didn't need to take off our shoes.
Diane, Pam, and Sue enjoy the view at a perfect lunch spot. Cooper Creek Falls plunges over a resistant exposure of granite into a pool carved out of less resistant gneiss.
The only way to the base of the falls was down and up a rope tied onto a tree. Pam makes it look easy as we head back to the trail to continue the hike after lunch.
The Burkhart Trail, presently being used as a detour for the Pacific Crest Trail, winds through shady groves of incense cedar and Jeffrey pine as it makes its way up to Buckhorn Campground.
Because the day's hike was shortened by the extended road closure, we finished the day in good spirits after a great day of very nice mountain scenery.
At Cloudburst Summit we encountered an unforeseen obstacle. Part of the Pacific Crest Trail was closed because of the presence of the endangered Mountain Yellow-Legged Toad. Also because of the toad, the Angeles Crest Highway was closed just west of Eagle's Roost Picnic Area, rather than at Islip Saddle, as we had been told. Our plans for the day, therefore, had to be altered. We followed the Pacific Crest Trail into Cooper Canyon in order to see the falls, then came back up to the Angeles Crest Highway on the Burkhart Trail detour. We had to end our hike at Eagle's Roost Picnic Area because the shuttle car could go no farther.
Cooper Canyon turned out to be a delightful place to hike. The trail followed along Cooper Creek, the first creek of any size that we had paralleled since the beginning of the hike. The creek provided lots of greenery to the scenery.
The Pacific Crest Trail crossed Cooper Creek just west of the falls. The water was low enough to allow boulder hopping across, so we didn't need to take off our shoes.
Diane, Pam, and Sue enjoy the view at a perfect lunch spot. Cooper Creek Falls plunges over a resistant exposure of granite into a pool carved out of less resistant gneiss.
The only way to the base of the falls was down and up a rope tied onto a tree. Pam makes it look easy as we head back to the trail to continue the hike after lunch.
The Burkhart Trail, presently being used as a detour for the Pacific Crest Trail, winds through shady groves of incense cedar and Jeffrey pine as it makes its way up to Buckhorn Campground.
Because the day's hike was shortened by the extended road closure, we finished the day in good spirits after a great day of very nice mountain scenery.
Cooper Canyon turned out to be a delightful place to hike. The trail followed along Cooper Creek, the first creek of any size that we had paralleled since the beginning of the hike. The creek provided lots of greenery to the scenery.
The Pacific Crest Trail crossed Cooper Creek just west of the falls. The water was low enough to allow boulder hopping across, so we didn't need to take off our shoes.
Diane, Pam, and Sue enjoy the view at a perfect lunch spot. Cooper Creek Falls plunges over a resistant exposure of granite into a pool carved out of less resistant gneiss.
The only way to the base of the falls was down and up a rope tied onto a tree. Pam makes it look easy as we head back to the trail to continue the hike after lunch.
The Burkhart Trail, presently being used as a detour for the Pacific Crest Trail, winds through shady groves of incense cedar and Jeffrey pine as it makes its way up to Buckhorn Campground.
Because the day's hike was shortened by the extended road closure, we finished the day in good spirits after a great day of very nice mountain scenery.
The Pacific Crest Trail crossed Cooper Creek just west of the falls. The water was low enough to allow boulder hopping across, so we didn't need to take off our shoes.
Diane, Pam, and Sue enjoy the view at a perfect lunch spot. Cooper Creek Falls plunges over a resistant exposure of granite into a pool carved out of less resistant gneiss.
The only way to the base of the falls was down and up a rope tied onto a tree. Pam makes it look easy as we head back to the trail to continue the hike after lunch.
The Burkhart Trail, presently being used as a detour for the Pacific Crest Trail, winds through shady groves of incense cedar and Jeffrey pine as it makes its way up to Buckhorn Campground.
Because the day's hike was shortened by the extended road closure, we finished the day in good spirits after a great day of very nice mountain scenery.
Diane, Pam, and Sue enjoy the view at a perfect lunch spot. Cooper Creek Falls plunges over a resistant exposure of granite into a pool carved out of less resistant gneiss.
The only way to the base of the falls was down and up a rope tied onto a tree. Pam makes it look easy as we head back to the trail to continue the hike after lunch.
The Burkhart Trail, presently being used as a detour for the Pacific Crest Trail, winds through shady groves of incense cedar and Jeffrey pine as it makes its way up to Buckhorn Campground.
Because the day's hike was shortened by the extended road closure, we finished the day in good spirits after a great day of very nice mountain scenery.
The only way to the base of the falls was down and up a rope tied onto a tree. Pam makes it look easy as we head back to the trail to continue the hike after lunch.
The Burkhart Trail, presently being used as a detour for the Pacific Crest Trail, winds through shady groves of incense cedar and Jeffrey pine as it makes its way up to Buckhorn Campground.
Because the day's hike was shortened by the extended road closure, we finished the day in good spirits after a great day of very nice mountain scenery.
The Burkhart Trail, presently being used as a detour for the Pacific Crest Trail, winds through shady groves of incense cedar and Jeffrey pine as it makes its way up to Buckhorn Campground.
Because the day's hike was shortened by the extended road closure, we finished the day in good spirits after a great day of very nice mountain scenery.