To rephrase the SuperBowl Disneyland advertisement -- "Ellen, you've done Skyline three times in the last seven days, where are you going now?"
Forget Disneyland, I'm going up the Big Draw
I've always wanted to go up the Big Draw on San Gorgonio. Two hardy friends -- John and Cindy -- kindly agreed to take me up on Sunday. Who do we run into in the Southfork trailhead parking lot but CalicoCat Jim
Turns out he's also doing the John Muir trail this summer. He's starting over a week earlier as well as going a lot faster and further each day 
I was a sponge and listened to his plans for food, pack, tent, clothing, etc.
Right as we reached Southfork meadows, I heard my name being called. It was Lcpl Hughes and Wild! They were heading out after camping at Dry Lake (right now it has ample water). Gave them quick hugs and continued up. We headed up the snow-free left side of Christmas tree hill, then made our way through the rocky and brushy moraines. Once we reached solid snow below the Jepson bowl, we donned crampons.
The snow was in incredible shape -- enough of a crust underneath the new dusting for great contact but not icy. Cindy led, creating very nice footsteps for me to follow. As we climbed, the Big Draw became steeper. I was very grateful for Cindy's "stair case" so that I could concentrate on my climbing technique and not have to deal with route finding. At last, we were on the ridge and I was officially no longer a Big Draw virgin
Thanks again to Cindy, John and Jim for the great suggestions on climbing techniques.
Headed up to Jepson to get the obligatory summit photo and sign the register. Of course Cindy hadn't had enough fun, so we headed over to San Gorgonio
The was the first time in my four trips this year that there was no wind. I was able to eat lunch at the summit in my tee-shirt 
Alas, we did have to descend 
While my climbing confidence has improved, I'm still working on my glissading. John and Jim quickly disappeared from view. Cindy kindly stayed with me until I felt comfortable enough to glissade at a speed faster than a slow walk We were able to glissade from 11,300 to 9,700 ft.
On the way back to Christmas tree hill, we wound up in the middle of a large glacial rock field. As I was trying to balance and go from rock to rock (not always successfully), I kept thinking of HJ's "glacial chop country" trip report. We thought this couldn't go on much longer but it seemed to last forever. I felt like I was trapped in an episode of "The Flintstone's"
My first trip, it was the Bloody Bog and now I'm toiling away at the Slate Rock and Gravel Company 
I will never take dirt for granite again.
Finally, we escaped the rock quarry hell and made our way down the ridge back to beloved Southfork meadows. From there, it was an uneventful trip back to our cars. Enjoyed my first burrito at Chipotle's before heading home a very happy and tired hiker.
Miles of smiles,
Ellen
