Middle Lion to Piedra Blanca via "Little Bear Canyon"

 

"Does that v-slot canyon not beckon all backcountry bush crawlers?"

Was the original idea for this trip really born from a 2014 black pepper spam post by Jack Elliott? Perhaps he may have been responsible for planting the seed. At the very least his quote beckoning all backcountry Bush crawlers was in fact cemented in the minds of many forever. 

Piedra Blanca Trailhead

Middle Lion Campground

The most prominent trips always bring out my best trail mates and this one was no exception. Six of us descended upon Piedra Blanca Trailhead bright and early. Leaving a few cars behind we shuttled over to Middle Lion Campground.  A Lovely Lion Canyon trail departs from the southern end of the camp too which we spent but a brief moment upon before swiftly crossing the creek and gaining an old dozer cut running east up along what I will refer to here as the "Middle Lion Ridge." 

Climbing up and away from Middle Lion. PB formations playing peek-a-boo in the distance.

As is the case with most ridgelines following this one was straightforward. Expect to gain about 1600' elevation in just over 2 miles. One can still make out the old cut in most places if you look hard enough. This line affords a pristine perspective of the neighborhood. Thorn Point, Trout Creek, Piedra Blanca, the Sespe, Topa Topa's. You name it, it's here and on full display. 

Left to right Stephencowles, the_place_that_breaks_you and Nathan_wickstrum

Lost In the Los Padres

Photo Credit NW

This one pulled at my heart strings. Yes I was thinking of you Tom.

At approximately the 2.5 mile mark the old cut turns a hard right (south). Here we began our decent for another .4 of a mile before cutting back east and dropping off into what Stephen and myself settled on as the name of "Little Bear Canyon." So decided in honor of it's big brother Bear Canyon in the next drainage over just to our east. I will also note my youngest daughter Haylee has been sporting the "Little Bear" handle for many years so I find it quite pleasing. 

JD making the steep drop into "Little Bear"

Watcha looking at fellas?

 Rock n Brush

In a attempt to lay eyes on as much of the canyon as possible upon dropping in we decided to head upstream a bit further before making the final decent. As you will see from the pictures that follow this is a wonderful canyon, especially this time of year. Plenty of pools and mini waterfalls to enjoy. There is no trail (just the way we prefer it). Some climbing, bushwhacking, wet feet, waterfall scrambles, ticks all that good stuff to be had that makes for great adventure travel.   

Of course no remote canyon in the Los Padres is without this black tubing nightmare. These asshole growers have taken up shop anywhere and everywhere that receives little to no foot traffic. There is a shit ton of this trash up here that needs to be removed. Should any organization get approval from FS to move on this count me in I will help out. 

The V

Our decent of Little Bear was just under 2.5 miles before crashing into the Sespe proper. Once out of the canyon we made our way up and onto the Sespe River Trail for easier travel back to the Piedra Blanca trailhead. Total trip mileage was just over 9. What else did we find do you ask? Well I cant go giving away all the secrets so for anything further you'll just have to get up there and see for yourself. That said I have included a slightly modified track for download should you like to follow in our footsteps. 

 Took this shot right after telling SB that the beer is locked in Mike's car and he is still halfway up the canyon. :) 

The Mighty Sespe

 

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