China Camp to Los Padres Dam

Backpacking journal

China Camp to Los Padres Dam via
Pine Valley Trail, Carmel River Trail

Take Arroyo Seco Road, turn right on Tassajara Road

From China Camp, The Pine Ridge trail head intersects with the Tassajara Road just past the China Camp turn. NOT at the campsites.

We wandered around China Camp for a while until we found the trailhead having wasted a bunch of time bushwhacking. The lesson learned: Major trailheads are always marked.

After finally finding the trail head, we begin the hike to Pine Valley ascending several hundred feet with Odog and Mojo (the dogs) on-point. We then gradually descending through terrain recovering nicely from a recent forest fire. We hiked just before sunset and the views along this part of the trail are incredible. As the sun began dropping below the horizon, we descended further until we reached Church Creek Divide.

Darkness fell. We began the last 2 miles in total blackness. With the trail lit by headlamp, we hiked through an unknown wilderness. We past a quiet campsite and eventually ran into the Pine Valley sign where we double backed a few hundred feet and found an ideal little spot to set up.

Thinking the evening would be toasty for some reason some of us pitched our tents without the rainfly. We froze our asses off that night. The next morning the first voice I heard was, "It was f-ing cold last night." (maybe I said it) Quickly other voices shot out from the other tents in agreement. It seems it really IS colder at 5000 feet than it is at sea level... Lesson 2.

The group woke slowly, each person reluctant to brave the icy morning air. Our dogs each took turns dropping landmines in the meadow as we each prepared breakfast. SUddenly while catching Mojo in the act, I realized we'd been camping next to a beautiful meadow. On the other side of our camp, cliffs shot up abruptly. The guide book was right... I really did want to climb them.

We took a morning detour to Pine Falls. The trail to the falls was a tiny little trail lined with poison oak, which we'd become intimately familiar with later. The trail climbed precariously along some fairly slippery dirt and rock. Finally it climbs up overlooking a 30 foot waterfall. Having appreciate the falls we returned to camp to pack up and head out to Buckskin Flats.

We began the hike walking through a gorgeous meadow, hoping that the hike would stay as scenic as it has been so far. It would prove not to be.

Natty, and Dave hike through a perfect meadow.

Soon the trail became very narrow, at points it seemed to completely disappear. This is when I began to notice the abundance of ticks. jeremy had been flicking them off of him for the entire time. I began to apply the "Hund-O" (99.9%DEET) ... LIBERALLY.

Amy and Mojo on the Carmel River Trail.

The trail stopped at a river. Hiding Camp was across the river. This is where the guide book says, "many river crossings." indeed,... We waited for the scragglers to meet up and took a little rest to find the rest of the trail. We finally found the damn thing and it was confirmed... We'd all be getting wet. Jeremy decided to hike in his Tevas so that his uncomfortable shoes would be returnable. He'd pay for that later.

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Amy and Dana hike along the Pine Ridge Trail.

Mojo uses the high profile outdoor facilities at Pine Valley.

Dave sitting about Pine Falls.

Brian carries the scardy-dog through one of the two-dozen river crossings.