How to raise a flagpole - POVLA 0022

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OLD GLORY - POVLA - 0022 -

A raising of the flag - old glory - a journey to The Flagpole above Sunland and Tujunga

In this episode, neighbor Mike and I head up an old, bulldozed firebreak to a rocky outcrop called the Camels back or Twin Peaks. This ridge is directly above the northern Los Angeles neighborhoods of Sunland and Tujunga.

As I understand it, a flagpole was installed on the rocky outcrop by juvenile detainees and/or personnel from the nearby Camp Louis Routh - a Los Angeles County Probation Fire camp that was abandoned in 2009. Some of the former Juvenile Detainees called the outcrop "Preacher's Chair" or "Hawk's Heaven."

#oldglory #losangeleshiking #losangeles #tujunga #sunland #america #freedom
Please be advised:
This hike is Strenuous/difficult. It requires some route finding, as there is no man-made trail. (UPDATE: a trail has been created by some very tough trail builders. Thank you!) The distance to the top is about 1.5 miles and climbs roughly 1500 feet. There is very little shade and some NO FALL areas. Hike to the flagpole at your own risk. Carry plenty of water. There is Mobile service all the way to the top, so you can livestream your accomplishment.

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My video gear and equipment:

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APPAREL!

[MikeBrownOhio]

Absolutely beautiful... Don't get much better than that...

[donjon]

Went to my local Sunland Ralph’s the other day to purchase some items for my hiking trip.

Had a moment in the bread section as I was looking for Dave's Killer Bread to fill myself up on my journey.

I saw this VERY attractive young lady in the store so I became distracted.

Little did I know, my bad eyesight made me pass by the bread section a couple of aisles ago.

I guess you can say I had a rich vince moment

[LeslieStokes-ibfb]

I grew up 2 block from the Graveyard trail. From 1963 to 1978. I climbed Camelback in 1972 and 1976 when I was 13 and 17 years old. We walked in from Parsons Trail up the ridge line. Was not as much brush on the ridge back then. As I recall there was a small flag back then at the top. Great job with the flag pole and the video. Brought back some great memories.

[lopezexplora]

Awesomeness 😎
Seriously your channel has to have more subscribers, you have an amazing channel!
Never knew about this trail for sure I’m going to hike it and mention your channel hopefully you get to 1000 subscribers and start monetizing. Thank you again for your hard work

[richvince]

In the past four months, we've made remarkable progress on manicuring the main trail to the top of T5. The Lonely Oak Meadow sign got knocked down in the wind two months ago. Someone put it back up before my next hike the following day (Thanx!)


Three months ago I cut out the chain-link wall at the bottom below the first sign. It took an hour and four sets of cutting tools: A pair of high-leverage diagonal pliers, a bolt cutter, a pair of high-leverage linesman pliers and a ratcheting cable cutter. There are several sets of chain-link walls going up the old Haines Canyon Fire Road, but I had no idea they were so deep and had so much chain-link. It was hard work. But after watching a hiker fall off of the wall in December, I decided to cut out an access point.


I've been up to the flagpole and/or the precipice 30 times so far this year. Everyone there knows me. I'm the guy with the mini-dachshunds. T5 is their favorite hike. Mine too.


Since the stay-at-home order last week, I've seen more hikers there than any time since I began hiking Haines decades ago. Same for the old firebreak across the canyon to the Blanchard and Cooks Tank. The the Blue Bug has been busier than usual, too.


Best hike in LA.

[AbrahamG]

That’s amazing! Never knew there was a trail going to that ridge so near the mount Lukens one...will for sure make it a goal to check out that flag soon. Great content!

[kcw]

I FINALLY found/saw it today past the old cemetery and I think heading down Teresita? My husband was driving our Jeep so I could check it off my bucket list! YAY! just rewatched this a scary climb! and with such a pole! Just so you know, it matters to me!

[richvince]

Standing at the Blanchard Canyon Water Tank @ 12:40 p.m. on Saturday November 28th looking up at the flagpole. The gentleman I passed on Haines Canyon above the parking area appears to be working on the flagpole. I watched him go up T5, and, I can see him moving around up there and the flags down. I had a feeling he was going up T5... I said hello but I should have introduced myself. Nice guy...and I'll say one thing: Man, he was fast. He made the flagpole in less than an hour.

[chuckjohnson]

👍🇺🇲Awesome video you guys, you're a dying breed! I spent a lot of time in the wash and the hills when I lived there but never did this trail. Got stuck on the hillside once with my brother by Riverwood Ranch as it was getting dark. And was rescued by canyon patrol that used to cruise the area in a Jeep and was loaded down with ropes and climbing gear. Had a picture of us in the Record Ledger being lowered down! Good time's....

[jkjiggy]

Great content! The balcony of LA! Nice video and editing...

[elk]

You guys done good! Lived in Sunland for 25 years before relocating to Oregon. Love the love of country! Hoorah!

[ScottPopjes]

Great video. Thanks for doing this guys (and thanks to all of those clearing the trail!) I look up at the flag often, and check it out with my binoculars and telescope as well. I've been wanting to get to the top of Camelback for a number of years. One of these days - I'll make an attempt.

[davidb]

What A Great video guys, , , that’s way Cool, , ,

[lennyskippen]

Awesome. So glad people are fixing things that need it.

[mojarra]

Great work guys I get to see the flag from my front door I have pictures the I took with my telescope I want to make it up there one day love to see the flag up close thank you guy

[grathumi]

For the record, Sherpa Mike carried that flagpole, by himself, up a significant portion of the upper route, including the entire spine to Preachers Chair.

[teddyhage]

looks like a cool trail... would have to try it when im back in cali sometime

[gregchapp]

I'm the Greg mentioned below that was doing some trail grooming. It's a great trail, great view from the top.
I was thinking that it might be nice to add a bit of trail at the bottom to the road so that you wouldn't have to climb over the wire. Any votes or comments on that? Looks quite doable to me.

[richvince]

Happy to report a virtual army of volunteers, including children with buckets, were working on T5 Saturday. And work has begun on what appears to be some new signage about 25 ft above the trailhead. On the way up yesterday I noticed someone had dug a post hole six inches in diameter and 24 inches deep. Sure nuff on the way down the hole had been replaced with concrete and a six-foot piece of 3/4 inch rigid pipe complete with holes drilled and 1/4 20 nuts bolts and washers Inserted in the holes.
I think it's great the community is coming together to work on the trail.
Everyone is doing a fantastic job. I've been manicuring the steps Ralph and his partner cut, and the children are lining the steps with stones. It's hard to believe how much progress has been made in the last 15 months.

[richvince]

I just spoke to two of the residents that live near the first gate below the debris basin and they've been calling the police because of all the people gathering around the water, ignoring social-distancing, not wearing masks, and, of course, discharging firearms Saturday night.

As I mentioned I saw upwards of fifty people gathered around the water's edge. It appeared to be some kind of a party and everyone was Hispanic.

They were also concerned that the sign that been vandalized repeatedly, and the Closed to the Public order still stands, which contradicts the forest service order.

Whatever. I'm sick of all the drama. I'll be going to Deukmejian Park to hike from this point forward until all this madness ends.

What's frustrating is the fact the woman that was going up T5 yesterday afternoon said she walked right by one police car and waved to them and they didn't try to stop her.

When I got down to the second gate, there were two police cars and I had to do some fast talking to avoid a $1, 000.00 ticket.

I knew people would screw this up, I just didn't think it would happen this fast. It's really a shame because T5 is one of my favorite hiking trails, but it's not worth what I went through yesterday.