Thursday, after work, I decided to take a little drive over to the SGW as a part of a planned ascent of Ten Thousand Foot Ridge.

Good thing I had reservations at the San Gorgonio "Hilton."


Just before dawn the following day.


First light of dawn on the high country.


South Fork of the Santa Ana River.


Dry Lake, first look.


Dry Lake.


Ascending the flanks of Lake Peak.


The view from the east ridge of Lake Peak. That's San Jacinto Peak.


My objective, the high point of Ten Thousand Foot Ridge.


Bighorn Mountain, left, and San Gorgonio Mountain, right, both over 11,000 feet (3350m) in elevation, the number three and number one, respectively, highest peaks in Southern California. Note glacial moraines.


(Continued...)

(...Continued)

Approaching the high point of Ten Thousand Foot Ridge.


On the summit of Ten Thousand Foot Ridge.


Descending.


Back at Dry Lake.


Whoever said that Southern California doesn't have any decent scenery needs to get out more often! (click to view high res).


Bidding the high country farewell.


All in all, a very fine day of real hiking, of getting off into the back country. The summit register recorded only one other visit besides my own since the previous fall. The high point of Ten Thousand Foot Ridge is remote country indeed. I saw not one person all day, and this in an area home to some 15,000,000 people.

HJ

Awesome Jim. Your photos and writeups are invaluable. Could you provide a little more detail? Where along 38 did you park? Thanks.

Beautiful!!!

Jim, where is the stove shot? Not a complete report without your thoughts on the latest Flamethrower II.....

Thanks guys. It's a beautiful area, well worth visiting. Perhaps my favorite in Southern Cal. It's also well watered, which makes for lighter weight travel.

As for a stove, I have a couple of stoves that I consider my "workhorse" stoves, stoves that I turn to on a regular basis for just "ordinary" trips where there aren't any special considerations: my old Svea 123 and my MSR Whisperlite. This trip was a Whisperlite trip. Didn't photo the stove since it was just a lowly Whisperlite, but let me tell you that hot oatmeal and hot cocoa sure hit the spot on that chilly morning!

The spot I pulled off Hwy 38 was past where the highway crosses the Santa Ana River but just before where Fish Creek comes in. It's pretty tricky to spot. An easier to spot location to do "dispersed" camping is in the East Flats area off of Jenks Lake Road East.

HJ

Awesome pictures. I really appreciate these posts of yours.

What steps do you take to make yourself easy to find, if people need to look for you?

Well, first and foremost, I file a trip plan with (typically) my wife. Generally, the trip plan lists what I'll be wearing, what kind of gear I have, and my expected time of return. I also list what car I'll be driving and where I plan to park. As a part of the trip plan, I leave a pretty detailed route map.

I try to buy brightly colored jackets. As a last resort, I carry a PLB.

HJ

Nice. I assume you also have a whistle and a mirror. I've never done this, but I've read that the SAR teams like it if you step on a piece of tin foil and leave the resultant footprint visible in your car to make yourself easier to track.

Ah, yes, good points. I have a whistle around my neck and a second whistle in my PSP. I also have a signal mirror in my PSP.

If I feel it's safe in terms of burglaries, I often leave a note on my dash board stating where I'm going and when I'll return.

I also carry fire making materials in the event I have to make a signal fire. I think signal fires are underrated. If you want attention in Southern California, just light a fire. BUT light the forest on fire, and you'll be public enemy #1. Fire is the proverbial two edged sword here in S. Calif.

HJ

I can't speak for them but this is apparently so. It is one of the things they teach in the Hug A Tree and Survive program. I am currently looking for someone in SAR in the Eastern Kentucky area who is familiar with the program and can teach it at our cub scout roundtable meeting for june.

BTW, nice pics HJ. That is some beautiful country.

You're very welcome; glad you enjoyed them.

Hope you find someone to teach your scouts. Have you tried contacting maybe your local County Sherriff's Dept? They coordinate SAR here. If not, perhaps a State or National Park or Forest ranger's office?

HJ

Thanks, "other" Jim.

If I get a chance, maybe I'll post a few more pix. It's really a beautiful area. It's my personal favorite in all of Southern California. Glacial Lakes (three), seventeen peaks over 10,000 feet, significant zones with no trails or only abandoned trails -- what's not to like?

HJ

Awesome shots Jim!I have to commend your Photo-Zen Everytime as,It just get's better & better.Dry Lake isn't All that dry is it,lol?I remember being there in the summer,some many yrs ago,& Got eaten alive by the black flies but No skeeters or ticks either!Thanks for the escape!

Hi, Rich,

Glad you enjoyed them. Plenty more where that came from: slideshow with captions including wild San Gorgonio style Cinco de Mayo party.  

HJ