Trip Report: Devil's Slide Trail to Wellman's Divide

[bigfoot_tall]

I took a group of boy scouts (14-15 yr olds) on a backpacking trip this past weekend. We wanted to do a shake down hike in preparation for a Sierra Trip this summer. Our goal was to hike from Humber Park to Little Round Valley, camp for the night, and then return the next day. Unfortunately I underestimated the amount of snow that would still be on the south facing slopes above 8500' and we lost the trail just before Wellman's divide. We had been following footsteps in the snow banks for about 1/2 a mile at 9000' when they stopped and we couldn't find any more to guide us. By then most of the boys were beat (I was too) and I couldn't see us making Round Valley campground before dark (we had about 3 hours of daylight left), so we turned around and got down off the mountain in 2 hours 10 min. (6 hours to hike up, 2 hours to come down. We we're haulin', but my calves and knees are feeling it today as I write this TR!)

We didn't have crampons, but we did have hiking sticks which were invaluable getting us as far was we did. I don't think that we would've gotten to Saddle Junction w/o the hiking sticks. I'm not sure that crampons would've helped us that much as the snow was too patchy for crampons. there were spots of snow and spots of dirt that we kept crossing over.

I told the boys that we could try the trip again in late summer when most of the snow is gone. While they were disappointed when I made the call to return, they all agreed it was the right decision. Back at base camp in Idyllwild they all talked about things that they had learned on the trip (e.g. pack lighter) that made it a successful learning experience despite not reaching the peak.

I'd like to thank all those that routinely post reports and conditions about the mountain on this site. I regularly checked this site in the weeks leading up to this trip and was able to base some of my decisions (including the one to turn around) on the trail from information posted on this site. You're posts have been truly helpful to a young Boy Scout leader trying to instill his enthusiasm for the outdoors into the lives of a bunch of city slicker teenagers that normally want to just sit at home and play video games. Thank you and keep posting! People like me value the information.

[bigfoot_tall]

Oh Yeah,
I had planned to take lots of pictures and post them on this site, but the batteries in my camera were dead at the Trail Head. So much for be prepared!!

[asabat]

I'm a little confused - was your goal Round Valley or Little Round Valley? Wellman's Divide is my confusion.

I underestimated the amount of snow that would still be on the south facing slopes above 8500' and we lost the trail just before Wellman's divide. We had been following footsteps in the snow banks for about 1/2 a mile at 9000' when they stopped and we couldn't find any ore to guide us.

Here's another take-away from the trip. Never follow footprints without knowing if they are on the right path. A couple years ago a PCT hiker lost the trail in the snow up there, then late in the evening found some footprints. Following them eventually led to a single tent just as the sun set. It turned out the person in that tent was also lost. The next morning they both retraced their steps and returned to town.

Thanks for your efforts with the Scouts. I told my unit to call me when they're ready to go backpacking. Not much interest unfortunately.

[bluerail]

you just never know when your following Bozo

[bigfoot_tall]

I'm a little confused - was your goal Round Valley or Little Round Valley? Wellman's Divide is my confusion.

We had originally intended to go to Little Round Valley. Just after Saddle Junction, we realized that we wouldn't make it that far before dark so we decided to try for Round Valley. Just before Wellman's Divide we had to turn around. Sorry for any confusion.

I underestimated the amount of snow that would still be on the south facing slopes above 8500' and we lost the trail just before Wellman's divide. We had been following footsteps in the snow banks for about 1/2 a mile at 9000' when they stopped and we couldn't find any ore to guide us.

Here's another take-away from the trip. Never follow footprints without knowing if they are on the right path. A couple years ago a PCT hiker lost the trail in the snow up there, then late in the evening found some footprints. Following them eventually led to a single tent just as the sun set. It turned out the person in that tent was also lost. The next morning they both retraced their steps and returned to town.

That's why I was watching the daylight closely. I didn't want to be the group wandering in the snow at night. I knew how far we had come and had estimated how long it would take us to get back down if we couldn't go any farther.

Thanks for your efforts with the Scouts. I told my unit to call me when they're ready to go backpacking. Not much interest unfortunately.

I've had a tough time trying to get much interest from my boys to do much with the outdoors. My original group was going to have 8 boys, but I ended up with only 4. Still, those that went learned some valuable lessons.

[asabat]

That's why I was watching the daylight closely. I didn't want to be the group wandering in the snow at night. I knew how far we had come and had estimated how long it would take us to get back down if we couldn't go any farther.

Good job. Too many people get goal driven and forget it's ok to turn around. Some of my most memorable trips are those where we did NOT reach our goal, but either enjoyed the journey or learned more about ourselves in a difficult situation - like hiking in the snow like you did!

[tkvance]

Bigfoot,
Great job on getting out there and letting the 4 scouts experience the outdoors. You are to be commended!

Don't let it get you down that so many bailed on you---I've been a Scoutmaster for 7+ years---and I love to hike, but my troop had NEVER done a hike before I got involved with them. Well, I and the boys planned our innaugural trip 7 years ago---hiking San Jacinto from Humber Park.

Like you, we had 7 or 8 boys planning on going---as the trip neared, they all started coming up with other things to do----the day of the trip, we had 3 more bail on us---so we went with only 1 scout, two adults, and a 17 year old son of one of the leaders. And it turned out to be the best trip---a lot of fun, and it made a huge impression on the one scout who went with us. He later went on to earn his Eagle.

And after that trip, we have gone on generally 7-9 hiking trips a year, and the new boys absolutely love hiking and getting out there.

So don't give up. Once the boys get out on the trail, they have so much fun that they don't want to miss the next hike. And it may not mean a lot to them now, but someday they will appreciate it!!!

Tommy

[bigfoot_tall]

Tkvance-

Thanks for the encouragement. I've been working with this group of boys for a little over a year now. They are a good group of boys. They don't give me too much trouble, but like all boys that age, they are trying to find themselves and discover how they fit into all of what's going on around them.

Like you said, if we can have a positive effect on even just one boy, all the efforts we go through to provide these outdoor, character building experiences are well worth it.