Mt. San Gorgonio try #1

San Gorgonio Mountain is a tricky hike, with many ways to summit it.  It is the tallest peak in Southern California, standing at 11,503 ft.

There is a lot of prep that goes into this, including applying for permits to hike up the mountain.

You can request this here: http://www.sgwa.org/faq.html

We parked right below the Vivian Creek parking lot, which was closed, and then began our way up a road.  We then got to this, crossed it, and officially began the hike up.  

Here, our ascend consisted of switchback that led up the first parts, and then wound its way around the forest to Vivian Creek.  This is the first water source available.  

Savor the view on your way up. It is crazy, and neat to see these fallen trees.  You don't realize just how large they are, until you stand next to a fallen one.

Vivian Creek Camp

The hike felt a lot longer than what the map we had said it was.... and we started reading it at the wrong place... so we hoped beyond hope that we had made it to Halfway Camp early...

Then... we came to the sign that pointed to Halfway Camp on the right, and High Creek Camp to the left.

This part of the hike, felt like it went on forever.... It was the trail that never ends.  

The path first goes straight back, and then up switchbacks, around the mountain, and then straight onto the camp.

So take it slow and have some fun with it. 

 

 Again, the mileage felt off, but we were also struggling.  After asking a few hikers and getting wrong mileages so often, we finally got some helpful visuals from a hiker coming down. We were at the top of the switchbacks, and he told us that we just had to go around the mountain, in like a half circle. 

And so we did. 

And we came to a clearing...

And we thought we were in the clear, and we had finally reached the High Creek Camp... but no... we had not. 

And so we went on...

\

And on... 

And then... light!

So we came to discuss and learn many things from this point on, that I think I'll write up and include in another post.  We did decide to call it the next day, and head down, and so we did.

Mountain Women... I am a bit swollen... normal with elevation changes, but unfortunate. 

 Some Views: 

Bridge to Nowhere 3-15-14

Did the Bridge to Nowhere Hike, for the 3rd time!

This is the technical name of the trail- East Fork Trail, located in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness, above Azusa, CA.

Trail info: http://www.hikespeak.com/trails/bridge-to-nowhere-hike-los-angeles/

Creative crossings.... five one way, five back, this time... it changes it seems.  

Your shoes will get wet though, that is a definite. 

About 2~2.5 miles in.

These damn things are everywhere and they hurt!  Make sure to wear long pants.  

This time I took 25-30 pounds on my back.  30 to start, carrying extra water and food, but it went down as the day went on.  I have to figure out how not to get so bruised on my shoulders....  Or maybe that is just something you have to suck up and deal with.

Owwww....

This time also, I balanced well on all of the rocks.  Amazing!  I jumped from rock to rock on the stream, barely getting my feet wet.  Slacklining and practice really does help with balance... so does confidence.