How about some new routes?

[zippetydude]

Okay, Liz's post on the San G board got me to thinkin' again about doing a double peak - Tram to trail to peak on San J, down the PCT over to San G, then up from Mission Creek - go up Fish Creek trail from where they meet, then either go VC or SF for the easiest exit, or go down the ridge and pop out at the San B trailhead in Angelus Oaks.

Approximate miles Tram to San J = 5.5 San J down Marion Mountain Trail to PCT, PCT down past Fuller RIdge to the trailhead in Snow Creek = 26 miles.

Crossing the alluvial fan to the Cottonwood trailhead on the other side of the freeway = 6 miles (maybe a couple more)

Cottonwood trailhead to Mission Creek camp 27 miles.

So far we're at 64 miles - not going to be easy, and I'd want to have caches in advance and maybe a potential bail out point - say if I'm poopled crossing the 10 fwy. Still, to go, on foot, from San J to San G in a day would be an accomplishment. Even better, do Skyline to San J, then down on foot and San G pure trail as well. Hmmm. Well, the weather is good, I'll post if I do any or all of it.

Sorry about all the speculation. Just looking for new, different routes and maybe someone experienced who can show us the way.

Anyone interestred, or any advice?

z

[Hikin_Jim]

Now, that's ambitious. And you'd do this as a day hike? Or over a couple of days?

[kd]

Funny you mention this because I was thinking of modifying my next Skyline trip.

I live in Hemet, so I was thinking of taking Skyline to the tram (or peak)
then hiking down to Humber Park in Idyllwild.

I have Mountain bike friends who ride down from Idyllwild to Hemet in Bee Canyon I believe. Anyway---if I could orgainize it -- could be fun.
I would have them meet me for the ride dowm.

As it relates to your post---- if you have a lot of downhill, the Mt bike may be a way to avoid the down hill stress on the knees of trail running or hiking, but still keep it trip entertaining.

[zippetydude]

Well, the thought is really just to do a new route that I haven't done before - (I'm thinking about a dayhike/run), but I think that distance is just too much for me.

kd: That's a great idea about the biking. Maybe mix that in the middle from Snow Creek over to the Cottonwood trailhead or something like that. Nice thinking outside the box!

HJ: The real problem is driving distance - I think you run into that as as well. I've done most of what I can find within 50 miles, so now I'm looking at new combinations of old trails.

Other ideas are Kitching Peak (if they'll re-open the road), or maybe going up the south face of San Gorgonio from the Banning Bench, (someone had posted about how to do that at one point). Other than that, I'm kinda running out of ideas. I went up the MCJO, but I thought it was kind of dicey trying to get up to the ridge to explore up there. Thanks for the link on the San G board to the thread about how to get on up to the ridge!

Any thoughts on lesser-known trails that are in the San G or San J area?

z

[Hikin_Jim]

It seems like on an SJ/SG ultra hike you'd have to have some support. Maybe a driver for the Snow Creek to Mission Creek section and perhaps some food and water caches. A worthy and ambitious goal.

It's on my "to do" list to ascend SG from Mission Creek. Looks like an interesting and challenging hike.

There are a lot of old, unmaintained trails in the SGW that are interesting. They can be combined with the maintained trails to make some interesting trips.
UNMAINTAINED TRAILS OF THE SGW
1. John's Meadow to Manzanita Flat
2. Upper Momyer Creek Trail
3. Lower Falls Creek Trail
4. Lower Old Dollar Lake Trail
5. Upper Old Dollar Lake Trail
6. Lodgepole Springs to Zahniser-Lake Saddle Trail
7. Lodgepole Springs to Fish Creek Saddle Trail
8. Old road from Heart Bar Ranger Station to Fish Creek
9. Old road from Aspen Grove to lower Fish Creek Meadows

There are also some interesting "tracks" ("trails" created simply by repeated passages of hikers on a given route; not created by a trail crew)
1. Waterline Track from Alpine Meadows Camp to S Fork Meadows
2. Lower Fish Creek Track
3. Big Tree Track (heavily overgrown at last report)
4. Dry Lake Track (head up drainage instead of trail)

Another fun one in the SGW might be the Grinnell-Fish Creek Loop. Start at the trailhead near S. Fork Campground. Take the trail to Grinnell Camp, proceeding all the way to S Fork Meadows on this trail. From the Meadows, head to Dry Lake, then Lodgepole, and then take the unmaintained trail to Fish Creek Saddle. Descend Fish Creek Saddle and proceed down the trail all the way to Aspen Grove. From Aspen Grove, continue down the trail down Fish Creek, eventually linking up with the Santa Anita River Trail. Turn left on the Santa Anita River Trail and hike the short distance back to your car. I'm pretty sure this could be done in a day by a trail runner, although I think it would be an overnighter (at Lodgepole probably) for a hiker.

Another interesting hike might be the SJ "end to end" where one proceeds generally the length of the SJ's by taking the PCT from the "Palms to Pines" Highway to Snow Creek. Perhaps that could be done in a day? Or maybe with an overnight in Tahquitz Valley with someone who hiked in some extra gear up the Devil's Slide Trail. Nice hike for perhaps June when the days are long.

You could also do a Long Valley circumnavigation. From the Tram, head up the Sid Davis Drainage, then climb the ridge to the vicinity of Cornell Pk (you can't make it up the final part of the summit block w/o climbing equipment), staying on the ridge to bag Miller and San Jacinto Pks, then turn south to Jean and Marion. From Marion, descend to Wellman Divide and proceed down Wellman Divide bagging Landells and Divide Peaks. Below Divide Peak, catch the trail from Hidden Divide back to the tram. Long day, difficult terrain, a bit of class 2 and class 3 terrain, but what a great hike!

Just some ideas,

HJ

[Hikin_Jim]

duplicate post; please disregard/delete

[zippetydude]

It's okay, that was a great post, so it bears repeating!

Seriously though, thanks for such a well thought out post. I appreciate your taking the time to come up with some cool ideas. I'm looking at it right now to see if I can squeeze something in before fall weather actally arrives this weekend!

z

[Hikin_Jim]

I'll be interested in your TR!

[halhiker]

I think doing San Jacinto and San Gorgonio are possible and I think the way you've outlined (Tram to PCT to San G) would be the best way. Going directly up Whitewater hitting the 10,000 Foot Ridge would be too steep and going up Milliard Canyon to Snow Peak, Silverwood Falls and then up has access issues. Don't know if I'd be up for such a long adventure (my longest day is about 35+ miles but it sounds intriguing.

I like Hiking Jim's Long Valley Loop at the Tram but after Divide Peak, I'd throw in Long View Dome just for fun.

[Hikin_Jim]

Hal, which one is Long View Dome? I've not heard that name before.