July 4th Backpack on San Gorgonio

[Sally]

Ellen and I took advantage of a rare 2-day holiday by backpacking San Gorgonio on July 3-4. (I get Wednesdays and Sundays off, making it impossible for regular weekend overnighters)

We departed from the Southfork trailhead before 6:00 on Wednesday morning. It was rather overcast, a blessing and a curse as the clouds kept the sun from baking us but also held down the humidity. At Southfork Meadows we gathered water so we would each have about 5 liters to schlep all the way up to the Peak. We really noticed the extra 10 pounds. We got on our way after taking a lot of pictures of the plentiful wildflowers. We were occasionally hit by random raindrops, but not enough to cool us down. Ellen was trying out a new backpack that she planned to use on the JMT this month and was having issues with it, and it slowed her down a bit. So, I've found a way to slow Ellen down at last! We really appreciated our break at Dollar Saddle and had a bite to eat.

Then we pressed on to the Peak, leap-frogging a man and his son along the way. When we got to the peak the first thing we did was select a shelter to pitch our tents in, and dropped our packs. Then we officially visited the peak and visited with a couple who had day-hiked up Vivian Creek (the gal seemed annoyed at the cute little ground squirrels that live up there.) The man and his son must have been pooped out because they were taking a nap on the rocks.

Then we went back to our campsite and planted old glory on the rock wall. Ellen took a nap and I did a little exploring before dinner. The sunset did not disappoint us, and I took lots more pics.

After the sun was completely down we climbed into our bags. I got up once and since there wasn't much of a moon the Milky Way was pretty vivid.

Sunrise was nice too, and we had breakfast and packed up and were back on the trail at 8:00. We hiked down via Dry Lake (which was dry). We didn't see nearly as much holiday traffic on the trail as expected, just a day hiker near the peak, a very large group of kids with red white and blue leis around their necks, and a trio of backpackers. What a long hike that is when you're hot and tired!

We got back to our cars and drove to the Oaks Restaurant for burgers - 7 minutes too late. They closed at 2:00 for 4th of July!

I'm sure Ellen can add a lot to this TR (I left out the part about the bugs!)

Here are the pictures. Please stick it out to the end as there are some nice sunset shots!

https://picasaweb.google.com/1009477359 ... directlink

[arocknoid]

Terrific trail report and photos, Sally.

Tough luck on tardy arrival @TheOaks, as well as the limited high country H2O sources this year.

The nights are so pleasant I cut pack weight by forgoing my sleeping bag, taking just a small microfleece throw the other night in San Gs.

Appreciate the flower photos including ol' buds Lemon Lilies



And the wild rose



Bighorn love to snack on these:



This is uncommonly good composition of something commonly encountered, usually taken for granted, and rarely seen:



and of course nice sunset shots ;-)

thanks again,
arocknoid

[Ellen]

Howdy All

Thanks to Sister Sally for writing the TR. I'm afraid that mine would have contained too much !@#$%^& due to the biting bugs and the miserable fit of the pack.

Sally was a saint -- I crawled up the mountain. Woke up with a bad sinus headache and got car sick driving from Angelus Oaks to Southfork TH. Once we started, I thought I would start to feel better but did not. Thank heaven's for Sally's great company and the lovely wildflowers.

The biting bugs started past the wilderness boundary sign and had a field day as I was pumping water at Southfork meadows. I did not want to apply DEET as I had no way to remove it at the summit. Climbing out of Southfork, I realized that something was terribly wrong with the pack fit. My hip flexors were screaming. I kept adjusting the waist belt and shoulder straps tio no avail.

I thought the lunch break at Dollar Saddle would help. Nope. Continued to struggle all the way to the peak. Even had problems in the flat sections. I seriously began to doubt my ability to hike the John Muir trail two weeks hence.

I tried to rest in my tent but the heat was too oppresive. Started to enjoy myself after dinner, when we took a brief walk to look for big horns and watched the wonderful sunset. Tossed and turned until about 2 AM, then slept until about 5:30 AM. We were in shorts and t-shirts as we ate breakfast and packed up camp. I had never been this warm on the top of San Gorgonio -- even on a day hike. We had to ration our water, which is a bit unnerving.

At least heading down, my hip flexors were doing better. Once we passed Dry Lake, the biting bugs returned. I slathered myself with DEET (sort of like closing the barn door once the horse has left). Took a short lunch break and pumped water again at Southfork meadows before making a brisk return to the TH. When I removed my pack, I found that I had huge fly bites around my waist -- the little bastards must have attacked while I had the pack off and was pumping water.

The closure of the Oaks was the perfect ironic ending to the trip

I did some measuring of the Osprey Ariel 55 pack yesterday and believe I've found the problem(s). The hip belt just didn't fit my weird waist, so the pack kept slipping down. Also, the shoulder straps kept loosening -- I had to constantly adjust them on the descent. Last but not least, the pack was too long for my fused spine -- even though I adjusted the pack to the smallest torso setting. It's going back to REI -- I'm sure they won't be happy.

I've ordered an Osprey Aura 65 pack -- the newer version of the the pack I used on the JMT and HST two years ago. REI was sold out of my size, so I ordered from Backcountry. It should come Tuesday -- 8 days before I start on the JMT

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Sally]

Why, thank you arocknoid! We would have been fine without our tents, and I feel really dumb for putting up the rain fly as I had a hard time sleeping and would have enjoyed staring at the stars between tosses and turns.

I was thrilled to see the Lemon Lily and especially the Wild Roses since I frequently see the thorny rose shrubs but seldom see an actual bloom. The picture of the little pine bough with new buds was one of my favorites, too.

Alas, we saw no bighorns snacking on the mounds of tiny pink flowers.

Ellen, when I got home I took a look at the map and felt terrible for choosing the crazy trail that goes WAY out of the way to take the rockiest route possible to get you down to Dry Lake. Whose idea was it to make the trail go that way, anyway?! Going straight down that nice ridge definitely makes sense to me now!

I hope you get that pack issue resolved before the Big Adventure. How about loading up the new Osprey Aura 65 with 45 lbs. of stuff and wearing it up Forsee and down John's Meadow next Wednesday? (Kidding of course!)

Thank you for a great 4th of July trek, Ellen. I wish I could accompany you on the JMT but am looking forward to next Wednesday's hike

[HH8]

Your floral captures expose aspects of the hike I miss when physical exertion wrests my gaze down to my boots.

the Milky Way was pretty vivid.

My camera doesn't take star shots. It insists on having enough light to focus even before flash, so all night pix are out.

[HH8]

something was terribly wrong with the pack fit.

Sounds like the pack broke YOU in

[Ellen]

Howdy HH8

Sounds like the pack broke YOU in

Spot on, m'dear

The Osprey Ariel is now nesting at REI in Rancho Cucamonga.

I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of her sister, the Aura.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Hikin_Jim]

Sounds like a nice trip despite the flies and glad you got to spend a night out. Man! I like sleeping under the stars. Day hiking is great, but watching the day come to a close and then settling in for the night sure is nice.

Just gorgeous:

Gorgonio is really good on water compared to the San Jacs.



Sorry about the pack woes. A good pack is much to be sought after -- I've suffered under some bad ones.

Next time you're in Idyllwild, stop in at Nomad Venture and ask to see the ULA (UltraLight Adventures) packs. They've got some really nice lightweight stuff. The ULA Catalyst is pretty much the "go to" pack of PCT through hikers.

Here's my current ride, an internal frame Mariposa pack from Gossamer Gear, 1 lbs, 12 oz. Very nice.


Nighty night,


HJ

[lesper4]

I have the brother pack to the Aura, Atmos 65. I have only used it once overnight snowshoeing in Sequoia but it worked great and was much lighter then what I had before.