Started off a little later than I was hoping, but it wasn’t too late. 7:22am to be exact. June 3rd, a Saturday. Sun was already high up but not hot. Actually a perfect morning. Started at the Mount Wilson Trailhead, in Sierra Madre, via Little Santa Anita Canyon. Absolutely just powered through the first bits, checking out the scenery and the VIEWS! Very serene. By the end of the hike you can see a cloud layer below. When I got to the wooded, shaded part of the hike, I was able to get to a decent pace. Had to pause every now and then to catch my breath. No poles on this hike, but a lesson learned! Gotta keep moving on though…

Got past the first water crossing (Not “First Water”, but the first actual stream crossing) which happened to be the first part of the trek that actually dips down, but then shoots you right back up. Psyched me out! It had been completely all uphill until that moment. But I continued on.

I reached Orchard Camp and wanted to rest so I did for a few minutes. I didn’t sit down, but I did take a brief water break and read the plaques. Gotta keep going. 3.5 miles left to reach the top by that point!

So I moseyed on. This was challenging because you’re still in the woods, unable to see the top anymore, and still going uphill. Finally after quite a ways of zigzagging back and forth and just pushing uphill you reach a trail split called Manzanita Ridge. 1.5 miles left! Keep going further, back into the woods.

A little while later, I believe is finally a break in the path that spits you out onto a fire road. This is starting to feel very close.

Along the fire road I go until I see a hut that resembles the buildings I remember seeing the last time I drove up to Mount Wilson observatory. Then there it is! The towers! The top! Still a little ways to go. The flies by this point are out if control. This was nearly the straw that broke the camel’s back. I lost sight of the couple of hikers I was keeping up with. They powered on. I had to stop every 20-30 steps because my body was completely wrecked. I felt tense and shaky at times while in motion, so I took my time on this last bit. The rest of the way I could see the top so I knew it was just around each bend… Then finally I see a horizon of an opening up into the sky. The end of the trail!!

The trail ends at the top of the parking lot for the observatory. Not the most climactic end but still a pretty cool one, to end at the observatory. There’s a sign for the trail but also a larger plaque towards the edge of the cliff by the lookout with the boulders lining it. Gorgeous views!

I made my way up to the Cosmic Café, knowing it was Saturday and they’d be open. Got a Turkey sandwich and some chips, a fresh fruit cup, a cookie, and a Gatorade. I felt nauseous, almost hard to eat because of what I just put my body through. My soaked shirt made me cold with the wind in the shade so I went to go change shirts and dry off.

After about 40 or so minutes up there, decided it was my time to head back down. It was such a great feeling to have hiked this mountain. A true feat in my own book! Made it back to the bottom the same way I came up… total trip time was just under 7 hours (of course I sat at my car for a few minutes before remembering to stop my watch)

Highly recommend this hike!! What a great way to start off these Six Pack of Peaks.