Accessing the Gordon Trail....NOT!

[bluerail]

Hi Hal,

I have bumped into you around town a few times over the last years, and we've said hi, but I think kids have kept us both busy.
I used to come into your shop, probably asking as many questions as I could about JTree. Thats where I was spending most of my time in those days.
My kids are too busy socializing now and they do'nt wanna play with me......so, I'm back on the trail. Really hope to see you out there.

Steve

[WOLFDOG]

Hello Hal, spoke to you over a year ago about this trail, but forgot to reply with news. I did go up Os Wit Canyon back in late May and went up to that saddle just west of Eagle's Rest (approx. 2,650 ft.). But to get there, I first went up to the Lykken Trail cutoff, took that trail that forks off to the left and went up to the mouth of Os Wit and and then took a left turn staight up along the eastern flank ridge of Eagle's Rest. When I got up to the top of this ridge, well below Eagle's, I then traversed laterally southward to another ridge overlooking those homes in the hills. Then took a right turn at the top of this ridge and headed northwestward up to this flat spot area below Eagles Rest on the south side (approx. 2,400 ft.) Here I thought I would bump into the Gordon Trail but was disappointed, to only find a BLM Benchmark. So now it was getting late in the day, and had to head home, so I headed up to the saddle, as described above then dropped down into Os Wit on the southern flank of the base of Eagle's Rest Rock. At this point I found a USGS Bronze Benchmark that I stored on my GPS from Groundspeak Geocaching. After that I gradually dropped back into Os Wit where it opens up. Basically, I did one big loop without hitting the Gordon. I know it's there, I must have gotten close. I'm just wondering if that trail juts off to the east of that flat on the west side of Eagles Rest. Anyhow, Hal, I too want to track this trail down. I've been hiking up in these mountains ever since i was a younster living up in Idyllwild. If you and others would like to plan a trek up there on a weekend, let me know. Always better to have more than one when back up there in case of an emergency.

[Pup]

It is I.

You're THAT Hal?!! I remember you back at that old Palm Desert shop! Boy, I sure miss that store.

Your avatar had me fooled since it's such a nice new Jeep in the pic. I remember that old beat up pick-up truck you used to drive!

Hope to see you soon on the trail, Hal. I wonder if you would remember 'Michael' from the (good) old days....

[halhiker]

Hello Hal, spoke to you over a year ago about this trail, but forgot to reply with news. I did go up Os Wit Canyon back in late May and went up to that saddle just west of Eagle's Rest (approx. 2,650 ft.). But to get there, I first went up to the Lykken Trail cutoff, took that trail that forks off to the left and went up to the mouth of Os Wit and and then took a left turn staight up along the eastern flank ridge of Eagle's Rest. When I got up to the top of this ridge, well below Eagle's, I then traversed laterally southward to another ridge overlooking those homes in the hills. Then took a right turn at the top of this ridge and headed northwestward up to this flat spot area below Eagles Rest on the south side (approx. 2,400 ft.) Here I thought I would bump into the Gordon Trail but was disappointed, to only find a BLM Benchmark. So now it was getting late in the day, and had to head home, so I headed up to the saddle, as described above then dropped down into Os Wit on the southern flank of the base of Eagle's Rest Rock. At this point I found a USGS Bronze Benchmark that I stored on my GPS from Groundspeak Geocaching. After that I gradually dropped back into Os Wit where it opens up. Basically, I did one big loop without hitting the Gordon. I know it's there, I must have gotten close. I'm just wondering if that trail juts off to the east of that flat on the west side of Eagles Rest. Anyhow, Hal, I too want to track this trail down. I've been hiking up in these mountains ever since i was a younster living up in Idyllwild. If you and others would like to plan a trek up there on a weekend, let me know. Always better to have more than one when back up there in case of an emergency.

The trail is there and I will find it the next time I have a day off without kid transportation responsibilities. I will post some pictures of it when I get to it.

If I go on a weekend, I will let you know. It looks like my plan to do the whole thing to either Idyllwild or the Tram is off since it looks like we might get some snow this next week. Another trail that I want to explore is that trail pictured on that old map that cuts off the Skyline and drops into Tahquitz near the 1st canyon. I had heard that John, the guy who lives in Tahquitz, uses a trail that drops down near Lincoln Peak to get to Tahquitz. If remnants of that trail can be found and it can be connected with the Gordon Trail, that would make for a nice challenging semi-loop to do when the Skyline is covered in snow and ice.

[halhiker]

It is I.

You're THAT Hal?!! I remember you back at that old Palm Desert shop! Boy, I sure miss that store.

Your avatar had me fooled since it's such a nice new Jeep in the pic. I remember that old beat up pick-up truck you used to drive!

Hope to see you soon on the trail, Hal. I wonder if you would remember 'Michael' from the (good) old days....

The timing chain broke on that old truck (a '68 GMC, what a great truck) and I had to sell it because I couldn't afford to get the engine rebuilt. I bought the Jeep because I hated walking up 4WD roads to get to trailheads. Now, I can drive further so I can hike further.

[magikwalt]

Hi Hal,

Chuck and I took a trip a couple weeks ago up the tram and then down below the Caramba Pools. Thick is the brush below the pools. We have been scouting out the approach to gain access onto the old Gordon Trail. Os Wit is broken and a pure scramble above the box canyon fall where the upside down hanging tree is located. We move upward for another hour and found nothing of a trail.

I think my next visit will be very early morning and right up the drive way to the top of the corporate land. Seems to be the most straight forward way to gain the ridge. Once I have a fix on a piece of the trail then I can adjust the bottom section.

Anyone know a cabin owner on the corporate land??

[halhiker]

Hi Hal,

Chuck and I took a trip a couple weeks ago up the tram and then down below the Caramba Pools. Thick is the brush below the pools. We have been scouting out the approach to gain access onto the old Gordon Trail. Os Wit is broken and a pure scramble above the box canyon fall where the upside down hanging tree is located. We move upward for another hour and found nothing of a trail.

I think my next visit will be very early morning and right up the drive way to the top of the corporate land. Seems to be the most straight forward way to gain the ridge. Once I have a fix on a piece of the trail then I can adjust the bottom section.

Anyone know a cabin owner on the corporate land??

I only wish I did. When I hiked down to the cabins, my friends and I got a ride to our truck from a real cute gal in a Porsche but never got any contact info. Once some of the snow melts, I'm going to take another shot at it on a day that I have no other obligations.

[Ken7]

Do you have an estimate of the distance to and the elevation at the top of Oswit Canyon?

I have not heard of the place named Eagle's Rest. What is it?

Do you have any coordinates that might be helpful, e.g., the top of Oswit Canyon, Eagle's Rest?

[WOLFDOG]

That's the Abe Lincoln peak right?. If so, then does this trail drop down considerably into Tahquitz? It does sound like a good challenge to find and am sure much of it has eroded away. Must take a keen eye to see the remnants that i'm sure of. I'm just wondering if this trail was a switchback fashion or mountain goat straight up/straight down fashion

[halhiker]

Do you have an estimate of the distance to and the elevation at the top of Oswit Canyon?

I have not heard of the place named Eagle's Rest. What is it?

Do you have any coordinates that might be helpful, e.g., the top of Oswit Canyon, Eagle's Rest?

Coordinates that I get off Google Earth for Eagle's Rest is:
33º 16' 25.60" N
116º 34' 15.76" W

That's the top of the ridge right above Eagle's Rest. The rock is very prominent on the ridge and Oswit Canyon is the canyon that is at the end of Murray Canyon Road near the old Canyon Hotel site where the golf course is. It is adjacent to the southern end of the South Lykken Trail.