I was very fortunate to join Tina, Lilbitmo (Patrick), and Zach on a hike up South Fork to Charlton Peak via the Dollar Saddle Colouir. I finally got to meet Miguel (of Snow Creek fame) who was the trip leader as well as Ingrid, Paulo, and Charles.
It was nice to start on dirt and we rapidly reached Poop Out hill. The amount of devastation from the recent avalanche was astonishing and sad. We made our way to South Fork meadows and started up the trail towards Dollar lake. Before long we were at the lake (crampon strap on point) and looking up at Dollar colouir.
I watched with amazement as Miguel and gang flew up the hill. Before long they were out of sight. My guardian angel Tina and Knight Lilbitmo stayed with me and encouraged me on the steep climb. We popped out of the ridge and made our way over to the peak where the rest of the group was waiting. Tina really put things in perspective when she said "picture doing this for seven hours on Snow Creek (from the chockstone to the summit)
We joined the others for lunch on the summit of Charlton and enjoyed the view -- the snow-covered ridge over to Jepson and San Gorgonio was absolutely beautiful. We started to descend -- the plan being to find a nice colouir to glissade down. Before long, Miguel had found our colouir and I had to face my greatest fear and challenge -- a long glissade down a steep slope. This has terrified me since my 2008 hiking misadventure. I've been trying to practice and build my confidence but I was now looking at the longest and steepest glissade I'd ever seen. Let me be very honest here -- it scared the carp out of me.
Bless Knight Lilbitmo, he had me sit behind him, hold on, and took me down the initial (steepest) part of the descent and other scary sections. Then, he and Charles coached me as I practiced sections by myself. Thanks to the coaching and riding behind Knight Patrick I actually started having fun.
We re-grouped at the bottom (upper South Fork meadows) and I apologized to everyone for holding them up. They were very generous and understanding. We headed down South Fork meadows, rejoined the trail, and were pleasantly surprised to find that SGWA (San Gorgonio Wilderness Association) volunteers had cleared the trail of the avalanche debris. This was a huge task -- thank you SGWA!
Once back at the trailhead, I thanked everyone again for their patience and understanding. We regrouped at the Oaks and I treated the group to beverages of choice before saying our farewells.
Thank you, Knight Lilbitmo and Gaurdian Angel Tina, for the gift of your friendship. Thanks also to Miguel, for being a great trip leader and letting me tag along
to Charles, for your glissading guidance, and to everyone else for your delightful company and forbearance.
Miles of smiles,
Ellen
...but I'll be good.
