Miracle on Marion

[Ellen]

Howdy All

My San Diego friend Nei posted an exploratory hike to Marion Mt. and the Rockpile on Sat Sept 7 for the San Jacinto hiking club. I eagerly signed up, since I've never hiked up Marion Mountain and many of my friends were going. Also, I was intrigued by the area after reading Hikin' Jim's 7 peak trip report

As the week progressed, hikers started bailing like rats jumping off a sinking ship Although disappointed, I wasn't too surprised as the NOAA forecast was for 50% chance of thundershowers. Marilyn picked me up in Riverside and as we drove up the 243, I made wisecracks about folks being too wimpy to deal with the weather.

We met Nei and Doug Brown at the Deer Springs TH and started up a bit after 7 AM. As we wound around through the lovely forest, I heard what I thought was thunder. Just as we reached the Marion Mt. junction, I was completely surpised to come upon a large group of people who greeted me with "Happy 60th Birthday Ellen!" On closer inspection, I recognized many members of my mountain family -- Lance, Hikin' Jim and Hikin' Joyce, Lilbitmo (Patrick), Karen, Yoli, Cindy, Lindella, Reza, Debbie, Hengst Joe and Indie Jack

We followed Hikin' Jim's lead and gradually made our way cross country up towards Marion Mt. I haven't seen many of these friends for a quite a while and kept moving around to try and catch up with everyone. Karen and Yoli kept such a low profile that I didn't even realize they had come until we'd gained about 500 vertical

It started to rain so we donned rain gear and kept climbing -- many of us still in shorts. Lilbitmo and Nei helped carry Joyce. Thanks to the route finding, the brush wasn't too bad. We finally came to a lovely open area near the peak and stopped. Between the large number of folks and rapidly deriorating weather, we opted to pass on scrambling up to the summit.

I was in a state of dazed bliss and didn't think the day could get any better. Wrong Nei presented me a lovely bottle of single malt Scotch -- I took a wee sip and passed it around. Marilyn broke out yummy brownies. As we celebrated fellowship, food and Scotch, someone noted that this lovely area should have a name. Karen pulled out a summit sign that read "Mt St. Ellen." Nei brought forth a summit box, summit register and photo album.

I signed the register as my friends read the register's dedication aloud line- by-line. At that point, I started crying -- wait, there's no emoticon for "happy crying" There were plans to share stories about some of my more "exciting" hikes -- such as "Falling Girl Canyon" and body surfing down Mill Creek. Sister Sally couldn't reschedule work, Kathryn had picked up a bug from school and Tina Y couldn't find a sitter -- we missed them

It started to rain in earnest and thunder rocked the sky, so the celebration had to be cut short. I joked that San Jacinto had her chance to finish me off five years earlier but had spared me, so we would all be safe. About half the group retraced our route down. The rest of us followed Hikin' Jim down and around Marion, then up and over a ridge to the lovely plateau-ish area between Marion and Newton Drury. We wrapped to the east around Drury and dropped into upper Little Round Valley, where we picked up the trail.

The monsoonal rains had really washed out both Deer Springs and Marion and HJ's cargo was precious so we took our time going down. Hikin' Jim's "Ellen sighting" was confirmed and documented at the Marion junction By the time we reached Jack's car, we were all tired, starving, and the bottle of Scotch was empty Opted for burgers at Joanne's in Idylwild after we saw the glut of cars at Aroma.

Hikin' Joyce was fabulous all day -- what a trooper. Jack and Joe returned Marilyn and I to her vehicle and we headed home.

Apparently this celebration had been in the works for a while -- I was completely thunderstruck. I can't even begin to thank everyone who contributed. This was without a doubt the best birthday party I've ever had in my 60 years on this earth. I am blessed to have such incredible friends.

From the heart,
Ellen

[Hikin_Jim]

For those who might want to visit the newest "lady" of the mountains*, "X" marks the spot on the western flank of Marion Mountain:


Happy birthday, Ellen!

HJ

P.S. There should be a green summit register semi-near the summit. I say "semi" because there was a lightning storm going on, and we spent a minimum amount of time at elevation. The summit is fairly rocky and there's brush, so when we found a little flat clearing, we declared victory, set up the register, took a few photos... and got the heck off the mountain ASAP. Apparently even a sip of Ellen's birthday Scotch wasn't enough keep people on the summit in an electrical storm. Next time I'm up there, I'll have to move it to the exact summit.

*When we thought about a peak to honor Ellen, we thought this one fitting since:
1. There are already three peaks with women's names along the main summit ridge of the San Jacintos (Jean, Shirley, and Marion); a peak named "Ellen" fits right in.
2. It's in a beautiful but lesser visited part of the San Jacintos in a location that really only fairly serious hikers are going to visit -- in other words a perfect peak for honoring Ellen.

The "ladies" of the San Jacintos: Jean, Shirley, Marion, and Ellen.

[Sally]

Wow, it's a miracle that this all came together without Ellen having a clue! Ellen, you have no idea how hard it was to keep it a secret. If only I could have been there to see the look on your face when you bumped into the other participants at the junction, and then got presented with a peak! Party of the century!

All you guys that were there, you MUST post pictures!

Looking forward to summitting Mt. St. Ellen's in the near future!

[Hikin_Jim]

The surprise was actually two-fold: We surprised her at the Marion/Deer Springs Junction with our presence, but she still didn't have a clue that we intended to name a mountain in her honor. You should have seen her face when the summit sign and register were brought out once we had her on top.

Not the least of the good things to come out of this: We've just put a new San Jacinto's destination on the map; a very worthwhile destination I might add.

HJ

[Hikin_Jim]

All you guys that were there, you MUST post pictures!

As you wish...

Here we are at the Marion Mtn Trailhead with it's standard sign:


But what's this? Ah, something new is afoot!


Yes, we've come to the mountains to honor one of our own, the legendary Ellen. And what better tribute than to Christen a summit with her name?

So, we lured Ellen onto the mountain under the guise of "just another hike." But as the day approached, person after person dropped out of the hike.

Here's Ellen explaining how all her hiking friends are "weather wimps" for dropping out of the hike -- just as we one by one (literally) come out of the wood work (or should I say "woods" work?) at the Marion/Deer Springs Junction.

It was pretty funny watching her face as the proverbial "lightbulb came on" and she figured out that a lot of her friends had come together to celebrate her 60th B day.

But she still didn't know what we were really up to, only that a lot of her friends were there. You'd think she'd notice that new peak sign (see photo above), but, no, Karen quickly threw her coat over it.

So, with Ellen only partially enlightened, we all headed up towards Marion Mountain. As we neared Marion, we made a little diversion to the west toward a small, as yet unnamed peak. You should've seen Ellen's face when Nei whipped out the beautiful trail register that Tina Y put together.


This may look like a religious service, but actually Ellen is listening while the inscription inside the trail register is being read.


The inscription:

The members of the Mt. San Jacinto Hiking Club, in celebration of her birthday, dedicate this peak to our dear friend Ellen Coleman. To honor her indomitable spirit, kindness and generosity, mentorship and inspiration, and enduring love of the mountains, we hereby proclaim the peak Mount Saint Ellen’s

Elevation 10,160+ feet
Latitude, Longitude 33.79737, -116.6910

7 September 2013

And of course Ellen was asked to put the first entry in the book.


Then Ellen was presented with a very nicely done photo album of memories of hiking and friendship.


And the peak sign was emplaced.


About this time, the thunder and lightning began in earnest. Ellen, blushing violet that she is, nearly fainted dead away, but fortunately a steely nerved knight in shining Goretex was there to prevent a potential fall.

Uh, steady there Patrick.

Ellen said a few words, and we got the heck off the peak.


Now, for those skeptical among you, I offer the following incontrovertible proof that this was indeed none other than the Ellen Coleman, the one and only.

Ellen sighting status: Confirmed.

HJ

P.S. Thank to everyone who helped me carry Joyce up to Mt. Saint Ellen's. Special thanks to Patrick and Nei who actually took turns carrying Joyce. Here's Nei carrying Joyce:


Nei, I think Joyce really liked you. Right, Joyce? Joyce?


Seriously though, she really did like getting all the "uncle rides".

[James]

Great TR and photos, happy birthday Ellen!

[Cy Kaicener]

What a wonderful trip report from Ellen and pictures from Jim
I have just finished blogging this memorable occasion together with other adventures which I posted on my thread at Summitpost. My previous blog also mentions Ellen's adventure in 2007

http://cys-hiking-adventures.blogspot.com

http://cys-hiking-adventures.blogspot.c ... ssell.html

[lilbitmo]

Want to thank Nei for organizing such a fun day for our good friend Ellen, want to thank Robyn/Robin for all her efforts, want to thank Karen for the summit sign, want to thank everyone that joined in the fun, it was great to finally put some faces with names that I've seen here and on face book. Thanks Nei for including me in this birthday/summit dedication day.

Thanks to Hikin Jim for bringing Joyc(i)e, she said some of the most precious things - "the rain helps things grow", "thunder means there are storms near by" and "I say we go that way"

Here's just a few shots of the fun

Joycie giving me high fives at the summit for getting her to the top - Hikin Jim you don't have to thank me, you have no idea how much of a pleasure it is to see "youngster's getting out" and I'm always saying to other parents on the trail "good for you" and "nice job" so it was with great pleasure that I got to be the mountain goat


A little closer up as Joycie was trying hard to stay dry under the rain flap and she was trying to come out from under all her hair


The summit sign, I meant to use the pen to add the "apostrophe" (S) so it reads Mount Saint Ellen's


Don't know how this "ice pirate sticker" found it's way to the summit on the very first day of dedication but I have a small clue


The very first entries on the Summit of Mount Saint Ellen's new summit register



Hikin Jim and I also ran into Atari2600 (Wi) and Sean from this board just below the Marion Mountain/PCT junction and it was nice to meet you.

Lastly, I hope Doug post's all his pictures he had a really nice camera and I'm guessing those will be outstanding.

Great day all the way around

[greatshaitan]

I like this one!

[Hikin_Jim]

I think we all tend to hold forth when a flask is in hand... but when the mountains start talking back, you've had a wee tad too much.



HJ