9 days from Pomona to Oxnard, via San Gabriels and Backbone Trail

Looks like a great hike! Enjoy and post some pictures

Most definitely! And will try to shoot some video as well.

Have fun!  I have hiked the Backbone Trail, at the time there were only a few incomplete sections.  There isn’t much water out there and also only a few legal place to camp (Topanga State park & Malibu Creek State Park).  There is a group camping site on the last leg past Circle X but it is suppose to be for group camping.  Most sections are pretty good with only a few places where you may need to hunt for the trail.

@mountaing

i just thru hiked the Backbone Trail last month during my Winter break over 4 days. I’m in the process of writing a trip report for my blog. When are you planning on going? I probably won’t get it posted for about 2 weeks. If you’re leaving before then email me if you have questions and I’ll do my best to answer. I started at the northern terminus at the Ray Miller trailhead and hiked South back to my truck at Will Rogers State park. Water is scarce. I cached water at the Kanan Dume Road crossing. Musch Trail camp in Topanga is the only camp on the trail. Malibu Creek State park is about 1 mile off trail and same with Circle X but like Jon said its for groups only. I look forward to hearing about it.

My email is surfcam007

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best, Don

I can’t tell exactly from your map but from your description you’re taking the Rincon OHV route from San Gabriel Reservoir.  I was up there in June of last year going from the trailhead at Hwy 39 to Spring Camp. There was water at Spring Camp at that time.  Hard to say now but the heavy rains/snow last month helped.  I was up in the Mt. Lowe area this past weekend and there was still snow on the northern exposures.  Have a great trip and keep an eye on the weather reports.

That’s correct, I’m planning on following the ohv trail. However I am going to explore the ridge off trail if that is possible. If the brush is too thick I can always fall back on the fireroad. I was at Mt. Lowe last February and saw snow too like you mention.

I really hope there is water at Mt. Wilson this time of year. My friend said there was so I guess I will find out. Same goes for Seco Arroyo.

Well, all packed, maps printed, water caches hidden and ready to go explore! I’ll follow up with pics when I get back. Thanks so much for the information everyone has shared, it is really helpful!

Looks very interesting.  Would you mind posting a link to your CalTopo map?  We’d apprciate it.  Amy