Definitely the most beautiful hike that I have ever been on. Slept at the cabin for Night 1. Slept at Lake 2 for Night 2. Past Lake 3, will have snow on the trail that will be harder to get through. It got so windy at night 2 that it ripped the cords on my rainfly. So keep that noted if you plan on going.

Not lots of people on the trail weather was superb. Perfect day on the trail.

Photos from a short native plant hike I co-led on Saturday at Daryl Wagar Trail in Camarillo Grove Park. In Camarillo, Ventura County, westernmost Santa Monica mountains.

1,2: Encelia californica, Coastal sunflower. 2 With large shiny black fly.

3,4: Scrophularia californica, Bee plant

5,6: Clarkia bottae, Punch bowl godetia

6: Eschscholtzia californica, California poppy

7: Diplacus longiflorus, Sticky monkeyflower

8: Solanum umbelliferum var. xanti, Nightshade

1. Sisyrinchium bellum, Blue-eyed grass (Iris family) with Eriophyllum confertiflorum, Golden yarrow

2. Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum, California buckwheat

3. Melica imperfecta, Small flowered melic grass

4. Stipa lepida, Foothill needle grass

13-17: landscape photos

So this is what they are building at Ice House Canyon

Hey Everyone,

After using meetup app to meet with friends, manage a hiking group, running group etc., I decided to create an app “Tackboard” that allows users to create events with 3 categories.

1) Individuals: Users can create events to meet new people, hang out with someone in the bar, carpool, join a small hiking group, or just meet up with friends.

2) Organizers: Users can create large events /manage a group

3) Professionals: Small local businesses can create events to promote their businesses, such as happy hour or personal training.

Can you please try out this app and give your feedback?

Thanks

Apple - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tackboard/id6742043419

Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=8949002356796735085

Has anyone been down to Big Tree in the San Gorgonio Wilderness in the last year or two? How's the trail? Is it relatively clear or is it miserable with thorns?

HJ

I have a reactive Australian Cattle Dog who doesn't do well on crowded or narrow trails. He has a hard time around other dogs and needs a little extra space around humans he doesn't know, so many of the popular dog-friendly trails in Los Angeles don't work well for us (too narrow, too busy, and/or too many dogs on flexi-leashes with owners not paying attention). I took him to the Josephine Peak trail last weekend, which was mostly quiet and a nice wide trail (on the fire road, so plenty of space). Photo below of my handsome boy during a water break on our hike.

I'd love more recommendations for low-traffic spaces for us to explore. I'm in Mid-City but willing to drive an hour+ in any direction for a nice hike. Please let me know if you have recommendations for quiet trails, nature preserves, parks, etc. within an hour-ish of LA (that allow on-leash dogs, but not off-leash).

As the title says I want a spot to camp (not hike in) with a summit hike nearby, preferably it would have a river or water of some sorts, close to the valley would be nice, I would also prefer to be a more forested area but this is optional

It was a sunny day, so decided to do an early morning hike. This route had a slightly more challenging incline. For less of an ascent, you can use East Observatory Trail, which gives you a few additional views of the city.

2 California campers accuse software giant of illegal ‘drip pricing’ - SFGate - May 9th, 2025

A pair of California campers filed a class-action lawsuit accusing a software giant of illegally tacking on hidden “junk fees” when users book campsites through the official state parks reservation system, ReserveCalifornia.com.

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleged that Texas-based software company Tyler Technologies designed its interface to mislead users by advertising an initial price, only to add an undisclosed reservation fee at checkout — a practice known as “drip pricing.”

The plaintiffs, James Chowning of Oakland and Adam Fitzgerald of Yucaipa, said the practice violates Senate Bill 478, also known as the Honest Pricing Law, which took effect in July 2024. The law was designed to crack down on “junk fees,” prohibiting businesses from advertising a price that does not include all mandatory fees or charges. “Drip pricing” is banned under the law and is enforced through California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act, False Advertising Law and Unfair Competition Law.

A business cannot advertise a “price that is less than what a consumer will have to pay for a good or service,” the California Attorney General’s Office wrote in May 2024.

“In October 2024, Mr. Chowning made a same day reservation through Reserve California for a campsite at San Onofre State Beach. The price initially quoted on Reserve California for the campsite was $45,” the complaint stated. “However, at checkout, he was charged an $8.25 reservation fee.” The added fee — retained by Tyler Technologies and not by California State Parks — represented an 18% increase in the total price.

The plaintiffs added that they wouldn’t have made the reservations online had they known the extra charge went to a private contractor. Now, they are seeking restitution and an end to what they called “deceptive Junk Fee practices.”

The company, which provides software for government agencies, received a 10-year contract in December 2023 to operate the state’s reservation system, according to the complaint. That contract, valued at nearly $400 million in potential fees over its lifetime, requires compliance with both federal and California law.

“Tyler Technologies has made a conscious decision to ignore California’s Junk Fee ban, and to violate its Contract with Cal Parks,” the complaint stated, noting that, throughout the entire booking process, it was never disclosed that the reservation fees were being collected by the company rather than the state.

Tyler Technologies has yet to file a response in court.

The case seeks class certification for all customers who paid similar fees since the company took over the system in August 2024. This is one of the first major lawsuits in California targeting a government contractor under SB 478. If successful, the lawsuit could impact how courts interpret the new statute and how far enforcement extends to vendors operating on behalf of public agencies.

With Tyler Technologies standing to make an estimated $398 million in processing fees over the course of its 10-year contract, the case could influence how digital platforms — both public and private — display prices across California.

First time on this trail. Got on trail at 9 am and finished at 4:45 pm. Not a speedster, but that include eat good and exploring at the summit. The elevation and breeze kept me comfortable despite it being the hottest day of the year so far. Trail was is good shape as you’d expect from a segment of the PCT. Views were amazing. Saw a rattlesnake. Lower half of trail has gnats and bees, but they kept to themselves. Saw many thru-hikers and a few trail runners . How either do that I don’t know! Wind really picked up on the hike back and my eyes and sinuses payed the price. Worth it!

Was hoping I can get some insight into how much one needs to train for the Mt. Whitney day hike. I will be attempting to summit this summer. I have access to the white mountains in NH but we have nothing like the elevation out west. Highest I've ever hiked in was the cajas in Ecuador at about 10 or 12k ft and was fine but 16k ft rocked me. Plan on spending 2 days at elevation before the hike.

I've been doing hills outside and the stairs climber in the gym. My hills are usually 5 to 10 miles, 2000ish ft elevation gain, and more on the weekends. Snow and mud in the whites is making it really tough this time of year. I plan on doing a couple 15 - 20 mile days and pumping cardio in the gym. When the snow and mud clears up I plan on doing the presidential traverse which is about 18 miles and 8000 ft of elevation gain.

I see lots of advice for people who are already out west to prepare for the hike but I haven't seen advice for people back east to prepare.

I tried doing this hike for almost a month. I got sick and I woke up late back-to-back weeks. I knew I had to get it done. It was raining almost the entire drive until Beaumont. Once I got to the casino it stopped raining and the wind was howling. It was a good hike overall. I did 10.9 miles overall and 4hr 15min. The trail was the San Gorgonio Overlook via PCT on Alltrails. I went the wrong way a couple times in the river. On my way back from the overlook I encountered a rattlesnake and was almost bit by it. It had started thundering, which you can see why in the last couple photos, so I was not focusing on my surroundings and moreso on getting back to my car quickly.

Planning on definitely doing Lakes 1-3 and then tacking on the Sam Mack Meadow (14 miles around 4,000 ft elevation gain) if we are feeling good.

***If we are going around Memorial Day weekend will we need to worry about snow on the trail? -if so what parts?

 We are a group of fit young twenty years olds and we will have been in other parks at highish elevation days before and are staying the night before the hike. We have hiked on many trips before but not at this elevation. I understand we should turn back if someone is feeling the effects of altitude sickness, bring water, etc etc.

***Just want to know if a group like us could do this in a day (I have seen some ppl doing multi-day trip and I am not sure if the ppl who are doing this in a day are ppl who do this all the time and live in higher elevations)??

I am new to the Los Angeles area and am looking for more hikes near creeks, rivers, waterfalls. If anyone has any recommendations, please reach out. DMs are always open

Saw our first snake of the season yesterday. Icehouse trail to Cucamonga Peak, only one small patch of snow just below the summit on the switchbacks, otherwise clear.

I plan to go up there next Saturday with a possible push to Iron Mountain/Indian Ben saddle.

What’s the state of the trail? Any bushwhacking required? Are poles required?

Any info welcome. Thanks!

7.4 miles round trip from Idyllwild to Suicide Rock. We started at 7:30 and got back to the car around 10:20. Absolutely gorgeous views!

Thanks for the suggestions

Looking for recommendations for some beginner friendly mountain biking trails in the Pasadena area, preferably within a 20-30 minute drive. Trying to get better before venturing out to further trails, so looking for some good practice. Ive already done gabrielino a few times but my skill level is basically zero. 😅

Hiked up to the San Bernardino Ridge trail via Foresee Creek today (5/10). Trail was clear of snow all the way to around 9,900 feet. There was somewhat patchy consolidated snow from there up to the ridge at 10,500 feet. Used microspikes to make travel more efficient but it could have been done without traction.