I was checking out this topo and noted that it has the details that were missing on your map on the hike the other day to describe the line I take up Marion. In the topo below the first meadow on the decent from Wellman's is the meadow I noted that if you skirt the edge of the meadow and the brush to the top of that meadow there is a use trail (along the drainage coming into the top of the meadow) that leads through the Chinquapin. Once through it opens into a fairly open flat area (I believe it is on the topo just above and to the left of the O in Jacinto). From there if you procede to the NE you will head up toward Jean, if you head NW ahead you would ascend to Shirley but if you bear to the west and take a line straight toward the Marion Summit you will hit one very short area of Chinquapin to navigate then it is a straight shot up the ridge line Cross-Country to the summit. This is pretty much a floor of pine needles surrounding boulders and it is a fairly easy ascent that is easy on your feet. You will cross all the false summits between the USGA marked east summit block all the way to the west block. When you get a chance to take it in, let me know what you think of that approach. We've always used it coming up from Devil's Slide and uptoward Wellman's and back or up Deer Springs and across the PCT to the trail up Wellman's. I think it makes for a pretty hike and gets you exposure to both the East and West side of the park.
Hikin_Jim wrote:
Take a look at this graphic:
Note that the summit ridge of Marion Mountain has an east-west orientation and that the spot elevation is positioned on the eastern portion of the summit ridge.
HJ
