Dobbs, Jepson and San Gorgonio

[Ellen]

Howdy All

Sally, Marilyn, Cindy and I got to the camp host (aka security kiosk) a bit before 6 AM.
He demanded to see our Vivian permit and wilderness passes then told us to park at the upper parking area away from the picnic area When we pulled in, we saw other cars parked there -- pretty weird since the gate has just opened

There was a hint of fall in the air. It was nippy enough that I even donned gloves and a long sleeved shirt. We found (and removed) more pink tape on the way up to gain the ridge and on the ridge itself. The wind was really blowing -- which eliminated any conversation (not that I can talk going up Dobbs anyway

Took a short break at Dobbs, then headed up to Jepson before dropping back to the ridge trail. Jepson provided great views of the San Gorgonio backbone and San Jacinto. Once on San G, we ate lunch in a sheltered area on the south side.

On the descent, we were treated to gorgeous, fast moving clouds. The breeze also kept the temperature from heating up too much as we lost elevation.

Sally and I enjoyed a great dinner at El Mexicano before heading home.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[arocknoid]

Thanks for the TR, Ellen.

There was a hint of fall in the air. It was nippy enough that I even donned gloves and a long sleeved shirt.........The wind was really blowing -- which eliminated any conversation...

Winds were sand-blastingly strong in the front range on my own jaunt; I dredged out the Minox meter and clocked 50-55 mph gusts at a couple of saddle and ridge spots. The deer let me watch them for awhile, and I snapped a few pics up close. Wind noise can mask sounds of approach, and moving upwind helps control scent discovery -- beware the gusts! (Ciff's notes 3.A.1-3)

Smart use of gloves and long-sleeve, Ellen. Wish I had worn pants/zip-offs, as my own legs got peppered relentlessly past the comfort zone by granitic detritus.

God how I hate the feel of granitic detritus in the morning.
Feels like.....pumice-shment.
-Killsgore-tex @ the Col.

Cool weather was much appreciated, though. Much less sweat and H2O demand.

I'll post a few pics --need to upload.

Thanks for the TR,
Arocknoid

[KathyW]

The local guy who is housed in the RV opening and closing the gate and checking permits for a living doesn't have any right to ask for permits because you are not in a wilderness area at the parking lot. A person doesn't need a permit until they enter the wilderness area. If someone is hiking up Mill Creek they wouldn't need a permit at all.

An interesting note: The people who live in Forest Falls aren't required to get permits for each hike - they are issued some type of pass.

Another note: The volunteers typically have keys to the gates; so the cars could belong to volunteers using their key, but I would hope they only use those keys when they are on an official weekend patrol and don't abuse them by using them on their personal trips. The cars could also belong to someone who is with the FS or a regular person who has gone in overnight.

I hope the security guard isn't giving people he knows special access to the parking area.

Also, people need to stop calling the guy who is opening and closing the gate and working as a security guard a volunteer because he is not a volunteer if has been given a free place to live. He is working for rent.

[Hikin_Jim]

I got to the camp host (aka security kiosk) a bit before 6 AM.
He demanded to see our Vivian permit and wilderness passes

Literally? I mean was he rude? Or was he reasonably professional?

HJ

[Ellen]

Howdy Jim

The sentry wouldn't let us pass until Sally had pulled her pack out of her trunk and found the permit. I found his attitude to be very paternalistic.

As Kathy Wing pointed out, I don't think he or the hiking police have the authority to demand to see my permit.

I just love that responsible individuals are being subjected to this due to a bunch of hoodlums in the picnic area.

There had to be some sort of backroom deal between Forest Falls and the Forest Service. The hiking police mentality of some SGWA volunteers isn't helping either.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Hikin_Jim]

The sentry wouldn't let us pass until Sally had pulled her pack out of her trunk and found the permit.

Permit? Do you mean a wilderness permit for the trail or the parking permit (aka "Adventure Pass")?

Maybe they have a reason to ask for a parking permit, but they don't for a wilderness permit. There's no permit required if
-you don't go past the boundary on the Vivian Creek Trail
-you hike to Big Falls
-you hike up Mill Creek
-you just want to picnic

HJ

[Ellen]

Howdy HJ

The sentry demanded to see the wilderness permit for the Vivian creek trail as well as our Adventure passes for parking.

Ugh -- kinda takes some of the smiles out of the miles

Ellen

[arocknoid]

Ellen sez:

The sentry demanded to see the wilderness permit for the Vivian creek trail as well as our Adventure passes for parking.

Was he wearing a yellow hat? What did he say when you asked to see his badge? (Were his initials AB? --no pal of Walter Huston...)

Keep on smilin', Ellen. Don't let nitwittery rob you of good cheer and mountain trail enjoyment.



On a lighter note, here are a couple of deer photos from those mentioned above. Full array with Cliff's Notes Tips to follow.

These were watched on the Front Range during gusty winds, amid flurries of trail trompers engaged in social networking including via non-squelched FRS/GMRS
(hmm, just thought of a new acronym.

GOMWiTS. Get Off My Wilderness Trails.

hat doff to Stephen Bergman/Samuel Shem.)









kind regards,
Arocknoid

[Sally]

Oh deer, we didn't see any deer, but we saw evidence that they had been there.

Here are some pictures, mostly taken from atop Jepson:

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

[Hikin_Jim]

Was he wearing a yellow hat?

No. It appeared to be made out of tinfoil.

HJ