Yelp 100 Challenge 15' * 9/100
La Madre looked absolutely stunning after the brief storm system finally moved away from the Valley. My mother and I hiked up this moderate beautiful trail the past two Thursdays in hopes of reaching the springs as well as catching some snow remnants and we were not disappointed.
The trail system can be accessed either from White Rock Loop or from the Picnic Area, the latter of which would require you to go through nearly a couple of miles of dirt road to get here. Be careful if you decide to take the dirt path route. Cars drive in and out of that bumpy road and some of them are not very slow. You will only begin to feel the incline once you reach the La Madre Trail head. Bring lots of water and know how to pace yourselves. Take in the majestic views every once in a while and rest on some of the rocks for a snack. About 200 yards from the spring, you'll find the remains of what we ascertain to be a house. Its floor tiles are still pretty intact and there's a pipe coming down straight from the spring. Maybe it was more useful back then.
Today, the spring is nothing more than a running stream with dense algae, and I could only say that after the ice caps melted. Who knows how it looks during the 110 degree months. This, of course, makes for a perfect spring hike. It takes some stamina to get up there so bump up the calories during breakfast and snack on some granola bars. You'll need energy to overcome a 900 elevation gain over a 2-ish mile one way trip. If you intend to complete the White Rock Trail, hike about 1.3 miles till you see a fork. Turn right and enjoy some 5 miles of flatter land. That'll be a good option for a longer day hike.