Los Angeles Backpacking Club

I love LA —  I especially appreciate the diversity of weekend options available to adventurers who make time to get out once in a while.

Last weekend I took the opportunity to signup and go on my first Meetup trip with the LA Backpackers Club. It was a local, 10-mile round trip backpack to the historic site of what was once the Ye Alpine Tavern. One of my motivations for going was to meet new UL enthusiast, get out and get the blood moving, and to learn where there is water in the area. This year is especially dry, and knowing where to find those hidden springs is golden in these arid foothills. This is also another opportunity to tweak my kit; this is my second trip with my new Gossamer Gear Gorilla pack. So far I like it. The shoulder straps are a little stiff which bruise my shoulders but for the most part, I like the pack, the size (49L) and the price was right. As it turned out, three of the other backpackers this weekend had Gossamer Gear packs.

The group met early on Friday morning but I didn’t hit the trail until about 90 minutes before sunset. My pace up the Lower and Middle Sam Merrill Trails was fast–about 3 mph. After a beautiful 5-mile hike I arrived at the camp.

I was greeted warmly by the five-person, three dog crew (including a non-LABC hiker by the name of Christian). They were setting up their tents–two were Zpacks Hexamids. I too brought my Hexamid but decided to sleep under the stars instead.

That night we all sat around a fire telling stories and one-upping each other on how small, light and multipurpose our equipment is. Don won hands-down!

I slept great that night. My thermometer registered a low of 49° under clear skies. Perfect.

Saturday morning was clear and warm. We all boiled water on our own homemade stoves, ate breakfast, told a few stories and packed up for the 5-mile hike down the hill via Castle Canyon and Lower Sam Merrill Trails.

Great trip. Looking forward to next time!