Vincent Gap to Prairie Fork

Ever wondered what's above the Bridge to Nowhere???? Moderate to strenuous 8-9 mile, 2,000' loss/gain down Vincent Gulch to explore the headwaters of the East Fork of the San Gabriel River through the Sheep Mountain Wilderness. Driving time (round trip from rideshare)=about 3 hours, hiking time (round trip)=about 8-9 hours. Sorry, no beginners! Slowpokes only!

We will meet in Azusa (directions below) and carpool or caravan from there to Vincent Gap (210 E, 15 N, 138 W, 2 W, about 7 miles past Wrightwood). It takes roughly 90 minutes to get from Azusa to the parking lot/trailhead at Vincent Gap. THIS IS AN UPSIDE DOWN HIKE!!!! This means that we BEGIN the hike going DOWN a SOMEWHAT STEEP hill, then have to go UP the hill at the END of the hike (not easy!!!). You will need to be up for that (pun intended). I hate uphills, especially at the end of the hike, but this is one of those hikes that I think is worth it. WE WILL HIKE AT A SLOWPOKE PACE AND EXTRA SLOWPOKE ON THE UPHILL PARTS!! Soon after we descend into the canyon we will be hiking along water (upper East Fork of the San Gabriel River). You may want to wear hiking boots that can get wet. After about 3 miles we will go upstream (east) into Prairie Fork. This hike can be VERY RUGGED (ie. rocky, downed trees, brushy) and there may be no trail in spots. It is a very beautiful place!!

BRING: 2-3 quarts water, hiking boots that can get wet, lunch, WARM CLOTHES, flashlight or headlamp, raincoat?, 10 essentials recommended but not required (see home page of this Meetup).

Directions to the RIDESHARE POINT in Azusa:

from the westside: 105 or 10 east, 605 north, 210 east, exit at Azusa Av. Go north (left) toward the mountains. At Foothill Bl. Turn left into the CVS parking lot. Park at the west end (back) of the parking lot.

from the valley: 118 east, 210 east, then follow directions above. **NOTE: If you live near LaCanada you may want to take the Angeles Crest Highway all the way to Vincent Gap instead of meeting at the rideshare (if so, meet us there at about 9am AND LET ME KNOW AHEAD OF TIME SO WE AREN'T WAITING FOR YOU IN AZUSA!!!). Going that way on the Angeles crest highway is very SLOW and long (roughly 50 miles from LaCanada), so for most people it is easier to meet in Azusa and go that way).

You will need an ADVENTURE PASS if you are driving to the trailhead (Vincent Gap) from Azusa in your car (see home page of this Meetup for Adventure Pass info).