(I think that the red plant is chamise)
Horse Flats area
9-30-2000
This was my first experience in the Chilao region. Most of my hikes have been either in the eastern part of the San Gabriel Mountains or in the high backcountry. But the weekend before I took this hike I climbed San Gabriel Peak and decided that the Chilao - Mt. Pacifco, etc. area looked way too cool not to explore.
I was right. This area is unusual for the San Gabriel Mountains. The majority of the range is steep and rugged with dramatic relief. But this area is more of a gentle, rolling upland with rounded humps rather than dramatic uplifts from deep canyons counting as the mountains. This trail samples a very nice portion of this country, and although the summit of Mt. Hillyer is broad and fairly low, don't be fooled into thinking that the views from the top are not wondrous.
The trail leaves the Chilao camping area (note: there is not much trailhead parking) and climbs pretty gently but steadily out of the drainage. This is through pretty typical chaparral community, and as you climb higher you get better and better views of Chilao below and the Front Range off to the south. After about 1 mile the trail levels out at a little hump area just south of Horse Flats, and the vegetation changes slightly to include great basin sagebrush. This area gets a bit sandy, which is typical of the remainder of this hike.
Horse Flats area
Horse Flats is a great area, again pretty rare for the San Gabriels... a broad, open area with low vegetation (mostly sagebrush) beneath parklike conifers. You could easliy explore cross-country in this whole area.
The trail heads west-southwest, somewhat steeply from Horse Flats, navigating through giant boulders on the way up the flanks of Mt. Hillyer. This is like a little kid's fantasy land. Or a bandido's. You could so easily play a tough game of Hide and Seek from your pals or the law out here. I personally am enchanted by this type of terrain, so I was in heaven. There are a few places in this area where there seem to be several directions that one could go. If you find yourself feeling like you aren't on the trail, either double back, or just pick your way through the boulders. As long as you head generally west-northwest, you will get to the top.
It did not take long to attain the summit, which is broad and gently sloping (sound familiar?), and dotted with conifers and boulders. I even found some native american mortars in a few rocks when I went exploring off trail. There are several nice outcroppings that you can sit down on and get a fabulous view to the west of Mt Pacifico and its surrounding canyons and lowlands. Following the summit to the north for maybe a quarter of a mile takes you to where the trail begins to drop back down the north face to Santa Clara Divide Road. From here you get a fantastic view of the north part of the San Gabriel mountains -- Mt Waterman, Littlerock Creek, Pleasant View Ridge, and the whole flat area north of Chilao proper. I was surprised to see this north part and its abundance of conifers and flat land. A very nice, stiff breeze was blowing up from the north today, and it smelled like sagebrush and pine. Heaven.
View Northwest from the top: Pacifico Mountain and Alder Canyon
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