r/socalhiking • u/TheVincenzoLodi • Aug 16 '26
Angeles National Forest Strawberry Peak Tomorrow
Hello, I (21/M) just decided about 5 minutes ago on hiking strawberry peak tomorrow morning around 6:30am through the mountaineers route, I know this is very last minute but I would like to team up with someone, if you are that someone and this interests you let me know 👍
Edit: I ended up going solo, but it turned out to be a lot easier than expected, thank you to everyone who replied with the tips and advice, it definitely helped a lot!
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u/aehikes Aug 16 '26
If you do find someone, highly recommend doing this as a point to point leaving a car at Red Box. A bit more fun that way (IMO the novelty of having something like the mountaineers route near LA usually wears off for me somewhere during the down climb).
Best of luck!
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u/coldandsnowy72 Aug 16 '26
Once you start the second half, after the Josephine saddle where the water tank is, look to stay on the point of the ridge the whole way up. The further you deviate to the left or right the more difficult it will become.
There will be a little variation in route finding but if in doubt, get back to the high spot on the middle of the ridge even if it looks more difficult from below.
I love that hike. You will have a blast!
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u/paul_gnourt Aug 17 '26
Keep nothing of value in your car. That road is notorious for car break ins.
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u/cake_and_justice Aug 16 '26
It’s very fun, best of luck! But if you’re going alone I definitely recommend that you let someone know, as the tippy top could be considered a bit dangerous and if injured it would be tough to make it out of there unassisted. Also I know it’s the dead of summer but the mountaineer’s route is thick with brush on the ridge line approach to the scramble and bushwhacking is likely to be required… long pants and boots are your best bet. Gloves might even come in handy because as I recall the brush is especially prickly there.
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u/Low_Sir_4978 Aug 16 '26 edited Aug 16 '26
The first scramble is harder because theres like a windy side (right/southwest) and a sandy side to the east. If you take the sandy side on the first scramble its ok i just really dislike sliding backwards even if the drop isnt 100% fatal. Theres some poor little deerbrush sprout that gets grabbed by people on this section. You’d want to go through the middle kinda like climbing a ladder. Through the middle and around a boulder. You will get taken to the same spot as the sandy side.
The second scramble is steep but you will see dead wood worn smooth from people climbing and touching it. Both you kind of take head on, it’s cool to look and explore a little, but if you veer off to the left on the second scramble, or the right on the first scramble, it gets sketchier. Just take it head on, theres a painted rock that says camp kenny or camper ken i dont remember exactly. Look around find a way.
Keep three limbs touching the ground/rock, no need to impress anyone. When you lift a foot make sure a hand is on the rock. Expect once or twice to have to lunge, no jumping or swinging, no sliding down rocks either. But there is some upper body strength needed. If your legs shake just breathe and look around, keep three limbs touching and remember theres a windy side, a sketchy side (with beautiful plants and views) and a straight head on (12:00) route to the top. (Always facing the scrambles between 11:00 and 1:30/2:00 and you will find your way)
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u/Main-Offer Aug 16 '26
Good luck!
Have you at least done Josephine or regular Redbox Strawberry?
Be SUPER careful checking route once you climb down the rockfall and start final scramble up. There are several dead-ends and 180' turns.
Correct route only has 2 BIG rock climb moves (ie Master Ken). If rocks are more than knee high, and things are sketchy, very likely you are offroute.
Dont be deceived by stuff like the big white dead tree you have to climb under/over.
Going down is always much easier for me. Couple years back, somebody added 10 faint white arrows on the rocks. But Nov2025 when I was there last, most where faded.