San Gorgonio via South Fork Trail

[Sally]

I had been contemplating taking the South Fork Trail to San Gorgonio all summer and just realized that I'd better do it soon as the days are getting shorter and it's a long hike. So on Wednesday I got on the trail at 6:15 and started up. I didn't see any other people until I got to the Dollar Lake junction where there was an 8-man crew of CC workers clipping back the chinquapin. I wanted to see Dollar Lake but decided to catch it on the way back down.

I reached San G Peak at 11:45 and attempted to eat my lunch, but a couple of determined chipmonks kept lunging at the food in my hands! I finally gave up and tried making a birthday photo for Ellen while the chipmonks continued to try to get into my lunch. After about an hour up there, just as I was packing up to head back down, a pair of guys made their way to the Peak. They would be the last hikers I'd see that day.

At the last minute I decided to take the Sky High Trail down past Dry Lake instead of going back the way I came (missing out on Dollar Lake and adding a mile to my trek.). I passed the airplane wreckage but didn't see the memorial I'd thought had been put there. I was glad I'd come this way because I'd forgotten how beautiful this part of the trail was.

I eventually got to Dry Lake, and it had water in it. About a mile later I got to a spring across the trail and there were zillions of little toads hopping around. I had to be careful not to step on them! The creek at South Fork Meadows was running strong.

Although the trail back was only a mile longer than the trail up, it seemed much longer. I thought I was hiking at a real fast clip but it took me 5 hours to get back. I reached my car at 5:45. The trip was 23 miles. I remember when the trailhead was at Poopout Hill and the hike was just 18 miles - a long time ago!

I had a wonderful day on the mountain as always.
http://picasaweb.google.com/sallymorley ... directlink

[Florian]

Hi Sally,

Nice hike report. Last time i did the same hike my GPS said it was exactly (withing a few hundredths) 12 miles to the summit both via Dollar Lake or Dry Lake. But the Dry lake route down sure did feel a lot longer as you mentioned.

-Florian

[Vnthali]

Hi Sally ,

As always, your trip report was a very interesting and informative read. I think I'm gonna check that side of San G out next year. I think the same pack of chipmonks that were trying to get your lunch were entertaining me and my hiking partner last month.

[Hikin_Jim]

I remember when the trailhead was at Poopout Hill and the hike was just 18 miles.

I have fond memories of driving up to Poopout Hill in our 1965 Chevy Nova with my dad. I remember doing the "just" 18 mile route. I thought 18 was plenty! At 23, it's now an overnighter for me.

HJ

[Sally]

Thank you, Florian. I've always done the loop in a counterclockwise manner because I can't imagine doing all those switchbacks uphill - they seem long enough going downhill!

Hi Tyrus, You will really enjoy that side of the mountain. The chipmonks are so cute - it's hard to resist feeding them.

HJ, I went to a camp in Big Bear every summer in the 60's. We had a hike every week, and at the end of the summer the stronger hikers finished up with "Greyback." They packed us in the "Carryall" and we drove up to Poopout Hill. We called South Fork Meadows "Slushy Meadows." Dollar Lake always had water in it. The 18 miles was plenty for us, too! They would barbeque steaks for the hikers, which was a treat after eating camp food all summer.

The trip last week was the first time I have done the 24 mile loop as a day hike. I've always made an overnighter out of it before.

[Hikin_Jim]

HJ, I went to a camp in Big Bear every summer in the 60's. We had a hike every week, and at the end of the summer the stronger hikers finished up with "Greyback." They packed us in the "Carryall" and we drove up to Poopout Hill. We called South Fork Meadows "Slushy Meadows." Dollar Lake always had water in it. The 18 miles was plenty for us, too! They would barbeque steaks for the hikers, which was a treat after eating camp food all summer.

Ah, now that brings back memories. I didn't even know there was such a thing as "South Fork Meadows" until I was an adult; it was always Slushy Meadows. To Dollar Lake we always took the foot trail instead of the pack trail. You can barely find the foot trail anymore. And from the lake, we'd take the "cut off" trail (which is still pretty followable) to get to Dollar Lake Saddle. The main trail down from the east side of Greyback used to go from Lodgepole Saddle down to Lodgepole Spring. Trail Flats was a side route. Hmm, with the trails that used to exist, it was shorter; maybe it was 16 miles back then. No wonder it feels so long now!!

Sounds like a really good hike, Sally. Good job!

HJ

[MountainKitty]

Chipmunks are persnickety little things, aren't they? LOL. That was a neat report, Sally. I enjoyed reading that and looking at the photos. The route/trail you took looks SO serene. I can only imagine how simultaneously relaxed and excited you were. 23 miles is definitely a lot. I would be VERY surprised if you weren't tired after a trip like that.

Well done! Thanks for sharing!