Hiker missing on Vivian Creek trail

[zippetydude]

Strange things happen in the wilderness.

This isn't the first time we've seen parties separate, then one of them get lost. The irony here is that the person "leading" the hike got lost after he left his party behind at the peak.

Incidentally, if he was going to meet them at the bottom anyway, what's the hurry? In fact, in order to get lost, he must have breezed past the second sign (coming down from the summit) which clearly indicates where Vivian Creek is. Maybe if he had been traveling at a normal pace with his group...

Anyway I'm glad he's okay. I hope this was a valuable learning experience for him.

z

[Hikin_Jim]

The Momyer Trailhead is on the left as you approach the Vivian Creek trailhead on Valley of the Falls Road in Forest Falls. I have walked between the trailheads on the road several times in finishing up 9 Peaks hikes and the distance is less than 1.5 miles.

Is it reallly that close?

Interesting. I just Googled it, and it is about that close. Google marks as 2.1 miles from the end of the road (Vivian T.H.) to the Momyer TH parking lot. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=11359627652827181395,34.086623,-116.915005&saddr=34.079358,-116.883073&daddr=Valley+of+the+Falls+Dr+%4034.086623,+-116.915005&mra=mi&mrsp=0,1&sz=15&sll=34.082486,-116.874704&sspn=0.026089,0.03695&layer=c&ie=UTF8&ll=34.081882,-116.899252&spn=0.026089,0.03695&t=h&z=15&cbll=34.082486,-116.874704. I had it in my mind that it was more. Good to know it's that close.

[Hikin_Jim]

Strange things happen in the wilderness.

This isn't the first time we've seen parties separate, then one of them get lost. The irony here is that the person "leading" the hike got lost after he left his party behind at the peak.

Incidentally, if he was going to meet them at the bottom anyway, what's the hurry? In fact, in order to get lost, he must have breezed past the second sign (coming down from the summit) which clearly indicates where Vivian Creek is. Maybe if he had been traveling at a normal pace with his group...

Anyway I'm glad he's okay. I hope this was a valuable learning experience for him.

z

I wonder if he was leading only in the sense that he was ahead of everyone else.

If he was on the trail that leads to the Momyer trailhead, then he was quite a ways off, and yes, he must have breezed past the 2nd sign.

For enquiring minds, a map is linked below where:
S=Summit of San Gorgonio
R="1st Turn Off" (Sky High Trail)
Q="2nd Turn Off" (Vivian Creek Trail)
P="3rd Turn Off" (trail leading down to Momyer trailhead)

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=34.09915,-116.87393&z=14&t=T&marker0=34.08714%2C-116.91492%2C5.1%20mi%20W%20of%20San%20Gorgonio%20Mountain%20CA&marker1=34.08833%2C-116.91415%2C5.0%20mi%20W%20of%20San%20Gorgonio%20Mountain%20CA&marker2=34.09114%2C-116.91575%2C5.1%20mi%20W%20of%20San%20Gorgonio%20Mountain%20CA&marker3=34.09302%2C-116.92060%2C5.1%20mi%20S%20of%20San%20Bernardino%20National%20Forest%20CA&marker4=34.09567%2C-116.91912%2C4.9%20mi%20S%20of%20San%20Bernardino%20National%20Forest%20CA&marker5=34.10134%2C-116.91075%2C4.5%20mi%20S%20of%20San%20Bernardino%20National%20Forest%20CA&marker6=34.10525%2C-116.90502%2C4.3%20mi%20S%20of%20San%20Bernardino%20National%20Forest%20CA&marker7=34.10326%2C-116.90354%2C4.3%20mi%20W%20of%20San%20Gorgonio%20Mountain%20CA&marker8=34.09823%2C-116.90129%2C4.2%20mi%20W%20of%20San%20Gorgonio%20Mountain%20CA&marker9=34.09386%2C-116.90088%2C4.2%20mi%20W%20of%20San%20Gorgonio%20Mountain%20CA&marker10=34.09379%2C-116.89224%2C3.7%20mi%20W%20of%20San%20Gorgonio%20Mountain%20CA&marker11=34.09457%2C-116.88827%2C3.5%20mi%20W%20of%20San%20Gorgonio%20Mountain%20CA&marker12=34.11138%2C-116.87878%2C3.0%20mi%20WxNW%20of%20San%20Gorgonio%20Mountain%20CA&marker13=34.11443%2C-116.87621%2C2.9%20mi%20WxNW%20of%20San%20Gorgonio%20Mountain%20CA&marker14=34.11852%2C-116.87127%2C2.8%20mi%20WxNW%20of%20San%20Gorgonio%20Mountain%20CA&marker15=34.11827%2C-116.86054%2C2.2%20mi%20WxNW%20of%20San%20Gorgonio%20Mountain%20CA&marker16=34.10118%2C-116.83424%2C0.4%20mi%20W%20of%20San%20Gorgonio%20Mountain%20CA&marker17=34.10111%2C-116.83080%2CSan%20Gorgonio%20Mountain%20CA&marker18=34.09908%2C-116.82479%2CSan%20Gorgonio%20Mountain%20CA

FIGHT ON, I know you've been wanting to know about this trail, so more points:
A=Trailhead parking lot
B=Approx. point where trail begins after crossing Mill Cr.
C=Approx. point where trail joins trail marked on topo map
D=Approx. point where new Momyer trail joins old Momyer trail
F=Momyer Cr. Tr./Alger Creek Trail Junction
G=Spring under cedar tree on Alger Creek Trail
H=Alger Creek Trail Camp (correct location)
I=Alger Creek Trail Camp (incorrect) as marked on USDA/USFS topo.
J=Junction with Lower Falls Creek Trail (abandonded)
K=Junctio with Upper Falls Creek Trail (maintained)
L=Dobbs Cabin (site) and Dobbs Trail Camp
M=Saxton Trail Camp
N=Side Trail that no longer exists
O=Last water before Dollar Lake Saddle

[AlanK]

Jim -- Perhaps my memory is going in my old age. I will look at actual GPS mileages when I'm at home. But I am unlikely to argue with Google. We were feeling good when we did 9 Peaks last summer and maybe I just couldn't believe it was 2 whole miles.

At least we agree what side of what road it is on!!!

What were we talking about again?

[FIGHT ON]

Jim -- Perhaps my memory is going in my old age. I will look at actual GPS mileages when I'm at home. But I am unlikely to argue with Google. We were feeling good when we did 9 Peaks last summer and maybe I just couldn't believe it was 2 whole miles.

At least we agree what side of what road it is on!!!

What were we talking about again?

We were trying to figure out based on the news if that guy was half hydrated or half dehydrated.

[FIGHT ON]

A? NOT B? B being the pack trail. A, being the unnamed trail.
http://mapper.acme.com/

FIGHT ON, your map link points to locations on the north side of SGW. Momyer is on the south side of SGW, almost within sight of Vivian. What did you mean?

Rob.
I'm not sure what happened. I posted the map with two letters on it. one pointing to the "pack trail" and the other to the trail that branches off to the left. I was just guessing because I could not find a trail with that name on it.
Then I saw Tinabalinas request for directions to Vivian Creek from Riverside and posted what I thought was a different map with the arrow pointing to the parking lot at the end of the road. Don't know how that happens.