gorgonio

MT SAN GORGONIO Backpacking

To be honest, we're starting to get a little tired of writing about failed summit attempts. ...but so many other neat things happened on this trip that we can probably scribble a "full report" without ever mentioning that we didn't even make it half way up the beast our first time around.

Halfway Camp Photo: Phil Rosenkrantz

Having been kept awake by coyotes half the night, we weren't in a particularly cheerful mood when we donned our 50+ lb packs (Ufff!) and took our first tentative steps on the Vivian Creek Trail.
It took an ungodly amount of time to get to Vivian Creek Camp - where we rested, ate and assessed our situation. Several painful hours later, we hobbled into Halfway Camp and conceded defeat.

"Ranger Bob & Ranger Joe"
James and Phil pose for their site photo

Two nice volunteer rangers spent the evening with us, patiently answered all of our questions, advised us about hanging our food ("See, if you can reach the bag, the bear can too"), and reassured us that we would survive the night, even if our food didn't. ;)

Watching Yucaipa Ridge turn all kinds of colors in the setting sun set almost made us forget the day's agony.

A bear cub wandered into our camp the next morning and asked to pose for pictures... quite the frou-frou ending for the trip report!

September 21, we came back with a vengeance... and much lighter packs.

Weather was perfect. Confidence was high. Ascent was brutal. Summit was windy. We was wiped.

Watching the full moon rise just as the sun set finally gave us a clue about why we do these things...

Special thanks to James and Phil for teaching us so much and being such great hosts! And a Big Ole Wander Women Kiss to Phil for plugging our site on Trail Talk, which has sent many fine people our way.

Photo Gallery

LINKS TO:

San Gorgonio Info

more San Gorgonio Info

"Ranger Joe's" Site

club@Wander-Women.com

Gorgeous Gorgonio