Greetings from the Nob ...

[scottmac]

Spent Saturday in Whitewater Canyon on the Nob. Beautiful weather and killer views:

[Hikin_Jim]

Looking good.

So, what's the "nob?" This?

HJ

[scottmac]

"So, what's the "nob?"

The Nob is the Nob - here.

[Hikin_Jim]

The Nob is the Nob - here.

Ah! Interesting. I had never noticed that triangulation point before.

As an aside, it's weird how they give names to triangulation points in some areas but not in others. Some of the names are quite confusing, the classic being the "Twin" triangulation point atop Waterman Mountain. The peak that triangulation point is on has an entirely different name (Waterman Mtn, "A"), and the peaks that actually bear the name "Twin" lie to the south ("B" and "C"). Probably the surveyors were sighting on Twin Peaks from Waterman Mountain and therefore named the triangulation point, "Twin," but it could be confusing for people who don't know that a little triangle with a name indicates a survey name not a peak name. Clear as mud?

Of course with something like the Nob, which has no official name, then using the name of the triangulation point is pretty standard practice.

HJ

[jfr]

I don't want to hijack this thread (which is already drifting) but there are some funny names for benchmarks way down south in Anza-Borrego, names like Moan, Groan, Gasp, Grunt, Puff, and Windy. I'm pretty sure that they were placed/created back in the early 1900's while they were surveying/building the "Impossible Railroad" through Carrizo Gorge (site of the famous Goat Canyon Trestle). If you've ever hiked down there, then you know that these spots were well-named.

But back on topic: Nice photos from Nob! I've been thinking about backpacking up in the Whitewater area. From what I've read, it's fairly remote and untraveled. Did you hike up that long ridge in the second photo? It looks too easy to be true. Or were all the cholla and yucca and foxtail grasses further away?

[scottmac]

Did you hike up that long ridge in the second photo? It looks too easy to be true.

Yes, the whole ridge is shown. Mostly soft soil or rocky footing the whole way except some negotiable brush on a plateau about quarter of the way up. Pretty straight-forward hike.

On the ridge looking up toward the Nob ...

[Ulysses]

I went up there a couple weeks ago. Hiked to about where the South Fork splits from the Middle Fork. Interesting place. Mostly X-country travel after you leave the PCT at Red Dome. There were some nice long stretchs of hard packed silt in places along the creek, but in other places it was kind of slow going through the boulders. Plenty of good clear water flowing. Saw more deer and bear tracks than foot prints.

[Hikin_Jim]

I don't want to hijack this thread (which is already drifting) but there are some funny names for benchmarks way down south in Anza-Borrego, names like Moan, Groan, Gasp, Grunt, Puff, and Windy. I'm pretty sure that they were placed/created back in the early 1900's while they were surveying/building the "Impossible Railroad" through Carrizo Gorge (site of the famous Goat Canyon Trestle). If you've ever hiked down there, then you know that these spots were well-named.

The Goat Trestles/Carrizo Gorge hike looks pretty darn cool.

HJ

[Hikin_Jim]

I went up there a couple weeks ago. Hiked to about where the South Fork splits from the Middle Fork. Interesting place. Mostly X-country travel after you leave the PCT at Red Dome. There were some nice long stretchs of hard packed silt in places along the creek, but in other places it was kind of slow going through the boulders. Plenty of good clear water flowing. Saw more deer and bear tracks than foot prints.

Supposedly, the old road shown on the map is easier travel when heading back to the Middle and South Forks confluence area. No personal experience although I have traveled on that road on the section that leads over to Mission Creek.

The area looks pretty interesting, but it's generally not easy travel.

HJ

[scottmac]

The PCT to and through Catclaw (on the wagon road) to Wathier Landing as shown on your map is easy going. You can also cut straight past the (Cat) Paw to Catclaw. Now, Wathier back down the river past Stiles Landing and back to Red Dome is a bit tougher (but beautiful) as Ulysses says. I have done the latter clockwise with the easier finish. Would be fun to camp at Wathier Landing and explore Hell For Sure Canyon and the North Fork. You can also gain the Middle fork Ridge and climb to San Gorgonio.