Tramway to Carumba

[Florian]

Hiked from the tramway today down to Carumba Camp and then back. I've been to Laws quite a few times and do "Walt's Loop" every year but this was my first time going down to Carumba. Good flow of water in Tahquitz. Didn't see anyone on the Carumba trail and only a few hikers higher up. Took me 5 hours 55 mins (including time poking around the waterfalls) round trip for about 13 miles.

Some flickr photos here .. http://www.flickr.com/photos/fboyd/sets ... 30/detail/

And today was my birthday too!

-Florian

[hikehigh]

Great pics and report. The water in the creeks looked refreshing. Great way to spend a birthday.

[zippetydude]

As bluerail would say, "Happy Birthday, Flo!"

Nice job on Caramba. Cool place, huh? I find the downhill first, uphill back a little hard, but it's such a nice place. You must have spent a while at the stream/overlook. Hope you had a great time!

z

[bluerail]

Happy birthday Florian. glad you had a good hike today, sounds nice. was up skyline yesterday and guess what ?! you've already got dummies drinking your stash. the bottle on top was gone, this time I was curious and looked inside to see what was up. three bottles, your note and card and TWO DOLLARS !! I have to imagine that was left by the thirsty person and not you. In my opinion someone sorely missjudged your efforts of putting that there. pathetic ! two dollars !!
At least the empty never showed up on the trail. Well anyway, happy birthday hope you had some cake.

Oh...btw, I took the two dollars and used it on beer.

[magikwalt]

I really like the hike to Caramba. I have hiked down below the pools to create a reference for my hike up to them from south Palm Canyon. Its very thick brush and not very much fun.

[Ellen]

A Belated Happy Birthday Florian

Thanks for the fabulous pictures and video. What a wonderful spot -- now I'm adding Carumba Camp to my increasing lists of "must do" hikes in the San Jacintos. Great idea for a birthday hike.

Hope to meet you on the trail soon

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Florian]

btw, I took the two dollars and used it on beer.

Interesting someone would pay for the Gatorade. Nice gesture i suppose and i'm glad you took the money and put it to good use!

-Florian

[bluerail]

I did it to make sure we end up at the same place where there are beer some time. I owe you one.

[Hikin_Jim]

Happy Birthday, Florian.

Beautiful pics. Looks like one of those stunningly clear days that only come so often. The air itself has a certain luminous quality. Must have been in your honor.

I'm adding Carumba Camp to my increasing lists of "must do" hikes in the San Jacintos.

Absolutely! I think Caramba is one of the jewel spots of the SJ Wilderness. It's obvious from the condition of the trail that not a lot of people go down there, but it's a lovely spot, and it's the only place that I know about in the wilderness that you can go swimming.

The upper pool is a small, one person at a time pool (unless you're on very friendly terms with a second person). The upper pool can be reached by going straight down the falls.

The middle pool is larger, but I couldn't see a "bomb proof" route to climb back out. I could just jump in, but then how would I get back up? Probably someone versed in climbing technique could do it. You can reach this one from upstream.

The lower pool is the largest, and it's in a lovely little amphitheater-like area worn out of the rock. I think you'd have to have canyoneering equipment to go down the face of the falls. The best way I've found to get to the lower falls is to go upstream a bit of the uppermost falls, and then climb the left bank (left as you face downstream) up and over a shoulder of rock and then make a steep descent on scree and sand down to the falls. This pool isn't super deep, but you can definitely take a nice dip.

[magikwalt]

If you are going down to the lower pools believe me when I say they are smooth and very slippery when dry, wet, dusty or any other condition. Moves you might make on any other granite bolder will set you on your bum.