Which is the tallest peak (elevation) in So. Cal?

[Hovik]

Hello all,

This is my first post here, thanks for putting this forum together. I was wondering which is the tallest peak in So. Cal? I was always under the impression that it was Mt. San Jacinto, until recently when I was looking at a wall map in my office and saw that it lists SJ at something like 10,7XX and then I saw Mt. Gregornio at 11, XXX (I don't remember the exact figures). So is the map wrong or is it Mt. Gregornio?

I've asked a few other hikers and they too always heard that it was SJ. Now I'm wondering. I tried searching on Mt. Gregornio and there is disappointingly little information available online.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Cy Kaicener]

Its San Gorgonio at 11,499 ft give or take a few feet which is almost 700 feet higher than San Jacinto. http://www.sgwa.org/trails2.htm
San Jacinto feels higher if you hike it from Palm Springs

[halhiker]

San Gorgonio is definitely the highest peak in So Cal but I have seen it's height listed as either 11,499 or 11,501. The topo reads 11,499 but if you Google san gorgonio and 11,501 you'll come up with a lot of sites which say it's that elevation. Wikipedia says it's 11,502.

Now I know the topo says San Jacinto is 11,804 but the summit says it's 10,834 and that's supposed to be based on new GPS measurements. I wonder if someone on San Gorgonio is measuring the wind breaks at the top or it there's new info since the topo was issued.

Hal

[Hovik]

Thank you both for your prompt responses. A few weeks ago we did the San Antonio summit *sadly* for our first climb of the year, and are trying to decide which peak to do next weekend. We took the chair-lift up to the lodge and hiked from there to the summit of San Antonio and back, which at the lodge they say is 8.2 miles R/T.

I've heard that San Jacinto from the tram to the summit is about 11 miles R/T. And I have no idea for Gorgonio, anyone know?

Any tips about the difficulty of these two different climbs would be appreciated so we can decide. Thanks!

Hovik

[TRumble24]

I'd do San J from the tram, it is right around 11 miles and the view from the peak is spectacular on a clear day, and like is mentioned alot on this board, there is a bar available at the end for a tall cool one ! San G can be accessed from multiple trails, the most popular I would say is the Vivian Creek trail which is a stiff climb. I recently did the Fish Creek trail to the peak of San G and I would not reccomend it unless your up for a realllllly long walk and a loong day. 22 miles, but the trail head is around 8500 feet (and also at the end of a very long and very rough dirt road, you need a vehicle with high ground clearance and/or 4x4 to pass it) so if you do math you can see you spend lots of time winding around slowly gaining elevation. I found the trail to actually be kind of annoying due to its slow and winding approach. Coolest part though is about half way to the peak there is wreckage from a cargo plane crash circa WW2 strewn across the trail, it's a very interesting sight. If you do San G I'd reccomed Vivian Creek.

[halhiker]

I would agree with the assessment of doing the Tram to San Jacinto first. It's a great hike with what think is the best view from any peak in So Cal. I would differ, however, in my suggestion of a hike for San Gorgonio. I've done all the trails there and think that for a first hike the Dry/Dollar Lake loop from Jenks Lake is the best one to do. You see more of the mountain that way and there is none of the shin bone compressing downhill of the Vivian Trail. It's longer in mileage but a fairly moderate grade. I've made it to the summit in less than three hours before although I go X-country a bit to avoid the long, stupid traverse around the south side of the summit. Also, being on the north side of the mountain allows you to stop of at that little restaurant in Angeles Oaks for a burger and a beer before the drive home.

Hal

[guest]

There's was some high tech device on San Jac peak Sat, I believe it said U of AZ on it, so maybe we'll get even more exact altitude info on it, not that it matters to me, but it must to somebody.

ss

[Hovik]

Well I think I'll take your excellent advice and plan Gorgonio for a few weeks down the road, this weekend we'll do SJ... I'll be coming from the Ontario, so out the 10E. Which road will take me to wherever I park for the tram? Will my forest adventure pass (same used for Baldy) suffice for parking? Thanks!

[halhiker]

Take I-10 East to Hwy. 111 (Palm Springs) exit. Follow 111 (one-eleven locally) to the Tramway Road. On the right hand corner there is the Palm Springs Visitors Center. You can't miss it. It is an Alfred Frey creation and have these big wings for a roof. For years it was a gas station. Turn right and follow the STEEP road to the Tram parking lot. Parking is free. It is not Forest Service property so no pass is needed.

The first Tram goes up at eight a.m. and it's best to make that or at least get there as early as possible. The Tram gets busier as the day goes along and a lot of tourist come to town every weekend. Despite the heat the place is packed on weekends and the Tram is the number one tourist attraction.

Have a great hike. The weather should be great.

Hal

[Hikin_Jim]

I've put this quotation out before, but for those of you who haven't seen it, here's at least part of why the peak elevations seem a little "fluid" these days:

An interesting factoid from http://www.peaklist.org:

Note that elevation values on the USGS topographic maps are based on an earlier vertical datum, NAVD29 which is no longer in use. New sources of digital elevation data rely on NGVD88; based on a different methodology for measuring the geoid. The geoid is the theoretical shape of the earth where the specific gravity is held constant. NGVD88 is the basis for GPS elevations. The transition from NAVD29 to NGVD88 will result in higher elevations of most of America's mountains. In California this seems to mostly vary from 1-15 feet. For example, Mt. Whitney, previously 14,495' (although the topographic map says 14,491' in error), now measures 14,505' under the new datum.

Richard Carey and Aaron Maizlish have both researched new elevation values for most of California's P2000 summits (those with NGS or USGS vertical control benchmarks.) In addition, surprisingly, investigation by Aaron Maizlish demonstrates that as many as 25% of the benchmarks are recorded as being originally placed anywhere from 1' to 20' below the true natural summit of a peak. Thus, even under the old NAVD29 system, printed elevations were often under-reported on USGS maps. The maps indicated the elevation of the benchmark, not necssarily the highest natural point on the summit. The combination of these two error bounds will result in some surprising new elevation values, which should be considered more authoritive than widely publicized USGS map derived values.