High Adventure Backpack Camping @ Piedra Blanca (NEW LOCATION)

We will start the hike from the Piedra Blanca Trailhead.  You can find it on Apple maps or Google maps.  Note you will need an adventure pass to park at the Traihead.

View on Apple Maps View on Apple Maps  (GOOGLE LINK: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Piedra+Blanca+Trailhead/@34.5601645,-119.1672358,1049m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x80e9bc4975e6a3eb:0x35f7bf848306d349!8m2!3d34.5601645!4d-119.1646555!16s%2Fg%2F11xtgwj64?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAxMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

I plotted a route based on the Trail Maps, and it appears our hike in/out will be 2.71 miles each way.  (This is slightly longer than the 1.5 mile Little Jimmy Hike, but should be very doable for all ages and abilities still.  Im attaching to this email a few Screenshots with details about the Hike, a Topographical map for the entire route,  as well as a shared Route that you can import into GAIA GPS, (and a GPX file if you’ve got another nav app you prefer).  There is a bit of elevation gain on the hike in (604 vertical feet) and 209 ft of drop, with the inverse on the way out— but that should be ok.

(for general photos and description of the camp itself check out the AllTrails page for it (though the route is different and longer than ours:  https://www.alltrails.com/ar/trail/us/california/piedra-blanca-camp-trail)

We will check geo-specific weather closer to the date, but the 10 day forecast is attached,  (Live updates: https://opensnow.com/location/maricopa-ca-us@-119.161,34.571-11ylkdr/weather?units=imperial&utm_source=gaia-gps&utm_medium=external-api&utm_campaign=2024-2025)

Water source.

According to recent hiker activity there is water at the camp, and we will have access to the creek, so typical water purification methods are recommended.  (Sawyer Squeeze water filter or similar recommended).

The Sespe Wilderness has zero cell phone reception for the large majority of the drive in through the hike.  I will be bringing a Ham Radio for emergency communications, and I have been successful in reaching Repeaters in the past (And if space permits I will also bring a HF rig for long-distance coms.  If you have the most recent three versions of the iPhone, I would highly recommend you upgrade to IOS 18, as it enables not only Emergency Satellite communication to emergency operations, but also allows texting via Satellite (for free).  I tested this feature out during our TAPO Canyon camp and it worked marvelously— so we will have emergency and non-emergency texting available as well.  Plan on, and let your wives know that without that you will be completely “off grid”.

We often caravan for our various groups… I will suggest you reach out to the Men who are coming up the same day as you, and coordinate rally location, and departure time.  (If you registered, look for an email from Pastor Fox, if you havent registered, please reach out to Brian and He can get you additional details).   For Trips up to Sespe, we often recommend a stop at Ventura In-N-Out on the way in to “Carry additional food on the inside” and lessen our burden of lunch for the hike.  The Thursday crew will certainly keep the tradition! 😉