Mt. San Jacinto Outdoor Recreation

Hey there guys!

Thought I'd share my last week's adventures with you all since they were pretty awesome!

On Saturday the 8th, I attended Taco's free clinic on the Baldy Bowl and summited along with my friends Andy, Don (Lcpl Hughes), and Ted. Great day, lots of fun!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fms0719zOHU
Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/bushidanny/ ... iaTheBowl#


Then, the very next day we went rock climbing around Mission Gorge in San Diego, and then at the end of the day my friend Ted randomly brought up the idea of going backpacking. Naturally, I was down!

So we left San Diego at around 10PM and drove East on the 78 until we reached the S2 junction in Anza Borrego SP. We then camped one night at Blair valley and decided to check out the Pictographs Trail the next morning. The trail is only a mile long, so we thought we could follow the trail to the pictographs, then bushwack through the desert for a couple of miles. We were surprised by an amazing rock canyon at the end of the trail and immediately started climbing around the whole area. Wow, what a find!! It is called Smuggler Canyon apparently. We camped somewhere about halfway down the canyon and then made our way up the next morning. We found a cool spot filled with caves and interesting things like morteros, random water holes inside of rocks, and even some type of ritual/burrial ground type thing. Creepy.

Anyhow, then at the end of the day we decided to dash for the highest peak in sight and camp on top of it. We nearly reached the top of a certain peak before calling it a night. We woke up early the next morning and hit the peak first thing in the morning. Turns out it was Whale Peak!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6Zl2yWiYA8
Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/bushidanny/ ... ckpacking#


I STRONGLY encourage you guys to check out Smuggler Canyon! I even scoped out an amazing route out there.. It would involve either going down that canyon and crossing the desert valley and going up Stephenson Peak, or vice versa. Anyhow, have a good one!

Wild, glad to see you had two fun outings - must have just missed you on the baldy bowl as I was coming down the ridge after going up the face earlier that morning - I did see Don on the trail and at the Hut but missed him when I descended.

Nice pictures on both Trip Reports, thanks for sharing the beta on the desert route. Keep the reports coming

Wow! What a great week! I really like your videos and pics, and I'm pretty envious of the fun you had. It looks like I'll be doing Baldy with Ellen for my first time on Wednesday. Thanks for getting me all psyched up for my upcoming outing.

Hey there lilbitmo, I believe I did see you actually! Were you wearing a blue jacket, with some patches on your shoulders and such? I think that may have been you. I really wanted to ask what those patches were, but you were busy having too much fun out there

Sally, no way? You have never been up Baldy before? Well I am excited for you then. It beholds a very impressive summit view. And I feel that Baldy really gives me that "alpine" feel I crave so much.
Good luck out there and tell Ellen I say hi!

Keep on climbing

Good stuff brotha!

Howdy Wildman Danny

Wonderful trip reports, thanks so much

Sally and I are headed up the Baldy Bowl tomorrow (my first time up this snow season). We'll be sure to post a report.

You definately saw Lilbitmo (Knight Patrick) -- I love that jacket he has with all the patches.

Taco (aka Baldy Big Kahuna) is the MAN -- he has mad climbing skills!!!

Hope to see you on the trail (or winter route) soon

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

Howdy Ellen!

Hey Ellen!

Glad you enjoyed the TR, I hope you guys have as much fun reading them as I do writing them.. It kindda takes me back to the climb, you know?

Enjoy yourselves on Baldy and be safe! I'm looking forward to the TR

Yes I did get to meet Taco, we hung out for a minute at the hut. I know I have seen his videos... crazy guy! I wanna do some of those haha

Alright, take care folks