The Treasure of the Sierra Madre: Part 2

It's strange what a difference a day can make in the weather, even in always-sunny, always-balmy Southern California.  Friday we were sweltering along on our trail, rather enjoying the 50 river crossings we had to make. But the next day was a complete turnabout: an entire soggy afternoon slogging through a late-season rainstorm that found us slipping and sliding down a mountain appropriately named Hurricane Deck en route to a canyon camp.  It was no fun setting up camp in the rain, with numb fingers fumbling about for zippers and tent stakes and little buttons on stoves and bear canisters.  But as the clouds parted on our final day in the wilderness, we realized it wasn't all that bad by a longshot.  We had savored the wilderness as few do, covering nearly 50 miles of trails that perhaps only a few dozen hikers are daring and intrepid enough to explore each year. Waterfalls, riotous wildflowers, Indian rock art, eagles on the wing, and good companionship were our rewards. 

Unlike Humphrey Bogart, we’ll have no fear of bandits and corrupt federales, and we’ll even stay on this side of the border as we seek out the springtime treasures of the Sierra Madre Mountains, the rugged backbone of the 149,170-acre San Rafael Wilderness, deep in the Santa Barbara backcountry. If you were with us on our trip there in April 2011, you discovered that the San Rafael in the spring is a fantasyland of rushing rivers and green meadows full of wildflowers. This long weekend backpack will take us on a loop farther to the west, into a remote valley where a 19th century religious cult built their homesteads, leaving behind mysterious ruins. We’ll loop around an impressive sandstone mountain that was historically a favorite haunt of the endangered California condor, so we may be treated to a sighting of the big primeval birds.

This will be a very strenuous backpack, covering 47 miles in four days at a purposeful pace over challenging terrain, so this trip is suitable only for experienced backpackers in very good shape. We’ll cheerfully face the possibility of bushwhacking, several shin- to thigh-deep stream crossings, ticks, black bears and rattlesnakes fresh from hibernation, and abundant poison oak and stinging nettles. The leader reserves the right to qualify participants. Per-person cost of $115 (carpool gas & mileage) must be pre-paid and will be refunded only if the leader cancels or if a replacement signup is found. This is a consciously low-impact outing, so carpool participation is required. Signup spots 5-8 are contingent upon the availability of a second 4WD vehicle and driver.

This trip is strictly dependent upon a favorable weather forecast. A National Weather Service forecast of rain within 72 hours of our start will cancel or re-route this trip at the sole discretion of the leader, as will fewer than four confirmed and paid signups as of 8:00pm, Monday, March 12. This trip will be by individual commissary, and we’re not planning any shared meals, so please plan to provide your own four-day supply of food.