Trans Catalina Island Backpacking

Organizer: Mike Cheng
Hike Difficulty: Intermediate, Level 7/10
Duration: 4 days and 3 nights
Distance:
Day 1: 11 miles; Day 2: 7 miles; Day 3: 6 miles
Elevation Gain:
Day 1: 3500'; Day 2: 1000'; Day 3: 2000'
Camping Fee: around $ 28 per person, per night.
Boat Ticket: $ 92 (Catalina Express round trip ticket)
You will need to purchase a round trip ticket to Catalina Island from Catalina Express. Book the Thursday, 7:30 am boat from San Pedro to Avalon. Purchase a return trip from Two Harbors to San Pedro for Sunday, 12:00 pm.
Trail condition: Single file trail/Fire roads, almost no shade
Water: 3 liters for each hike (Refill at campsite)
Guest: No
Weather Report: National Weather Service
Toilette: Blackjack Campground: Vault Toilette; Little Harbor: Vault Toilet/Porta Potty; Two Harbors Campground: Vault and flush available
Showers: Outdoor shower at Blackjack Camp; Coin shower at Two Harbors
Parking: At Catalina Island Express boat terminal – San Pedro
Itinerary:
Thursday: Arrive at Catalina Express San Pedro port (95 Berth, San Pedro) parking lot by 6:00 am. We will take the 7:30 am boat from San Pedro to Avalon. We will arrive by 9:30 am.
We will start from Avalon, walk a mile up Avalon Canyon Road and pickup the Hermit Gulch Trail.
The trail is a very steep uphill climb (1200' elevation gain in 1.7miles) with great views of Avalon Harbor. At the top we pickup the trans Catalina Trail which undulates all the way to Blackjack Campground where we will stop for the night (water, picnic tables, fire rings and chemical toilets). Distance will be approximately 11 miles with a total elevation gain of about 3,000'.
Friday: From Blackjack we head towards Little Harbor first passing right by what remains of a small soapstone quarry as we near the airport (Native Americans inhabited Catalina Island for many years, and the soapstone bowls the created where highly-valued and traded as far away as Arizona).
At the “Airport in the Sky” we can top off our water, grab a snack and use the restroom. From the airport it is a long steady descent to Little Harbor. Will will spend the night at Little Harbor campground. We will likely be there around noon and will have the afternoon to enjoy the beach and water. Kayak rentals are available.
Saturday: This section from Little Harbor to Two Harbors is one of the most beautiful, with amazing views of the rugged and little-seen west coast of Catalina.
It is quite a challenging hike from Little Harbor up the ridgeline for the first several miles, but worth the effort. We will camp at Two Harbors Campground (water, wood available). Two Harbors has a general store and restaurant. Coin showers available. The hike from Little Harbor to Two Harbors campground is approximately 6 miles.
Sunday: Pack up camp and enjoy the Two Harbors area. Options include breakfast at the restaurant, hiking up the coast, kayaking and just relaxing. We take the 12:00pm boat back to San Pedro.

Our Policy:
Profile photo: Anyone interested in joining this event must have a profile photo showing his/her face. This is a requirement of L.A. Hiking. Without it, you will not be allowed to sign up for an event.

Waiting list priority: People who hike with with L.A. Hiking regularly will be given priority when they are on the waiting list.

Advanced hikes: Anyone interested in participating in advanced hikes (>3,000' elevation gain or distance > 10 miles or Difficulty Level > = 7) will be subject to prescreening before his/her name will be added to the list. Therefore, interested hiker must share with the event host his/her recent hiking background to establish proficiency before his/her name will be added to the list. Guests are not allowed on advanced hikes.

Early departure: If a hiker needs to be separated from the group for any reason, he/she must inform the event host. Not knowing a hiker's where about may prompt the event host to report a hiker's missing to proper authority for further actions.

No show: If you sign up for an event but did not show up, you will be removed from the next event you sign up.

No minor: Meetup user agreement and our liability waiver can not be agreed to by a minor. Therefore, you and your guest must be over 18 to participate in our events.

No drug: Zero tolerance for all illegal drug use.

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Warning:
If you have prior medical condition or a family history of illnesses pertaining to heart, lungs, brain, etc. that can be aggravated by heat and physical exertion, this is not the hike for you.

If you have never done a hike of this distance or difficulty before, this hike will be very difficult for you. It may well be your death march. The mountain is not going anywhere. We will schedule this event again in the future. Do it when your mind and body are ready. Hiking is a recreation, not a suicide mission.

Release of Liability:
The organizer (me) of this trip is a volunteer and is not a professional guide. The function of the organizer is only to organize this trip. Each person who signs up for a trip/hike/or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests.

By signing up for this trip, or any other event organized by me, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any outdoor activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the organizer (me) of this hike from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities.

L.A. Hiking, its organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers are not responsible for any injuries or accidents that may occur carpooling to and from this event, or for any injuries or accidents incurred before, during, and after this event. If you sign up or participate in an event you acknowledge that you freely and voluntarily agree to assume all risks of injuries and damages arising from, as a result of and associated with this event.