Couple friends and I are wanting to explore Whitewater to San Gorgonio week of Thanksgiving if we get all: necessary information, safety first of course, weather cond. on this week, snow on the mountain...etc.
There are no official route/trail other than the following:
The Official Trails:
>>> Whitewater >> PCT >> Fish Creek Trail >> Sky High Trail >> SG >> Vivian Creek Trail >> Big Falls... (However, I believe part of PTC after Whitewater and Fish Creek Trails are closed due to fire we had couple yrs back).
We've been doing some research using CalTopo Map and Google Map/Earth.
The Google Map/Earth shows ridge-top route looks better than the tree-filled canyon bottom, but we've learned to be skeptical when planning off-trail routes with Google Earth. Their high quality ground imagery looks so realistic it's tempting to trust what you're seeing on the screen in views like the some of following images:
Whitewater to SG Images:
Google Earth:
Caltopo:
WW 2 Ascent Option 1;
Ridgetop;
3D Images:
The catch is that their elevation data is much less precise than the resolution of the photos. Notice the nice rounded shape along the ridge-top in the screen-shot above? That's often the result of interpolation from coarse elevation data. The reality could be far less appealing.
Another issue is that the ridge-top, some areas show a lot of standing trees, fallen trees and low shrub ground cover.
Permit Info:
1. one permit for Whitewater
2. one permit for SG
If you attempt this hike within last couple years, could you please share your GPS track, photo, information you have... any feedback greatly appreciated!! Thank you.
