Route Climbed: Santa Lucia Trail Date Climbed: 6/7/04
Took 2 east coast friends up as preparation for a hike up to White Mountain. I knew this would be a strenuous hike but without the altitude. It proved to be so as temperatures were quite warm at the beginning, in the upper 80s, but nice at the summit, around 70. We drank lots of water and acutally drianed our 100 oz camelbaks about 1/3rd of the way back down. Lots of water is definately recommended in the summer. The trail was a little overgrown as I think a lot of the trails in the Los Padres National Forest are becoming.
Route Climbed: Santa Lucia Trail with south gully option Date Climbed: 31st January 2004
Since there are several variations on the Santa Lucia trail, we (hyperbolictans and rgreene) followed the south gully route up to the ridge line. Originally planned on taking the northern ridge route but missed the turn somewhere (someone wanna post a waypoint coordinate for that!). Nice hike. Climbed the observation tower at the top and had a nice view of the ocean. The view east isn't that great because of the tall trees but the view west is excellent. The hut is a great place to have lunch and get warm. Highly recommended route in the winter - summer would cook you on the ridge I think.
Route Climbed: Santa Lucia Trail Date Climbed: 31 January 2004
Nice hike in excellent January weather. Just the smallest traces of snow left (almost none on trail, though I did manage to slip on the little 6 inch long piece!). Ridge winds made the last bit pretty cold. Found the summit register (in the hut), had lunch, and round tripped it in just under 6 hours. (CA COHP#13)
Route Climbed: Santa Lucia Trail Date Climbed: March 29th, 2003
What a wonderful day-hike! Weather was absolutely gorgeous! We ran only into one couple on the trail, so we had this mountain pretty much for ourselves most of the day. Hike up from Memorial Park took slightly over 3 hours, descend ~2 hours. Only one downside - huge amount of flies on the trail. We hoped to avoid them due to the early season, but apparently they already sensed warm weather and beginning of the summer. All in all, day very well spent!
Route Climbed: Helicoptered Up Date Climbed: August 1977
Weather observer on Marble/Cone forest fire. Spent 5 nights on top taking temps and dew points every hour on the hour. Heard the news that Elvis died while on the mountain.
Route Climbed: Santa Lucia Trail Date Climbed: March 24, 2001
Nice day trip from the Bay Area. Left at 7:50am, arrived at trailhead in 3 hours, hiked to the top and was back home at 9:00pm to rent a movie. I headed up in sneakers, a t-shirt, and running shorts expecting the sunny weather to continue all the way up. It did, but above 4460 feet I was in the shade, hiking on snow, and suddenly I wished I had a long sleeve t-shirt with me. The only guy I saw in the snow area was wearing a North Face jacket. Anyway, once you get to the summit, its nice and exposed... and most importantly, it was sunny. I didn't expect the Indians Ranger Station to be closed (it was open the last time I came on June 26, 1999 - but there were too many flies then) so I wasn't able to get a NF Adventure Pass for this trip. More photos and a longer trip report here.
davehead - Jun 15, 2004 8:10 pm
Route Climbed: Santa Lucia Trail Date Climbed: 6/7/04Took 2 east coast friends up as preparation for a hike up to White Mountain. I knew this would be a strenuous hike but without the altitude. It proved to be so as temperatures were quite warm at the beginning, in the upper 80s, but nice at the summit, around 70. We drank lots of water and acutally drianed our 100 oz camelbaks about 1/3rd of the way back down. Lots of water is definately recommended in the summer. The trail was a little overgrown as I think a lot of the trails in the Los Padres National Forest are becoming.
blmcclain - Feb 2, 2004 1:56 pm
Route Climbed: Santa Lucia Trail with south gully option Date Climbed: 31st January 2004Since there are several variations on the Santa Lucia trail, we (hyperbolictans and rgreene) followed the south gully route up to the ridge line. Originally planned on taking the northern ridge route but missed the turn somewhere (someone wanna post a waypoint coordinate for that!). Nice hike. Climbed the observation tower at the top and had a nice view of the ocean. The view east isn't that great because of the tall trees but the view west is excellent. The hut is a great place to have lunch and get warm. Highly recommended route in the winter - summer would cook you on the ridge I think.
rgreene - Feb 1, 2004 12:29 am
Route Climbed: Santa Lucia Trail Date Climbed: 31 January 2004Nice hike in excellent January weather. Just the smallest traces of snow left (almost none on trail, though I did manage to slip on the little 6 inch long piece!). Ridge winds made the last bit pretty cold. Found the summit register (in the hut), had lunch, and round tripped it in just under 6 hours. (CA COHP#13)
Lippo - Nov 22, 2003 7:29 am
Date Climbed: August 10 2002My first California hike. A good work out. 107 degrees. Ran out of water half way down. Take lots of water.
mpyle - Jul 5, 2003 3:57 am
Date Climbed: December 1999A neat hike in the winter. Typical California chapparal down low, and snow up top.
Misha - Mar 29, 2003 9:59 pm
Route Climbed: Santa Lucia Trail Date Climbed: March 29th, 2003What a wonderful day-hike! Weather was absolutely gorgeous! We ran only into one couple on the trail, so we had this mountain pretty much for ourselves most of the day. Hike up from Memorial Park took slightly over 3 hours, descend ~2 hours. Only one downside - huge amount of flies on the trail. We hoped to avoid them due to the early season, but apparently they already sensed warm weather and beginning of the summer. All in all, day very well spent!
Matthew Holliman - Mar 14, 2003 4:02 pm
Route Climbed: Usual trail from the Indians Date Climbed: 2/2/2003Nice views on the way up, although they were limited at the top by the tree cover. A beautiful day for a hike.
ktnbs - Mar 9, 2003 10:25 am
Route Climbed: Helicoptered Up Date Climbed: August 1977Weather observer on Marble/Cone forest fire. Spent 5 nights on top taking temps and dew points every hour on the hour. Heard the news that Elvis died while on the mountain.
Josh - Nov 1, 2002 10:34 pm
Route Climbed: Santa Lucia Trail Date Climbed: November 1, 2002Hiked with Ryle. We descended in the dark with one crappy LED headlamp between us. A little over 3 hours round trip.
John - Aug 16, 2001 11:59 pm
Route Climbed: Santa Lucia Trail Date Climbed: March 24, 2001Nice day trip from the Bay Area. Left at 7:50am, arrived at trailhead in 3 hours, hiked to the top and was back home at 9:00pm to rent a movie. I headed up in sneakers, a t-shirt, and running shorts expecting the sunny weather to continue all the way up. It did, but above 4460 feet I was in the shade, hiking on snow, and suddenly I wished I had a long sleeve t-shirt with me. The only guy I saw in the snow area was wearing a North Face jacket. Anyway, once you get to the summit, its nice and exposed... and most importantly, it was sunny. I didn't expect the Indians Ranger Station to be closed (it was open the last time I came on June 26, 1999 - but there were too many flies then) so I wasn't able to get a NF Adventure Pass for this trip. More photos and a longer trip report here.