Pacifico Mountain
Mileage: 13 miles (or more if you’d like to add miles)
Total elevation gain: 2,308 ft
Let’s try a new TRC run in the San Gabriels suggested by Jimmy & Chris. We’ll run up to the top of Pacifico Mountain (at over 7000 ft.) It’s a longer drive at 30 minutes past our parking for Strawberry/Josephine. With the longer drive, it’s unlikely there will be any crowds.
The run is a 13 mile out-and-back, with only 2300 ft of gain (by comparison, Mt. Wilson is almost 5000 ft gain). Most of the route will be on the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail). At about mile 5.5, we need to turn off the PCT for the final mile to the peak. You’ll have a choice to either use the fireroad or take a steep single track to the peak. On the way back, you can also take the fireroad all the way back to the parking lot.
Toilets are at both the trailhead and at the campground at the top of Pacifico.
ADVENTURE PASS: for the Angeles National Forest we need an adventure pass. (available at REI, Big5, etc…) https://www.rei.com/product/
GAS up your car before you head up the mountain!
NO SHADE: bring extra water (and calories), hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc… Public water might be available at the fire station near the trailhead, but let’s play it safe and bring extra with us on the run.
If you need extra miles when you get back, you can take the PCT in the other direction, which heads up to Mt Gleason (about 10 miles away).