Laws/Caramba trip

[Norris]

After seeing all those photos of people frolicking in the water at Caramba I decided I needed to check out this location for myself. I've been hiking on Jacinto since about 1983 but somehow had never visited this area. On Friday I drove to Palm Springs with my son Tommy, my friend Alex and his boy Lukas and we hiked over Hidden divide and down to Law's camp. We took a lot of stuff one would normally not take if one were hiking uphill to camp, including some canned items and liquid refreshments. We found a perfect camping spot very close to the log bridge at the Laws/Caramba trail junction, but out of sight from the trail. Cooled down some adult and other beverages in the creek while setting up camp. Made a nice dinner of burritos with seasoned rice, canned chili, grated cheese and taco bell sauce packets. Next morning we set off for Caramba around 9:30 am. Spent most of the day there. Wow, what a special place! Thanks to HJ, Kathryn, Ellen, et al for the beta and pictures and inspiration to go there. Had an unforgettable day. Hiked to the overlook and then back to camp for another nice dinner, this time 4 cheese tortellini with canned tomato and garlic sauce and parmesan cheese. Sunday morning after breakfast we packed up camp and hiked back up and over Hidden Divide to Long Valley. Had some root and non-root beers at the Tram bar before heading home. Somehow a few pics got dropped during uploading, so they are out of order, the ones of our camp at Laws are at the very end.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2059858&id=1149446740&l=47272e625f

[hvydrt]

Liquid refreshments......burritos with seasoned rice, canned chili, grated cheese and taco bell sauce packets...... 4 cheese tortellini with canned tomato and garlic sauce and parmesan cheese

I need to go backpacking with you! Looks like fun.

[Norris]

Thanks hvydrt! BTW, I (think) I fixed the screwed up URL for the pictures now. The new URL should be a public one.

[NormaR]

Norris,
that looked like loads of fun! nothing better than having some water to play in and even just enjoying the sound of cascading water makes a hike/backpack special, let alone refreshing. i gotta go check that out for myself someday.

[Hikin_Jim]

Good photos, Norris. I bet the kid's will remember that trip for a long time.

I for one can't understand why that trail doesn't see more use. Yes, you can't make a loop of it. Yes, it is hot and exposed. Yes, it is an "upside down hike", but the swimming at the end makes it worth it, and Caramba is just a lovely spot, not to mention that Caramba will often have water when other areas are dry. I guess a lot of people just don't know there's anything worth visiting below the camp.

HJ

[Pitownpi]

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[trcar]

I finally took Hikin' Jim's suggestion and made the hike yesterday. Minor vegetation overgrowth and fallen trees (a bit off the path for CCC work) were no real barrier. There was still plenty of water at all the usual sites, but flows are starting to diminish. It was a worthwhile hike, but definitely not for the weak in spirit. Hike back out is a good amount of work (don't really like climbing the same saddle twice) in the heat. That said, the view was nice and the presence of a healthy streamflow was rewarding. The transitions of vegetation types is fascinating, and the isolation is fun if one is a loner type (no one encountered once a mile out of Saddle Junction). There was one overnighter, but only gear present (probably soaking in a pool someplace). This would be more fun as an overnight, but still a good day on an in-n-out.

[Popper98]

Hi Norris -

I plan on doing the exact same trek in mid-October. I've taken my son to Law's Camp on a couple of different occasions all via the Humber Park > Devil's Slide route. Which, with a 50 lb. pack, is not the easiet hike for me.

Now he is a bit older and stronger he'll be carrying a tad more weight in his pack. . Making it a bit easier on me.

I have never started a hike from the tram side of the mountain. What is the hike like from the tram down to Law's? Elevation gain and difficulty scale?

Thanks, and outstanding pictures by the way!

Mike

[Hikin_Jim]

Hi Norris -

I plan on doing the exact same trek in mid-October. I've taken my son to Law's Camp on a couple of different occasions all via the Humber Park > Devil's Slide route. Which, with a 50 lb. pack, is not the easiet hike for me.

Now he is a bit older and stronger he'll be carrying a tad more weight in his pack. . Making it a bit easier on me.

I have never started a hike from the tram side of the mountain. What is the hike like from the tram down to Law's? Elevation gain and difficulty scale?

Thanks, and outstanding pictures by the way!

Mike

Hi, Mike,

Well, pick your poison. Coming in from Humber Park is about 6.6 miles if I'm doing my math right, and coming in from the tram is about 6.7 miles, assuming the distance from the tram station to the junction in Long Valley is about 0.3 miles. I think the mileage is basically six of one vs. half a dozen of the other.

It's the elevation gain that's the issue. Do you like "upside down" hikes? (An upside down hike means that you descend first and then climb on the way out). If you like upside down hikes, then the tram is the way to go. On the way in, you'll mostly descend except for about 350 feet of gain to go over Hidden Lake Divide. But on the way out, it's 95% climbing, with about 2300' of gain.

By contrast, coming in from Humber Park is about 1600' of gain, and going back out is also about 1600' feet of gain. Humber Park is more total gain (about 3200' total vs about 2650' total), but it's more spread out. The tram is easy in, but tougher out; all your gain is on the way out.

Like I say, pick your poison.

HJ

[Popper98]

Thanks Hikin_Jim,

I always appreciate your detailed directions. In fact the first time my son and I went backpacking in San Jacinto we crossed paths just outside of Saddle Junction on our way to Law's and you pointed us down the right path.

In theory we should be lighter on the way out than on the way in ... both in pack weight and weight loss!

I'll discuss with my son tonight while looking over the trail map.

Mike