San Gorgonio Backpacking Trip
May 2006
Ted, Miguel, Dave, and I went on a 3 day backpacking trip up San Gorgonio Mountain in late May, 2006. We explored the Big Falls area of Forest Falls before heading up the Vivian Creek Trail on day one. We spent the first night up at Vivian Creek Camp. The second day we set up camp at High Creek before hitting the summit that evening. We headed back out on the third day. Unfortunately the views weren't very good due to abundant smog drifting in from the Inland Empire.
Miguel looks on as Ted attempts to scale some polished rock at Big Falls.
AutoTed shows off his latest trick... AutoClimb, shortly followed by AutoFall!
The hidden middle fall in the Big Falls series.
Left to right: Ted, Dave, and Miguel at Big Falls.
Miguel takes in a deep breath of "Fresh Air..." air that is directly imported from the beautiful Inland Empire. Happiness is 2SM in HZ!
The hidden section of Big Falls.
A large downed Ponderosa in the meadows of Vivian Creek.
Sunset from the ridge above our camp at Vivian Creek.
I believe this is Little San Gorgonio Peak on the Yucaipa Ridge.
Night falls upon us!
No campside visits from man eating creatures or space aliens overnight means Ted wakes up a Happy Camper!
Tent-side cascade along Vivian Creek.
Same shot, just slightly crooked like so.
There is only one drawback to sleeping next to a waterfall... and I'm sure we can all guess what that is... an early morning wake-up call courtesy of Mother Nature!
Miguel and Dave go over the map while resting in the shade of a pine.
The north face of Galena Peak along the Yucaipa Ridge.
Miguel and Dave take a rest on a ridge above High Creek.
Dave looks up toward the summit.
The three amigos ponder our route on the map.
The summit of San Gorgonio (11,499 ft) draped in prayer flags.
The summit ridgeline... north face still covered in snow.
Obligatory Summit Shots. C'est Moi!
AutoTed
Muy Peligroso Senior Miller
Dave the triumphant
Three NWS Meteorologists taking in-situ measurements at ~650 mb... happy to report, no tstorms this day.
Ted descends across a snow field just above timberline.
A lesson in Flash Flooding. This is Mill Creek Canyon, home to the very vunerable town Forest Falls. On either side are steep canyon walls that tower thousand of feet above the canyon floor. In the background is the headwall of Mill Creek Canyon and the steep face of Galena Peak. There is a reason there are now flood sirens installed in town! Head for higher ground!
SO CONCLUDES ANOTHER EXCELLENT ADVENTURE