GUSHING FALLS RESULT OF RAIN.Byline: Terry Wood Special to the Daily News When the rain starts falling, hikers start planning . . . for a waterfall excursion, naturally. One of the easiest and most attractive ways to take in Southern California's runoff is to visit Switzer Falls in the Angeles National Forest The Angeles National Forest (ANF) was established by executive order on December 20, 1892 as the San Gabriel Timberland Reserve. It covers over 2,600 km² (650,000 acres) and is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, just north of the metropolitan area of Los , less than 11 miles by car from La Canada Flintridge on the Angeles Crest Highway The Angeles Crest Highway is a two-lane (one lane of travel in each direction) segment of California State Route 2 in the United States. The road is 66 miles in length, with its western terminus at the intersection at Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada Flintridge and its eastern (2) and a relatively easy two-mile stroll to the base of the modest cascade. The trip also offers the more adventurous varied options for extended explorations. Switzer Falls spills out of a collecting pool into a 40-foot tumbler as water moves its way along Arroyo Seco Arroyo Seco (Spanish: "dry creek") may refer to:
The surrounding woods and views of nearby Strawberry Peak (6,164 feet) and San Gabriel Peak San Gabriel Peak is a summit in the San Gabriel Mountains in the U.S. state of California. It was named by the USGS in 1894 and is located in the Angeles National Forest. This peak was first named The Commodore for Commodore Perry Switzer. (6,161 feet) enhance the away-from-it-all feeling of this short journey. The basic route involves only a few moderate ups and downs ups and downs pl.n. Alternating periods of good and bad fortune or spirits. ups and downs Noun, pl alternating periods of good and bad luck or high and low spirits and most hikers can make the four-mile round-trip a half-day outing with little difficulty. One word of caution, however: Expect to get your feet wet. The trail frequently crosses the creek it shadows, and, immediately after periods of rain, when the falls are at their prettiest, it can be tough to find enough stepping stones to keep your footwear dry. The damp frolic Frolic - A Prolog system in Common Lisp. ftp://ftp.cs.utah.edu/pub/frolic.tar.Z. starts at Switzers picnic area, elevation 3,275 feet. Cross the obvious wooden bridge at the west end of the parking lot for a mildly graded and well-forested walk along a creekbed between steep and fairly narrow canyon walls. After a mile, trekkers reach what in the 1920s and '30s was the San Gabriel Mountains' most popular lodging destination, Commodore Switzer Trail Camp (2,950 feet). A carpenter named Perry Switzer established the site with help from Bob and Liz Waterman in 1884. Switzer guided visitors to his secluded encampment of rustic log cabins by way of twice-weekly burro burro: see ass. trains that ascended rugged Arroyo Seco Trail from Altadena. ``A cowhorn was left dangling on a manzanita manzanita: see bearberry. bush half-mile below camp, with printed instructions to issue forth a blast for each hungry guest,'' John W. Robinson writes in his definitive guidebook, ``Trails of the Angeles.'' ``When the tired visitors finally reached camp, they would find a sizzling siz·zle intr.v. siz·zled, siz·zling, siz·zles 1. To make the hissing sound characteristic of frying fat. 2. To seethe with anger or indignation. 3. dinner awaiting them. Trout from the adjacent stream were featured.'' From 1912 to 1936, Lloyd and Bertha Austin took charge of the site and turned it into a mountain resort, adding tennis and croquet croquet (krōkā`), lawn game in which the players hit wooden balls with wooden mallets through a series of 9 or 10 wire arches, or wickets. The first player to hit the posts placed at each end of the field wins. courts, an impressive library, children's playground, dance floor and tiny chapel for Sunday services above striking Switzer Falls. It attracted thousands, including Henry Ford, Shirley Temple, Clark Gable and Mary Pickford, until the opening of the Angeles Crest Highway negated the novelty of the camp's civilized remoteness. Today you can see overgrown overgrown said of a part that has not been kept trimmed. overgrown hoof overgrown hooves put unusual stresses on bones and tendons and allow for distortion of the wall and sole. building foundations as nature seeks to reclaim the area. From here, cross the stream once again and head along the trail that rises on the west canyon wall, high above the Arroyo Seco. Cautiously make your way along an eroding pathway gouged into the canyon sidewall. Fences are in place in various locations to prevent people from gawking too dangerously into the abyss below. About a quarter-mile beyond the trail camp, the trail splits. To the right is Arroyo Seco Trail, but veer left and descend to the creek bottom. Upon rejoining the stream in another quarter-mile, a sign will point out Bear Canyon Trail to the right (2,775 feet). Instead, travel upstream to the left for a quarter-mile or so to Switzer Falls' attractive twin pools. Once you've had your swill . . . oops, fill, of the soggy scenery, return the way you came. If you have the time and will, head down the Bear Canyon Trail and make a longer day of it. A series of pools and minor spouts are spread out along the sometimes-disappearing pathway. Lovely, sylvan sylvan emanating from or pertaining to woods. See also sylvatic. settings define this route, giving cause to pause and marvel at how something this wild is situated so close to urban Southe`rn California. Eventually you will come to a spot where a rockfall rock·fall n. A fall of rocks, as from a cliff. has choked off easy access along Bear Canyon Trail. Rock-hop around it to complete the 2.2-mile offshoot to Bear Canyon Trail Camp. Return from whence you traveled to complete the 8.4-mile round-trip. Expect to see Switzer Falls and its downstream brethren in their full glory after a substantial shower. And bring along a pair of dry socks to make the experience even more enjoyable. IF YOU'RE GOING ... Park at Switzers picnic area, a half-mile east of Angeles National Forest's Clear Creek information kiosk and the junction of the Angeles Crest and Angeles Forest highways. On weekends the picnic area gate might be open, allowing close access to the trailhead. Otherwise, park near Angeles Crest Highway and walk a quarter-mile down the paved road to the picnic area - and the west-side wooden bridge that flags the Switzer Falls course. Either way, a National Forest Adventure Pass The National Forest Adventure Pass is a parking permit issued by the United States Forest Service that permits bearers in the four National Forests in Southern California to park their cars for the purpose of recreation. must be displayed on your vehicle's dashboard. The $5 daily parking pass (or the $30 annual version) is available at the Clear Creek kiosk on weekends only and from sporting-goods retailers at other times. For more information, call the Oak Creek Ranger Station, (818) 790-1151. Switzer Falls is found on the Condor Peak 7.5-minute series topographic map and Tom Harrison's ``Trail Map of the Angeles Front Country.'' Allow three or four hours to complete the 4-mile out-and-back track, and another few hours or so to explore Bear Canyon Trail and its camp farther on. -- Terry Wood CAPTION(S): Photo, Map, Box PHOTO (Color) The view from high above Switzer Falls can be seen after only a moderately strenuous hike. Terry Wood/Special to the Daily News MAP: (Color) TRAIL TO SWITZER FALLS Dionisio Munoz / Daily News BOX: IF YOU`RE GOING . . . (see text) |
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