Malevolent Mill Creek
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 2:49 pmHowdy All 
Headed up Vivian Creek early yesterday to introduce the Dobbs ridge to my friend Marilyn. We got an early start (5:45 AM) and carried rain gear. The humid, moist air brought out the gnats -- ugh
I love going up Dobbs because it's a kick ass climb and the ascent is mostly shaded. As a fellow mistress of pain, I knew Marilyn would enjoy Dobbs and she did. We kept our eyes on the weather the entire time -- knowing we needed to be off the exposed ridge in case of lightning. It took us about 5 hours to reach San Gorgonio, where we had a brief 15 minute break and sent out SPOT messages.
We made our way quickly back down to treeline and then High Creek camp. We ran into two groups of two day hikers who asked how far it was to the summit. How does one answer that question? Continued down and met a group of backpackers who asked how long it was to High Creek Camp. Right as we reached the Halfway Camp junction sign (1:10 PM), it started to rain and we donned rain gear. The storm kicked into high gear and we were treated to flashes of lightning and cracks of thunder. It even hailed for a bit. We considered ourselves lucky to have missed the brunt of the storm. Ha, ha...
As we approached the wilderness boundary sign, we heard a constant roar. I assumed it was Big Falls. When we started to descend away from the Falls, we could still hear a loud, persistent rumble. Uh oh. Finally arrived at the bottom of the swtichbacks to find four stranded hikers. Marilyn and I walked out to survey the extent of the flooding -- there was a torrent of muddy water hurtling down numerous channels in the Mill creek drainage. We retreated to join the other stranded hikers who were taking shelter from the pelting rain under trees.
When the rain started to quiet, we ventured out again. This time we headed downstream. Another hiker came out with a solo female hiker and started looking as well. He thought upstream looked better. We followed him until we all saw a low wall of muddy water headed at us -- yikes! We headed back to the high rocks on the side of the creek bed. The rain stopped and when conditions started to look better, we ventured down stream again. We were able to cross numerous smaller streams but a torrent of fast moving muddy water right next to the oppossite bank stymied our progress. Arrgh, so close yet so far.
Tried to cross at one point and ended up being carried downstream feet first. Got out of that mess covered with muddy sand. I was in shorts (of course) and now had bloody knees from being bounced along the creekbed and hit by rocks. Continued downstream once again and finally got across and up the embankment. We had to cross several more small creeks on our way back to the cars.
Once in the parking lot, people stared and asked us what had happened. We were laughing with relief as we tried to get our boots off and shake some of the mud off our gear. Marilyn brought dry clothes and changed -- I shook off as much wet sand as I could manage. The amount of sand on every part of my anatomy reminded me of being slammed into the ocean floor while body surfing. The four other hikers got across safely. Marilyn headed home (don't know if her boyfriend will ever let her hike with me again) and took in some nourishment at El Mexicano (put a dry towel down on the seat first).
Of all the weather possibilities that we anticpated, flooding wasn't one of them. Another hard lesson learned. The last time I recall a serious Mill Creek flood was in July of 1999. Today I read that other hikers were stranded and rescued -- that explained the emergency vehicles at the Momyer trailhead.
Miles of smiles,
Ellen
Sandy Ass and Bloody Blonde Hiking
Headed up Vivian Creek early yesterday to introduce the Dobbs ridge to my friend Marilyn. We got an early start (5:45 AM) and carried rain gear. The humid, moist air brought out the gnats -- ugh
I love going up Dobbs because it's a kick ass climb and the ascent is mostly shaded. As a fellow mistress of pain, I knew Marilyn would enjoy Dobbs and she did. We kept our eyes on the weather the entire time -- knowing we needed to be off the exposed ridge in case of lightning. It took us about 5 hours to reach San Gorgonio, where we had a brief 15 minute break and sent out SPOT messages.
We made our way quickly back down to treeline and then High Creek camp. We ran into two groups of two day hikers who asked how far it was to the summit. How does one answer that question? Continued down and met a group of backpackers who asked how long it was to High Creek Camp. Right as we reached the Halfway Camp junction sign (1:10 PM), it started to rain and we donned rain gear. The storm kicked into high gear and we were treated to flashes of lightning and cracks of thunder. It even hailed for a bit. We considered ourselves lucky to have missed the brunt of the storm. Ha, ha...
As we approached the wilderness boundary sign, we heard a constant roar. I assumed it was Big Falls. When we started to descend away from the Falls, we could still hear a loud, persistent rumble. Uh oh. Finally arrived at the bottom of the swtichbacks to find four stranded hikers. Marilyn and I walked out to survey the extent of the flooding -- there was a torrent of muddy water hurtling down numerous channels in the Mill creek drainage. We retreated to join the other stranded hikers who were taking shelter from the pelting rain under trees.
When the rain started to quiet, we ventured out again. This time we headed downstream. Another hiker came out with a solo female hiker and started looking as well. He thought upstream looked better. We followed him until we all saw a low wall of muddy water headed at us -- yikes! We headed back to the high rocks on the side of the creek bed. The rain stopped and when conditions started to look better, we ventured down stream again. We were able to cross numerous smaller streams but a torrent of fast moving muddy water right next to the oppossite bank stymied our progress. Arrgh, so close yet so far.
Tried to cross at one point and ended up being carried downstream feet first. Got out of that mess covered with muddy sand. I was in shorts (of course) and now had bloody knees from being bounced along the creekbed and hit by rocks. Continued downstream once again and finally got across and up the embankment. We had to cross several more small creeks on our way back to the cars.
Once in the parking lot, people stared and asked us what had happened. We were laughing with relief as we tried to get our boots off and shake some of the mud off our gear. Marilyn brought dry clothes and changed -- I shook off as much wet sand as I could manage. The amount of sand on every part of my anatomy reminded me of being slammed into the ocean floor while body surfing. The four other hikers got across safely. Marilyn headed home (don't know if her boyfriend will ever let her hike with me again) and took in some nourishment at El Mexicano (put a dry towel down on the seat first).
Of all the weather possibilities that we anticpated, flooding wasn't one of them. Another hard lesson learned. The last time I recall a serious Mill Creek flood was in July of 1999. Today I read that other hikers were stranded and rescued -- that explained the emergency vehicles at the Momyer trailhead.
Miles of smiles,
Ellen
Sandy Ass and Bloody Blonde Hiking
