Customer Reviews

Trails of the Angeles: 100 Hikes in the San Gabriels (Hiking & Biking)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With this, the 8th and (for John Robinson) last edition of 'Trails of the Angeles' Southern California Hikers are given some new features to an old classic. The table of contents now lists all of the hikes individually, and a summary of hikes appears at the end of the book. Readers are also introduced to the new author, Doug Christiansen, who is taking over future updates to the book as Robinson's advancing age is starting to hinder his work. For his part, Christiansen promises to keep the text as close to Robinson's original as possible.

So why should you buy this book? Simply put, it is the best hiking guide to the San Gabriel Mountain Range in Southern California. Like all Wilderness Press Books, 'Trails of the Angeles' includes substantial coverage of natural and human history in the area. An excellent topographical map, with numerous details, is also included. But best of all are the 100 hikes that continue to offer challenges to generations of hikers. Readers should note that these are not easy walks of a mile or two. The average walk described in the book is over 8 miles and includes substantial elevation gain. But you will be amply rewarded by getting a genuine wilderness experience within an hour or so drive from LA. This is the big draw of a book that has been continuously in print for 35 years. What a joy to discover that it will continue to be updated for the foreseeable future.

My wife has discovered the benefits of exercise. First, there was (and still is) the Y, where she spends 2-3 hours a day with step classes, cross trainers, and weights. The sick thing is, she loves it. (I go perhaps 3-4 hours per week, but only because I know it's good for me. I'd much rather sit with a good book, cheeseburger, and fries.) In any case, she's now discovered walking/hiking. She speed walks 10 miles every Saturday morning with a like-minded group of fanatics. They're planning to hike to the bowels of the Grand Canyon, and back up, in 2008; I'll be the one on the rim drinking iced tea.

TRAILS OF THE ANGELES describes 100 hikes into the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles. (It doesn't include the Verdugo Mountains immediately to the south of the San Gabriels or the San Bernardino Mountains further east, in case you're wondering.) I thought my wife and her walking chums would find it useful for getting into trekking shape.

The 2-3 pages dedicated to each of the hundred hikes includes "Features" and "Description", as well as a heading noting the hike's length, difficulty, and season. Perhaps two-thirds include a single black and white photo of something interesting to be seen nowadays or some structure of the past now represented only by ruins. Additionally, the volume contains separate brief chapters: "The San Gabriel Mountains" (geology, fauna, vegetation), "Humans in the San Gabriels" (a history of human influence on the area, recreational hiking being a major pastime between 1895-1938 before paved roads invaded the wilderness), "Hiking Hints" (including "hiker ethics"), and "Using This Book".

TRAILS OF THE ANGELES ends with a "Summary of Hikes", which lists all 100 according to difficulty (easy to strenuous), length (1 to 28 miles), and trip (round trip, one way, or loop).

The key ingredients of any guide of this sort are the directions given to the trailhead, and the route to be followed once boots hit the ground. Author John Robinson seems to do reasonably well at this though, mind you, I haven't had to put the acquired knowledge to practical use - yet. Directions to the various trailheads follow the same general tone as the following (Angeles Forest Highway to Big Tujunga Narrows, Hike #53):

"Drive up the Angeles Crest Highway to Clear Creek Junction, then left on the Angeles Forest Highway (L.A. County Road N3) to an unmarked parking area shaded by a lone incense-cedar on your right, 15.5 miles from La Canada. If you reach the Narrows Bridge, you've driven 0.3 miles too far." What happens if some prankster chops down that cedar tree in the dead of night and hauls it away for firewood?

Once on the chosen path, Robinson's directions are exact (as for Eaton Saddle to Markham Saddle, San Gabriel Peak, Hike #32):

"Walk past the locked gate and across the rugged south face of San Gabriel Peak via the Mt. Lowe fire road 0.5 mile to Markham Saddle. At the saddle, just beyond the water tank, turn sharp right (north) and pick up a brushy, unmarked trail leading up the mountainside. Follow the trail up one switchback, then across the west slope of San Gabriel Peak to the high saddle between Mt. Disappointment and San Gabriel Peak, about 0.75 mile. Part of this pathway is eroded where it crosses the steep slope, so watch your step. At the saddle, turn right (east) and follow a steep climbers' trail up the ridge to the top." Hmm, do you suppose they could replace the water tank with a coke machine?

A picture, so to speak, is worth a thousand words. And it's here that TRAILS OF THE ANGELS falls a bit short, in my opinion. Whereas in the hiking guides authored by Robert Stone (e.g. DAY HIKES AROUND LOS ANGELES and DAY HIKES ON THE CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN COAST) where each route is illustrated with a very detailed map within the book itself, TRAILS OF THE ANGELS attempts to accomplish the same with a separate, but included, 38" x 19" recreational map of the region. One side is a small scale rendering of the entire San Gabriel range, the other "zooms-in" on individual locales (Liebre Mountain Area, Crystal Lake Area, Big Tujunga Area, North of Pasadena, and Mount Baldy Area). On both sides, the trails are drawn in red with the corresponding hike number (1-100) from the book noted alongside. Now, while this seems acceptable, and is probably perfectly adequate, I would personally prefer the relatively large scale rendering of each trail in the Stone books and not have to unfold an unwieldy map every time I needed visual reinforcement. What if the unfolded map blows away in a sudden gust? I guess it's a matter of individual preference and experience (the latter of which I have none - yet).

My wife has been closely studying TRAILS OF THE ANGELS, visually evaluating my physical constitution with a critical eye, and verbally sampling my willingness to be a trekking buddy. She's already gone and purchased hiking boots. Oh Lord, I've created a monster. I could've gotten her the GUIDE TO L.A. COMFORT FOOD EMPORIUMS instead, but no!

This book was very usefull in getting me started hiking in the local mountains the San Gabriels and I take it with me everytime I go up ! The maps are great and directions are clear and concise.

The 1998 edition (which has updated the trails since the 1990 edition referred to in the review below) contains 100 trails in the San Gabriel Mtns., primarily in the Angeles National Forest. While it is apparent that Robinson has not visited some of the trails in some time, most of the trail descriptions are up to date. While not an excellent map, the map that comes with the book is adequate for most purposes. An excellent resource.

It lists all the major hikes, with complete descriptions of how to get to the Trailhead and how to do the hike. It includes a nice map with altitude contours that show every hike, as well as some general background on the San Gabriels. (The USGS topo maps are still highly recommended.)
The book has one glaring omission - there is no table of hikes listed by mileage and altitude gain. Also, an updated edition is overdue (the latest edition was published in 1990, resulting from hikes in 1989 and earlier). See
http://sd.znet.com/~schester/angeles_mtns/index.html
for an attempt to remedy those deficiencies.
The book is still a must-have for anyone hiking in the San Gabriels.

This book is just filled with great trails. It includes a detailed map, only drawback is the map is not laminated (waterproof) but all inall i never leave home without this

All in all, this product delivers what it promises, a comprehensive list of hiking trails in the greater san gabriel mountain range. Unfortunately, the directions to these trails are vague, and could easily be misinterpreted. As a whole however, I feel that this book is worth picking up if you enjoy hiking and live in the los angeles county area.

This is an excellent, no nonsense hiking guide. it's the one I use the most often and consult before any hike. John Robinson is one of the gurus of Southern California hiking and his guides are usually dependable, accurate and full of information that will ensure your safety while in the mountains. He provides an adequate history of each hike, driving directions and fairly precise descriptions of where to locate each trailhead. It's important to note that some of his information is outdated; for example, you always must display your Forest Adventure Pass when parking your car in a California National Forest. Robinson doesn't mention this because his guide was written before the Pass became "essential."

Another strength of this book is that Robinson usually provides separate descriptions of various ways to summit, as well as three alternate treks to the peak and this is a valuable tool for the experienced hiker. He tells you how to get to mt. Wilson by the standard route and then the alternate routes. He does the same for San Jacinto, perhaps the premiere hike in Southern California (as well as the most arduous!) The guide is tailored towards seasoned hikers and if you're a neophyte, this probably wouldn't be your best choice. But if you love to hike and live in the L.A. area, the Robinson guide provides indispensible information. Highly recommended.

I purchased my first copy many years ago, and it introduced me to so many beautiful runs in the San Gabriels. I always take with me a copy of the run description and a copy of the appropriate map--Makes it impossible to get lost. The directions are very precise and clear, and the descriptions are very accurate. I can't thank the author enough.

John W Robinson's experience and unique historical perspective set this guide apart. It is a simple, no-nonsense guide. There are no fancy Icons, or detail maps (a great separate topo style map is included). I own a few guides which feature some hikes in Angeles National Forest. This is the only guide which focuses solely on the San Gabriels (with a couple in the nearby San Bernadinos). I "Trails" religously. My copy is worn out, taped up, coffee stained, and full of tape flags. I have read and re-read each hike inumerably. If you plan on hiking the San Gabriels, this is the only book you need.