Santiago Peak Via Holy Jim Trail

July 21, 2013  -  5:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

18 miles  -  3,489 ft elevation gain in Trabuco Canyon.

Under overcast to hazy skies, Will, Josh and Scott found this hike to be a neighborhood challenge, ranging through varying vegetation with challenging climbs and rewarding views: a great Orange County day hike with a couple baby-rattler encounters.

We started at the lower parking lot which added 4 miles (round-trip) to the hike.  To get to the second, trail-head parking lot, you follow a rough road that passes along the banks of a seasonal creek in a wooded gulch.  On busy days you're gonna get blasted by the dust of passing vehicles if you hike this part.  But even if you elect to drive this section of road, it's hard not to begin to unwind as you slip through this cool shaded tunnel that ushers you from the concrete streets of OC suburbia to the foot of Holy Jim Trail.

Holy Jim Trail was named for Jim Smith (left, center); an early settler of Trabuco Canyon.  He kept bee hives here, and later, planted a fig orchard.  Known for his "blasphemous eloquence," he was properly called "Cussin' Jim" in his day.  Surveyors chose the "Holy" (over "Cussin'") epithet while recording their maps to preserve their notions of propriety.  

About 200 feet beyond the second parking lot you come to the trail-head itself.  

This area of the canyon is dotted with cabins, although Cussin' Jim's is no longer standing.

By some accounts, the last 

recorded California Grizzly Bear met its end in this canyon at Holy Jim Falls, at the hands of the waters' namesake.  A clearly marked trail branching 3/4 miles beyond the trail-head and 3 miles long (round-trip), will lead you to this popular destination.

We bypassed the falls and headed up the main trail.   As the HJT cut across ravines and switch-backed between ridge lines, we encountered sections of plentiful shade.  Flies were only a considerable bother while trekking up through a wooded glen that lead to the fire road at approximately the 2/3rd distance mark.  

Most hikers (it became clear to us) follow the fire road - AKA, Main Divide Rd. - left, to the peak.  An alternate route is available if instead you head right for about 3/4 of a mile to Upper Holy Jim Trail.  Upper Holy Jim keeps you off the road until near to the summit and allows you to maintain a hiker's path without the occasional off-road vehicle's or dirt bike's dusty salute.

Josh leading the way (right).

After beginning Upper Holy Jim, you leave the shade of oaks behind.  This section of the trail is definitely more exposed.

But without the shade come spectacular views. 

The peak itself is pretty crowded with communications towers, some of which are clearly seen here, behind Will.  

The peak is wide and fairly flat.  You can spend plenty of time hiking its perimeter getting views from Catalina Island to Mount Baldy to San Gorgonio.  Even with our hazy conditions, finding a good spot with an awesome vista for lunch was easy.

View of Mount Baldy from our lunch spot.

  

Josh and Will, headed down the fire road to Holy Jim Trail intersect (right).





On our return leg, we decided to forgo Upper Holy Jim, taking the fire road to Holy Jim proper as an alternate.

Another view from the peak facing the cloud obscured Pacific.