Allow Me to Introduce Myself

My name is Phillip, and ever since the first time I stepped foot in our local mountains back in 2005, I knew my life would never be the same.

I remember I was 14 when my buddy and his family invited me for a bike ride on the west fork of the San Gabriel River.

I nearly blacked out that day (literally), but I enjoyed every second of it. Ever since then, all I wanted to do was explore the mountains.

My first actual hike happened shortly thereafter, up to the water tower from Chantry Flats on Black Friday. I had never experienced views from a mountain top, so I wanted to see more.

While most people in my college days spent every weekend living the night life, I was either hiking, mountain biking, or snowboarding.

I didn’t care what I was doing as long as it was in the mountains, and if it included danger and/or adrenaline, I was in.

When I learned the Angeles Forest had over 300 abandoned mines and more secret waterfalls than known ones, I nearly lost my marbles. I was inseparable from my beautiful San Gabriels.

I bought books, scoured through maps, and watched every Youtube video I could find in order help me find many of these forgotten gems.