weblink1: http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/WestFork_4472.asp
weblink2: http://www.nearfield.com/~dan/sports/bike/mountain/sgwf/index.htm

Hard to believe looking at some of these photos over the past week around the plant in Ontario and day of the hike around Azusa Canyon and the river that the temperature was almost 80 F....! It was supposed to be a beautiful, sunny weekend, and warmer than over the past several months, so I wanted to get out and explore a new hike but not tackle more snow climbing.....at least this time. I had originally wanted to do this hike in the fall, as I am sure the wild trout stream would be very scenic with some fall colors and leaves layered all around it......but it turned out better than I had thought since in winter there are no leaves to block the incredible view of the surrounding mountainscapes, especially when snow covered.

The hike is pretty level on a single lane paved forest access road, gaining only about 800 vertical feet from the trailhead to Cogswell Dam, my target for the hike. Roundtrip mileage across the dam and back was approximately 15-16 miles, and definitely quick for me.....even with photos and a 40 minute stop at the dam, a roundtrip time at almost exactly six hours. I saw several pairs of mountain and street bike couples, a few picnicking families with small children, a group of young Boy Scouts setting up for an overnight outing at Glenn Camp, and the USFS and LAMWD personnel managing the facilities.

An absolutely beautiful day to be out in the San Gabriel mountains!