2007-05-26 to 2007-05-28

(Page Created - 2007-05-31)

For our Memorial Day weekend we went camping at the South Fork Campground in the Angeles National Forest.   The name refers to the South Fork Branch of the Big Rock Creek which flows by the campground and then disappears into the Mojave Desert. From South Fork Campground there is access to many hiking trails including the following major trails:

1. High Desert National Recreation Trail to the West - Leads to the nearby Devil's Punchbowl County Park and the Devil's Chair

2.  High Desert National Recreational Trail to the East (also known as the Manzanita Trail) - Leads to the Burkhart National Recreation Trail and Vincent's Gap

3. South Fork Trail to the South - Leads to Islip Saddle on the Angeles Crest Highway about five miles away.

On this weekend I hiked portions of all three trails and completed the six-mile roundtrip hike from the campground to the Devil's Chair in Devil's Punchbowl County Park.  This involved climbing up and down three different times over ridges of 1750 feet! My poor dog almost gave up on me and was very happy to see the cold water pools in Holcomb Creek in Holcomb Canyon between two of the ridges! This is a good trail through some interesting geological and ecological features. You start at South Fork Camp right at the very edge of where the forest meets the desert, so you hike through a transitional zone and even cross a couple of streams. As you begin you cross South Fork Creek then you gently climb a nice slope to a ridge, then descend some switchbacks, hike through Holcomb Canyon and climb up the steepest portion of the trail to the punchbowl. There are some steep drop offs and trail erosion along the way. The feint of heart may want to tread lightly on this trail, very very narrow in spots.

The Devil's Punchbowl is a point where 2 earthquake faults collide, creating upwards jutting vertical walls as high as 300 feet. It is a spectacular setting, with the high desert spreading out on one side, and the pine covered Angeles National forest on the other. The hike takes you the Punchbowl and to the dramatic Devil's Chair, a breathtaking overlook with 360 degree views of the geologic formations. A rainbow of rock surrounds the Devils Chair with pink streaked chalk white cliffs, undulating tan crags, chocolate brown slabs, and green-gray ledges. This, combined with the green of the mountains and the blue sky, makes for a memorable image.

2007-05-26_DSC03697 - Leo - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03698 - South Fork Campground - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03699 - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03699-3701 - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03700 - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03701 - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03702 - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03703 - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03704 - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03705 - High Desert Trail - South Fork Campground - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03706 - Our Campsite - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03707 - Our Campsite - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03708 - High Desert Trail (Manzinita Trail Section) - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03709 - View Towards Big Rock - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03710 - Mountain Peak - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03711 - Leo - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03712 - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03713 - Devil's Punchbowl - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03714 - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03715 - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03716 - Leo - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon. - LowResJPG	2007-05-26_DSC03717 - Holcomb Creek - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03718 - Leo - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03718a - Leo - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03719 - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03720 - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03721 - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03722 - Yucca Plant - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03723 - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03724 - Steep Climb - High Desert Trail - Devil's Punchbowl - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03725 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Punchbowl - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03726 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Punchbowl - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03727 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Punchbowl - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03728 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Punchbowl - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03729 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Punchbowl - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03730 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Punchbowl - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03731 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Punchbowl - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03732 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03733 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03734 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Chair - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03735 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03736 - Leo - High Desert Trail - Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03737 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03738 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03739 - High Desert Trail - View From Devil's Chair - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03740 - High Desert Trail - View From Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03741 - High Desert Trail - View From Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03742 - High Desert Trail - View From Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03743 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03744 - High Desert Trail - View From Devil's Chair - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03745 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03746 - High Desert Trail - View From Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03747 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03748 - High Desert Trail - View From Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03749 - High Desert Trail - Couple on Devil's Chair - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03750 - High Desert Trail - View From Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03751 - High Desert Trail - View From Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03752 - High Desert Trail - View From Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03753 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Chair - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03754 - High Desert Trail - Devil's Chair - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03755 - Leo - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03755a - Leo - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03756 - Leo - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03756a - Leo - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03757 - Holcomb Creek - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03758 - Holcomb Creek - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03759 - Leo - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03760 - Devil's Chair - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03761 - Manzinita Tree - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03762 - Manzinita Tree - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03763 - Eldred Hughes - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03763a - Eldred Hughes - High Desert Trail - Holcomb Canyon - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03765 - Holcomb Canyon - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03766 - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03767 - South Fork Campground - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03768 - South Fork Campground - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03768-3770 - South Fork Campground - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03769 - Our Campsite - High Desert Trail - South Fork Campground - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03770 - High Desert Trail - South Fork Campground - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03771 - View Towards Big Rock - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03772 - View Towards Big Rock - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03773 - Punchbowl Ascent - High Desert Trail - View From South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03774 - Punchbowl Ascent - High Desert Trail - View From South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03775 - Leo - High Desert Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03776 - Lindsey Hughes, Leo - South Fork Campground - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03777 - South Fork Campground - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03778 - Lucy & Lindsey Hughes - South Fork Campground - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03778a - Lucy - South Fork Campground - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03779 - Moon - South Fork Campground - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03780 - Leo, Lucy & Lindsey Hughes - South Fork Campground - LowRes
2007-05-26_DSC03781 - Wildflower - South Fork Campground - LowRes	2007-05-26_DSC03782 - South Fork Campground - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03783 - Lucy - Manzinita Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03784 - Lucy - Manzinita Trail - South Fork - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03784a - Lucy - Manzinita Trail - South Fork - LowRes
2007-05-27_DSC03785 - Manzinita Trail - South Fork Campground - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03786 - Our Campsite - Manzinita Trail - South Fork Campground - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03787 - Our Campsite - Manzinita Trail - South Fork Campground - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03788 - Our Campsite - Manzinita Trail - South Fork Campground - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03789 - Our Campsite - Manzinita Trail - South Fork Campground - LowRes
2007-05-27_DSC03790 - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03791 - Kids Catching Fish - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03791a - Kids Catching Fish - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03792 - Kids Catching Fish - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03792a - Kids Catching Fish - South Fork Trail - LowRes
2007-05-27_DSC03793 - Kids Catching Fish - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03793a - Kids Catching Fish - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03794 - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03795 - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03796 - South Fork Trail - LowRes
2007-05-27_DSC03797 - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03798 - Rock Slide - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03799 - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03800 - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03801 - South Fork Trail - LowRes
2007-05-27_DSC03802 - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03803 - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03804 - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03805 - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03806 - South Fork Trail - LowRes
2007-05-27_DSC03807 - Kids Playing In Creek - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03807a - Kids Playing In Creek - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03808 - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03809 - Desert Wildflower - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03809a - Desert Wildflower - South Fork Trail - LowRes
2007-05-27_DSC03810 - Yellow Wildflower - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03810a - Yellow Wildflower - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03811 - Yellow Wildflower - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03811a - Yellow Wildflower - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03812 - Juniper Berries - South Fork Trail - LowRes
2007-05-27_DSC03813 - Moon Over Ridge - South Fork Campground - LowRes	2007-05-27_DSC03814 - Moon Over Ridge - South Fork Campground - LowRes	2007-05-28_DSC03817 - Lucy - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-28_DSC03817a - Lucy - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-28_DSC03818 - South Fork Trail - LowRes
2007-05-28_DSC03819 - Leo - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-28_DSC03819a - Leo - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-28_DSC03820 - Lucy & Lindsey Hughes - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-28_DSC03820a - Lucy & Lindsey Hughes - South Fork Trail - LowRes	2007-05-28_DSC03821 - Big Rock Campground - LowRes
2007-05-28_DSC03822 - Leo - Big Rock Campground - LowRes