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Post by sojourner on Jan 12, 2018 16:00:05 GMT -8
Has anybody ever hiked from Mt. San Antonio (San Gabriel mountains) to Mt. San Gorgonio (San Bernardino mountains)? (or the reverse) If so, what route and trails did you use? I've never heard of it being done before (though I'm sure somebody's had to have done it). Being that these two summits are the tallest in their respective ranges I believe that a hike like this would be a nice SoCal adventure.
Well, I'm considering doing this summit to summit hike this Spring.. My current proposed route going from my home in Oak Hills, CA, to Cajon Pass Junction (the I-15 & CA-138), hike from there along a portion of Section D of the PCT, drop down into Lytle Creek Canyon and up to Mt. San Antonio, from there back down to the entrance of the Cajon Pass at the I-15 & I-215, up into the San Bernardino's by way of Devore, along the southern flanks of the San Bernardino's to Mt. San Gorgonio (I think much of this stretch will be off trail), and finish it up by hiking back home via Section C of the PCT or another trail (I do prefer to take the trails less traveled as much as possible). Though I'm not sure of the exact overall distance, I guesstimate it will be upwards of 220 miles. There are other routes that I am considering too.
But again, I am really curious if anybody has done this before. It just seems like it would be such an obviously worthy hike to do.
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Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 2,008
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Post by Westy on Jan 13, 2018 10:15:48 GMT -8
Check to see if a hiking permit is required for Gorgonio. 30 years ago required a permit even for day hiking.
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Post by sojourner on Jan 13, 2018 11:26:17 GMT -8
Check to see if a hiking permit is required for Gorgonio. 30 years ago required a permit even for day hiking. Thanks for the reply, Westy. I've already been checking into permits. I'd need one for not just the Gorgonio Wilderness, but also the Cucamonga Wilderness. Beyond that I'll need a fire permit for my stove.
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toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795
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Post by toejam on Jan 15, 2018 7:32:45 GMT -8
Sounds like an interesting trip. But you probably know hiking off-trail in southern California is not something you can always do (heck I lost a lot of blood ON a brushy trail Friday). I'd ask the Facebook group "Hiking Our California." Several members have hiked those peaks a lot.
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tarol
Trail Wise!
Redding, CA
Posts: 582
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Post by tarol on Jan 17, 2018 13:01:49 GMT -8
This part would be crazy long and arduous and not particularly scenic: "long the southern flanks of the San Bernardino's to Mt. San Gorgonio (I think much of this stretch will be off trail)"
Instead - I would start at Vivian Creek, hike up San Gorgonio, then go down Fish Creek and hook up with the PCT, and hike it west all the way to above Wrightwood where you can catch the North Backbone Trail to Mt. Baldy, then you can go down the Acorn Trail into Wrightwood. I'd do it as soon as the snow melts on San G so you can maximize your chances of having water along the PCT. Still might have some dry stretches.
(I worked for the Front Country Ranger District of the San Bernardino NF for 8 years...)
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Post by sojourner on Jan 17, 2018 14:37:12 GMT -8
Sounds like an interesting trip. But you probably know hiking off-trail in southern California is not something you can always do (heck I lost a lot of blood ON a brushy trail Friday). I'd ask the Facebook group "Hiking Our California." Several members have hiked those peaks a lot. Instead - I would start at Vivian Creek, hike up San Gorgonio, then go down Fish Creek and hook up with the PCT, and hike it west all the way to above Wrightwood where you can catch the North Backbone Trail to Mt. Baldy, then you can go down the Acorn Trail into Wrightwood. I'd do it as soon as the snow melts on San G so you can maximize your chances of having water along the PCT. Still might have some dry stretches. Toejam, Tarol, thanks for the suggestions. I've pretty much got my heart set on Baldy first, then on to Gorgonio, doing it in one big loop. I can see both peaks from my yard here in Oak Hills, with Baldy being the closest (16 miles as the crow flies, 26 miles by trail transversing the upper Cajon Pass). The San Gabriel mountain portion will be "easy" as the trails are much more straightforward. After summiting Baldy I'll summit Thunder, Telegraph, and Timber mountains in succession, then drop down into Lytle Creek via the Middle Fork trail, from there backtracking up to Cajon Junction and up section C of the PCT into the San Berdo's. I now agree that going the southern flank route of the San Bernardino's is a little ridiculous. Too much paved road, bushwacking, and civilization; and not enough trail. However, there does look to be a network of trails through the center and north side of the SBM range (including section C of the PCT), so I'm thinking of connecting a bunch of them together to create the loop. If I absolutely must, I'll do an out and back on section C; though I prefer to never take the same trail twice as much as possible. I'm spending a lot of time poring over my maps, both paper and online; and the more I do, the more excited I am to do this hike!! Toejam, I found that FB group and sent a join request. Thanks for the head's up!!
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Post by johntpenca on Feb 25, 2018 19:57:12 GMT -8
Late to this party. What about using Icehouse canyon to summit Baldy the Tarol's route to Gorgo. For extra spice, finish with San Jacinto via the PCT.
Sounds like an interesting trip, but as other's point out, if you go off trail you better have a damned good topo and navi skills to avoid cliffing out. As said, whacking bush can slow you to a half mile/hour or less and extract plenty of skin. Not to mention buzz worms.
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