The Hike from H-E-doublehockeysticks

16 years ago

I tagged along on a hike last Saturday because I like to get out in nature and burn off some calories while I'm at it. I am pretty much an advanced beginner/intermediate hiker used to smooth trails and short inclines. I was not prepared for the trail I endured on Saturday. Not at all.

The goal was to make it to a waterfall deep inside an Orange County, CA canyon called Black Star. It was a beautiful day and I had a couple hours to spare. Nine hours later I dragged myself out of the canyon covered with scrapes, bruises, ticks and exposed to poison oak for much of the hike. Oh, and every muscle hurt in ways I would have never been able to comprehend. Yet I'm still alive and standing.

Below is a great article written just six weeks ago about the hike. Had I read it before I embarked on my journey, I would have fainted dead away.

I will be uploading photos of the hike this week on the "Show me yours, I'll show you mine..." post.

I've got to go now and see if my doctor has returned my email. ... sigh

Jodi-

Here is a link that might be useful: Black Star Canyon Waterfall

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Comments (6)

juellie1962
16 years ago
Oh my gosh! I can't imagine!!! At least you got to see it...???.......

Who took you on this "hike"? Did they know your lack of experience??
lydia1959
16 years ago
Sounds brutal. Not something I could ever do... I'm not only out of shape, but I'm also a big chicken. lol

Can't wait to see all your photos!
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jennmonkey
16 years ago
I've been in that same situation. Now I sort of have a hiking phobia and have to research trails before I go. I went with a bunch of friends on a supposedly "easy" hike once. It was switchbacks all the way up this mountain on the steep face of it, so basically all there was was a tiny, rocky trail and the mountain went straight up to once side of you, and straight down to the other side of you. If any loose rocks were knocked off by people above you, you had to dodge them so they didn't send you flying down the mountain. There were no trees to catch you if you did slip. There were bees everywhere and you couldn't exactly run from them or escape. It was my worst nightmare. Coming down was far scarier than going up. I started crying on the way down because I was sure I was going to die!

It is horrible to get in over your head on a sketchy hike!
ronf_gw
16 years ago
Wow, jodi, that sounds like a rough hike. I can't wait to see the pictures.

It sounds like a place called the Apache Box in New Mexico. It's a narrow canyon with 800 to 1,000 foot walls, school bus size boulders to scramble around and over. No poison oak but plenty of rattle snakes and scorpions. I lead a native plant society field trip there. One guy got heat stroke climbing out which delayed us so we ended up being caught out on an exposed ridge during a late day thunderstorm. It was the last time I ever lead a group without knowing everyones specific hiking abilities.

Ron
debo_2006
16 years ago
Wow, I'm glad you're okay.

I had one of those hikes from h*ll. My sis and I took a vacation to New Mexico. She had hiked the Sierra's plenty when she lived there so she wanted to take me on a trail "she knew".

I wasn't a hiker at the time, but we made it to the top after hours of hiking up. Once we arrived, we hung out for a little while, then headed down to ensure we'd get there before dark. Some time into the decend, dilly dallying, and not paying attention to the time, we had to pick up our pace a lot because dusk was upon us and we still had a ways to go. Moving along, somehow, we took a wrong turn and got lost. No one was around. It was getting dark now. We were running. Then came the rain so we put on our ponchos. Sis's flashlight had dead batteries, and mine were almost dead - not sure why, they were new. We expected to be down before dusk anyway.

It was pouring hard, we were trying to find our way down in the dark with a very dim light, seriously wet terrain and an occasional thunder. We were running along the edge of cliffs trying to find our way out. Not good - one bad move and down you go...or one turn of the ankle and you can't walk. Somehow, we started going up again - another wrong turn.

After awhile of not being able to see 2 feet in front of us, something told me to search my backpack and there I found spare batteries. I didn't remember packing spares since my other ones were new. I really thought we were sleeping on the mountain that night, in the rain. Finally we found our way. I was never so happy to see our car in the lot and get to our camp ground.

Now, when I hike, I'm well prepared. That was the scariest night ever.
glenda_al
16 years ago
Just glad it was you instead of me! :o)

The Hike from H-E-doublehockeysticks

Comments (6)

juellie1962

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