Backpacking the Santa Monica Mountains’ Backbone Trail
67 MILE HIKING AND BACKPACKING TRAIL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
The Backbone Trail traces a rollercoaster path across the spine of Southern California’s Santa Monica Mountains, traversing craggy peaks, lush canyons, and grassy ridgelines, often within view of the Pacific Ocean. It makes for a gorgeous backpacking route in winter and spring when hillsides explode with bright bursts of wildflowers and carpets of impossibly green foliage. Lack of “legal” campsites and natural water sources, however, creates a tricky logistical puzzle for hikers who want to cover its entire length in one go.
After connecting the dots on a recent eastbound winter thru-hike of the Backbone Trail, I hope to demystify this incredible route so that more people can experience what I feel is one of the best—and most challenging—multi-day backpacking trips located near a major city (that’s Los Angeles, if you’re wondering).
October 26, 2024
Shawnté Salabert
Chunguza Maudhui Zaidi
Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari
Sawyer’s donation of water filters represents a significant shift away from the cumbersome logistics of bottled water, offering a faster and more efficient solution.
Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari
Summer tick season used to be a problem only in the southern part of Ontario, but tick populations are moving north as the climate grows warmer.
Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari
Mosquitos are nasty creatures. They bite, they transmit terrible diseases to people and pets, and from what I read, they have absolutely no redeeming value in the ecosystem.
Kutoka kwa kikosi
Mazungumzo ya Campfire na jamii yetu, kutoka kwa Wanachama wa Squad na Mabalozi kwa Washirika wa Brand na timu ya Sawyer.
