New/Old Routes Up Mt. San Jacinto?

[magikwalt]

Given how repetitive the Skyline hike can become during season I have started compiling a list of alternate paths. The Snow Creek/PCT is obvious but there are two others I'm working on.

Gordon Trail: Halhiker posted the Gordon Trail and I'm going to research some old documents to see if they yield anything solid. I'm guessing this may best be "located" by hiking down from Caramba Camp.

Snow Creek/Windy Point: This one would take off up the southern ridge of Snow Creek that divides it from the Western Village Mobile home park over inside Blaisdale Canyon. Once you gain the ridge you head south of Falls Creek and continue to work up a ridge coming into Long Valley pretty much at the ranger station.

Anyone having knowledge of either of these routes I'd like to hear from you. Alan - Whatever you do don't send any GPS routes unless they are encrypted. Also if anyone has any other routes up that come from his side of the mountain I'd be interested in them as well.

[halhiker]

Only place I've ever read anything on the Gordon Trail is in the appendix of John Robinson's San Bernardino Mountain Trails. There MIGHT be more information in his book on the San Jacinto's but I don't have either in my possession at the moment. Serves me right for letting people borrow stuff. If I remember correctly, it's named after some Dr. Gordon who built the trail sometime back in the 20's or 30's.

As far as the Blaisdale ridge, I know a few people who have done it. It's all bushwacking and very tough. Probably the one person you might be able to contact about it is Scott Scott (with Desert Safaris/Trail Discovery. His e-mail is scott@palmspringshiking.com.

[magikwalt]

Thanks Hikerhal. I've seen SS post here a fair bit so maybe he will pickup the thread. On Saturday a friend and I are going to do the trip up Blaisdell but will be starting it from the Snow Creek side.

Yes Robinson has more info on the Gordon trail in his book on San Jacinto but its still just a flowery description using references that correlate very little to anything modern.

"This is “Camp Caramba,” where M.S. Gordon has a charming camp site, and it is from this point, with a most wonderful view of the Coachella Valley, then among the noble pines, you start down the mountain past Sentinel Point, on down to McInnis peak, passing from trees to shrubs, finally to cactus and rocks…

The trail leads on down to the hog-back between Tahquitz canyon and one of the north forks of Andreas canyon, winding down amongst curiously shaped rocks, the Imp and Dog’s Head being most prominent, until you land at Camp Avispas, meaning wasps, due to the many wasp nests among the cactus."

In looking at the topo its pretty obvious they are falling southeast out of Caramba. Still seems like the best bet may be a hike down.

[cynthia23]

SS has definitely done the "telephone pole route" (i.e. Snow Creek/Windy Point) and I believe Grandmaster P has done as well--I suggest you PM them ...they say it is very scrambly/borderline technical and should really be done with some ropes for safety...but you sure wouldn't have much company ...I also think it is not exactly legal so you will have to be discreet.

[magikwalt]

Thanks Cynthia. I'm not sure how discreet a one-eyed fat man can be but I promise to not wear the dayglow hiking outfit! One thing that I have noticed about growing older is that you usually just get talked to and not thrown into the back of a patrol car.

[Perry]

Walt, sounds like you have some great stories!

I have not done Windy Ridge or the telephone pole ridge. I believe Windy Ridge is legal and the telephone pole ridge is not. I have been wondering if you can start from the Fox, Grey Squirrel, Hawk lots because there are no "no trespassing" signs even though other areas of the road have them. Most people start near 111, like Windy Point area.

Edit: I should add that by "most people" I mean the very few people who actually do it. It's a scramble with some 3rd and possibly 4th class climbing.

[guest]

Hi people,
Now your really opening up a can of worms! or wasps!
Yes, I have done Gordon (you can't call it a trail anymore), TP route from Chino Cyn & the North Ridge route, all very tough & very long.
I won't go into them here, as there's just too many temptations for others (not you guys) to get in even more trouble.
I won't do any this time of year, you need all the help weather wise you can get, and they all take 8-10 hrs! (and I do Skyline in 4 if I'm on, just to give you an idea).
I'm glad to get some addnlt. info to you privately, but there all hikes you have to figure out & navigate as you go.
The North Ridge route (which is probably the general way the yahoos came down from the top of San Jac that were so proud to be rescued a few weeks back) is the one I would choose, but let it cool down, it's a lot tougher than Skyline.

Happy hiking friends,

ss