Onion Rock, Stay Tuned for the Series Finale!

[zippetydude]

Okay, I got so close that I only turned around because it was getting late and I had passed my turnaround time! I could clearly make out a path the rest of the way, which was maybe a mile, and there looked to be only mild bush busting to get there.

Approaching my starting point. The little dot up on the ridge is Onion Rock and the slope coming up and in from the left was my route.


DSCN6525 by zippetydude, on Flickr

My actual starting point was at the burned out residence right at the base of the slope.


DSCN6522 by zippetydude, on Flickr


I went up the slope about a mile to the west Onion Rock and angled to stay on the mildest slope I could find. That wasn't very mild. I gained 3000' in just over 2 miles. This is a view of my path.


DSCN6513 by zippetydude, on Flickr


Once on the slope there are some wonderful rock configurations and great views. The entire topography is dominated by curious ridges of rock, the remnants of dikes in the rock from long ago. They look as if they are the remains of foundations from ancient, long forgotten castles.


DSCN6521 by zippetydude, on Flickr

Gaining the ridge, I found further rock formations. Incredibly, on one huge rock someone had built a tiny casino.


DSCN6515 by zippetydude, on Flickr

Other interesting formations included Mordor Rock:


DSCN6490 by zippetydude, on Flickr


I came across a dark cave in the side of the mountain, and there were large animal tracks and mountain lion scat nearby.


DSCN6486 by zippetydude, on Flickr

Still, not being known for good judgment, I stuck my head into the cave and looked around. Nothing. Good thing no one was there with me to say, "Boo!" just as I looked in. On the way back I came across the charred bones of a large animal, possibly killed just before or during the Silver Fire.


DSCN6500 by zippetydude, on Flickr

From the configuration of the jaw I assume it was a deer


DSCN6507 by zippetydude, on Flickr

but I found a couple of large triangular teeth nearby that looked like they had to be from a carnivore. I looked over my shoulder back at the cave...

So, here's a close up of the rock.


DSCN6480 by zippetydude, on Flickr


Or, if you want a super close view:


DSCN6481 by zippetydude, on Flickr

Anyway, I'll be out of town this weekend but I hope to be back the following weekend and I'll allow more (hopefully enough!) time next time. If I make it through, I'll post and anyone who wants to go up as a group will of course be invited.

Two thoughts: Once I get there, I will want to get on top of that thing. Any rock climbers wanna check that baby out? Also, if I make it to the rock, I might be able to find a reasonable route on up to Black Mountain Road so we don't have to hike back down. The fronts of my thighs are sore from that steep return!

Let me know if anyone is interested in this!

z

[arocknoid]

Thanks for the interesting and entertaining TR, zippety.

Your perseverance ensures success with Teh Onion, success which will be well deserved.
Watch out for ticks, what with all the brush-busting.

(mini casino--hah!!)

kind regards,
arocknoid

[cynthia23]

I seriously looked for the mini-casino, and when I saw it ...I haven't laughed that hard all week. Thanks, I needed that.

Although all my warm feelings of well-being evaporated in the next moment, when I read that you actually STUCK YOUR HEAD IN THAT CAVE!! OMG Zip, you couldn't have paid me a million dollars to do that. I applaud your jauntiness while simultaneously fearing for your sanity. I feel horror just thinking about that cave.

Great TR and photos Zip.

[hvydrt]

Good job zip, Does it look easily climbable? It looks fairly steep in the side seen in the pic. I finally figured out how to get over to Claremont and Dellamont, still need to get to Cabazon Peak and maybe the Onion too!

[Sally]

Nice work, zip! I wish there was something in the photo that I could use as a scale to see the size of the Onion. How tall would you guess the big rock is?

[tekewin]

Really fantastic trip and photos. A wide variety of rock formations.

When I was reading your report about the cave, I thought you were kidding about the lion scat until I saw the bones! Gutsy move, especially solo.

I am guessing that rock is about 30' high. The flake on the left has some fingerholds, but I would test that rock to make sure it is solid. It looks super hard to get up and harder to get down that way. The back side might be more promising with a possible stem move between the large egg shaped rock next to it.

Can't wait for the next report!

[bluerail]

i drove by on the freeway the other day zip and that rock looks little and just right up on the ridge. whats the problem getting to it?

I have to imagine that deer was already down right? Ive seen so many carcasses and parts on the north side. Ania and I ran into one in the sc area that was pretty fresh and still had meat on it. you should have seen the looks on our faces as we realized what we were staring at. for the next half hour we were pretty quick.looks like your having fun over on that side, we should get together after this rain and goof around.

[zippetydude]

Hi all, I'm back in town. Thanks for the fun replies! With regards to size, in the second to last picture there are a couple of pine trees that look to be 30-40 feet high. They appear to be about 1/2 the height of the rock, so I'm guessing 60 feet, maybe as much as 80. I think the back side may be less steep, but I won't know until I can get back there.

Yes, that cave was very spooky when I first saw it. I don't know what it is that drives dumb people like me to go stick their head in, but I knew I was gonna have to take a peak or I'd regret it all the way down.

Yes, Steve, I think (due to the charring on the bones) that the animal had to already have been eaten at least most of the way. As hot as the flames might have been, it seems unlikely that they would have burned away the meat but not been hot enough to destroy the bones as well.

If I make it back up there in the next few days, I'll have a clear path established. Maybe the following weekend, barring something extremely unlikely like a rain storm (!) I'll be able to find a full, through route up to Black Mountain Road. Either way I'll post.

z