Hike Log

Strawberry Peak: I almost killed my friend, but didn’t

Trailhead:

Red Box

Type of Hike:

Day hike

Trail Conditions:

Trail in good condition

ROAD:

Road suitable for all vehicles

Bugs:

Bugs were not too bad

Snow:

Snow free

Let me first tell you about Cody.

He's one of my closest friends, but we have a few major differences in interests. He gets noise complaints for blasting Kanye; I get noise complaints for blasting Rancid. My idea of outdoors activity is hiking; his is beach volleyball. So after I hiked Sitton Peak yesterday, I texted him and joked that I almost asked him if he wanted to join me but that the heat, 10 miles, and steep climb to the summit would've made him hate me forever. He responded that he totally would've gone with me. I was like, “Want to join me for one of these Six-Pack hikes next weekend?” And he was like “I'll do one with you tomorrow.”

Well, fuck.

I was definitely sore from Sitton. When I got up in the middle of the night last night to stop the cat from crashing into things, I could barely walk. But after my first three Six-Pack hikes alone, the idea of having a hiking partner that I actually like to talk to, even though his closest thing to hiking boots are Nike basketball shoes, I was totally in.

We got a later start than I would have on my own, because I think if I had suggested a departure earlier than 9AM, Cody would've backed out. (I'd already worried he might back out after I shared the AllTrails elevation map.) Which meant it was 80 degrees out when we got to the trailhead. And about a tenth of a mile in, a search-and-rescue helicopter was  hovering overhead, clearly in search of someone in distress. This may have just been half an hour from where we live on the east side of LA, but we were most definitely in the wilderness. And it was like, okay, reality check. But we kept going.

The trail was, as trip reports will tell you, totally gentle for the first 2.5 miles. But here's the thing: This was my second time hiking Strawberry. The first time was two years ago, and in the meantime, there was definitely a wildfire. So the trail was much more exposed than I remembered it thanks to less tree cover, and we were stopping for water pretty regularly.

And then the hills started.

At the risk of being That Outdoorsy Person who mocks a non-outdoorsy friend for comic relief, I will omit some of the details of just what that last mile was like. But here are a few choice lines:

“This is the hardest thing I've ever done.”
“I think I'm going to puke.”
“That can't possibly be the summit all the way over there.” (“No, it is.”) “I'm going to die.”

But we made it. My advice to everyone else who wants to hike Strawberry these days: Start early. Pack more water than you think you need. Also, lots of sunscreen. We currently look like tomatoes. And go slowly for that first gentle stretch; you'll need the energy for the final push. And then the final push after the final push. And then another one. Those false summits are psychologically brutal.

Anyway, 4 down! 2 to go!

(No photos of Cody are being shared. In his words, “Please don't exploit my agony.”)

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