5E03 Santa Rosas

[David W]

I often escape the desert heat in the summer by camping up on the Santa Rosas on weekends. Usually short but often rough or steep exploratory and wildlife viewing and photographing walkabouts. I've found water springs, old marijuana grows, etc. over the years.

4th of July weekend I went a little further than usual and hiked down 5E03 from the top. It drops off Santa Rosa Truck Trail where the road splits off to the communications towers. Nicely built trail, much easier than what I usually do, lots of switchbacks and trees down across it. Seems rarely used, lots of animal sign and no human sign. Half way down, I had two fawns walk expectantly up to me as if they were curious or thought I was their mother. Very cool!

I hiked down to the old sawmill site and the kiln. Discovered the remains of an old Airstream trailer and the man-made pond that isn't much of a pond anymore, full of cattails. The spring was running. I hiked back up the now closed 4x4 trail that goes back up to Stump Springs campground. Ended up being about 7 miles, couple thousand feet down and up. Took me 9 hours, but that's poking and looking pace, not traveling pace.

There were too many people on the mountain for my taste, being a big weekend of course. Someone was popping off with a semi-automatic rifle at 11pm Saturday night and Sunday morning. Kinda wrecks the wilderness ambiance up there. Planning to talk to the rangers about having a "No Shooting" sign put up on the road, maybe do some volunteering...Idyllwild Ranger Station?

Tried to add a pic or two, but they are too large, I'll add through photobucket later.

[Florian]

Someone was popping off with a semi-automatic rifle at 11pm Saturday night and Sunday morning. Kinda wrecks the wilderness ambiance up there. Planning to talk to the rangers about having a "No Shooting" sign put up on the road, maybe do some volunteering...Idyllwild Ranger Station?

Hi David,

I'm surprised there weren't some "No Shooting" signs. There is currently no shooting and no fires (wood or charcoal) allowed in the San Bernardino forest. Regarding volunteering you might look into this ..

http://fsva.org/

-Florian

[cynthia23]

The truck trail was covered in shotgun shells the first time I did it, seven years ago, which was, in fact, the last time I did it. Also numerous beer cans, cigarette butts, and random trash people had dumped. There was definitely a 'Deliverance' atmosphere up there, with a large number (fifteen) of very drunk young men partying around a truck at the bottom, whom I had to wade through. As a single woman alone I definitely felt threatened--had my pepper spray out the whole time. I think it is the unofficial party area for the bored youth (defining that loosely--I"m talking guys up to forty) of Pinyon Pines. Areas where people can drive in and party are not good for hikers of either gender. It would be nice if somebody official would come in and patrol it but I don't think that is going to happen. I won't be returning there, ever.

[David W]

I checked on the way out, and there were the usual "no fires or fireworks" signs, but I didn't see any shooting related ones.

Cynthia, I see and share your concerns, and have read the opinion that truck trails such as this one should be closed, but I would be extremely disappointed if that were to happen. It would put an end to my and many others camping in a nice, cool, remote place away from the hustle and bustle. I cannot stand "developed" campgrounds, and don't have the time, energy, or desire to hike miles in and out every time I want to go. I'm already worried about it since they have installed a gate. The first time it appeared, I discovered it closed at the end of my 3 hour drive to get there, late at night. I was NOT a happy non-camper.

I have seen people hiking the truck trail a couple times and have always wondered why, seems unpleasant to me. I almost never hike roads that I have to share with vehicular traffic. Roads are for getting to where they end and the hiking trails begin, IMO. There are many cool little hidden gems up there. I would challenge you to take a ride up there and hike around a bit. It's a very nice place to chill out, recharge, and commune with nature.

I think it used to be more "wild west" than it is now. I have not seen the amount of trash and trashy behavior you speak of, except once someone came along and "tagged" some rocks on the road. Forest service has a portable sand blaster for removing it. I know it is occasionally patrolled. You need not fear for your safety any time I am around, anyone threatening anyone else's safety will have a bad time of it around me.

Oh, and where is that silly blue Ark? Maybe it's been removed? I can't find it on Google Earth and have slow-driven most of that road, although not much in the lower chaparral area. My area of interest is in the big, shady trees.

Thanks, all!

[Hikin_Jim]

Nice to know that there are worthwhile things in the Santa Rosas, a place I've never been. I always imagine them to be waterless and sere, but it sounds like I'm badly mistaken.

HJ

[cynthia23]

Oh, I'm not advocating closing truck trails--just advocating not hiking them . I agree they can be an important way to get access to the deeper wilderness. And I'm glad to hear things got a little more 'civilized' (or, strictly speaking, less civilized) up there. I"m going to review the map and see if I can remember the location of the blue boat. It was definitely under big trees, but not quite to the snow line in late April, so I'm thinking it must have been about six thousand feet.

[David W]

Hm, not getting notifications of replies.

Jim, I found plenty of water when I went, even this far into summer. I need to get a drinking water filter, and then I wouldn't hardly have to carry water.

Cynthia, I checked the topo map on google earth at 5k, which is well below the tree line. I'll look some more.

[cynthia23]

It was slightly off trail (about 100 feet) and in a clearing under big trees--I remember that much. It was also kind of near a drainage, I think.

[halhiker]

This trail was built about 20+ years ago to connect the top of the Sawmill Trail to the Santa Rosa Mtn. Road. The main idea was as a mountain bike trail but by your description it doesn't get much use. It think it was intended to give mountain bikers a bit of single track in a cooler location.

[David W]

I've been meaning to get one of those new balloon tire mountain bikes for the desert, I'll have to try it up there too.


It's my favorite place...lots of old logging trails to explore, big shady trees, plenty of water, flora and fauna, crashed helicopter...I lived in WA as a kid, so it's kinda like home.


Pot farm irrigation siphon.