Monthly Archives: May 2013

Weekend at Kelly Camp

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I spent last weekend at Kelly Camp. Fortunately I hiked there the week before and already knew there is no water at Kelly Camp. So I already planned my hikes around getting water at Columbine Spring prior to going. This trip was mostly about testing gear and getting more familiar with backpacking for some of the people I’m going to Mt. Whitney with at the end of July.

Icehouse Canyon Trail near Columbine Spring.

Icehouse Canyon Trail near Columbine Spring.

The weather Friday was cloudy and I was a little apprehensive that it might rain as the clouds were threateningly dark. Etienne and I hiked through the mist up to Icehouse Saddle where we finally got a glimpse of blue sky shortly after hearing some thunder. The clouds were making it up the canyon and I wasn’t sure if we were above them as much as we were ahead of their path.

Clouds breaking up as seen from the Ontario Peak Trail between Icehouse Saddle and Kelly Camp.

Clouds breaking up as seen from the Ontario Peak Trail between Icehouse Saddle and Kelly Camp. (click to enlarge)

At the saddle we contemplated turning back as neither of us was enthusiastic about the prospect of spending the night in the rain. As we were considering our options it appeared that the clouds were breaking up. So we decided to stay the night. Although it was sunny at first at Kelly Camp, mist periodically made it up the mountain with the wind. Fortunately, a little mist was the extent of the moisture we experienced. It got windy and cold early and we sought shelter in our tents much earlier than if it was warmer.

View toward the clouds from the Cucamonga Peak Trail.

View toward the clouds from the Cucamonga Peak Trail.

On Saturday we hiked down to Icehouse Saddle and headed up the Cucamonga Peak Trail. When we got to the saddle between Buckhorn Peak and Cucamonga Peak we got our first view of the cloud cover below which extended below us as far as we could see. It was a great view that we saw numerous times going up the switchbacks of the trail. However, the clouds looked like they might make their way up the mountain at some point which I would have been more excited about as a possibility if I wasn’t planning to spend another night at Kelly Camp.

View toward Mt. San Gorgonio and Mt. San Jacinto from Cucamonga Peak with clouds breaking up.

View toward Mt. San Gorgonio and Mt. San Jacinto from Cucamonga Peak with clouds breaking up.

We stayed at Cucamonga Peak for a while cooking lunch, enjoying the view, and watching the clouds break up yielding the sunny day the weather report predicted. We made it back down to Columbine Spring ahead of schedule so I hiked with Etienne down to the lower  junction with the Chapman Trail where I met my wife and our friend Lorenzo.

View toward Mt. Baldy from the Cucamonga Peak Trail. (click to enlarge)

View toward Mt. Baldy from the Cucamonga Peak Trail. (click to enlarge)

While Etienne hiked down to the trailhead, the three of us the hiked up to Columbine Spring to get water for the night and next day. We then made it up to a sunny Kelly Camp and enjoyed a much warmer night.

Ontario Peak Trail between Kelly Camp and the saddle with Buckhorn Peak.

Ontario Peak Trail between Kelly Camp and the saddle with Buckhorn Peak.

On Sunday we were on the trail around 7:00 enjoying the fantastic morning light on the way to Ontario Peak where we stayed a while to snack and enjoy the view.

Kyle enjoying the view from Ontario Peak and Debbie trying to text out daughter. (Photo by Lorenzo)

Kyle enjoying the view from Ontario Peak and Debbie trying to text our daughter. (Photo by Lorenzo)

After that we hiked to Bighorn Peak which provided excellent training going up the final steep slope to the peak and contending with windy conditions that we didn’t experience anywhere else that day.

From Buckhorn Peak we went back to Kelly Camp, cooked lunch, and packed up for our trek back down Icehouse Canyon.

Photos of Cucamonga Peak Trail (multiple trips)

Photos from Cucamonga Peak (multiple trips)

Photos of Ontario Peak Trail (multiple trips)

Photos from Ontario Peak (multiple trips)

Photos of Bighorn Peak Trail (multiple trips)

Photos from Bighorn Peak (multiple trips)

Overnight on Mt. San Gorgonio

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Last year I had to turn back at Anderson Flat long before reaching my goal of summiting Mt. San Gorgonio due to my inability to find water. Disappointed as I was, it was clearly the right choice not to summit. I photographed my last look at the peak from that trip while thinking about returning someday to reach the summit.

Last view of Mt. San Gorgonio in August 2012 (East San Bernardino Peak to the left)

Last view of Mt. San Gorgonio in August 2012 (East San Bernardino Peak to the left)

I returned on Monday. When I started up the Vivian Creek Trail I had no intention of spending the night on the summit. My plan was to spend the night at Dry Lake View Camp after summiting. However, my progress up the mountain was slower than anticipated in part due to weighing down my pack with lots of extra water from High Creek Camp (I didn’t want a repeat of last year). By the time I had a clear view of the peak and a sense of how much further I needed to go, I knew I would be chasing light to both summit and make it to my planned destination.

View of Mt. San Gorgonio from the Vivian Creek Trail--Jepson Peak on the left. (click to enlarge).

View of Mt. San Gorgonio from the Vivian Creek Trail–Jepson Peak on the left. (click to enlarge).

My prior experience in the San Gorgonio Wilderness had me concerned that I might pass the campground without noticing it as the campgrounds aren’t always clearly delineated and campground signage (that I’ve seen so far) is subtle if it even exists. I started thinking about last year’s experience and whether or not I should risk trying to locate Dry Lake View if I couldn’t reach it before dark. It was at this point that I starting considering spending the night on the summit.

Approach to the summit as viewed from the campsite I eventually chose to spend the night. (click to enlarge)

Approach to the summit as viewed from the campsite I eventually chose to spend the night. (click to enlarge)

I reached the junction where I needed to decide whether or not to summit early enough that is was still possible that I could both summit and make it down to the campground. The weather conditions were excellent. I was still warm enough to be in short sleeves, the sky was mostly clear, and there was very little wind. Being so close to the summit, I didn’t want to miss it a second year in a row, so I headed up. On my way I started seeing numerous clearly defined and level campsites with wind breaks made of rock.

View looking at my campsite --notice the shaped tarp on the left. (Click to enlarge).

View looking at my campsite –notice my shaped tarp on the right. (Click to enlarge).

While I was exploring the summit and seeing so many great campsites, the thought of rushing down to try and make it to another campground before dark was unappealing. So, I decided to set up camp.

View looking back toward my campsite (between bumps) on Mt. San Gorgonio.

View looking back toward my campsite (between bumps) on Mt. San Gorgonio.

No longer in a rush, I savored the rest of the night on the summit walking around and watching the changing light as the sun went down. I found several vantage points to watch it disappear from view.

Sunset from in front of the bump on Mt. San Gorgonio where I ate dinner.

Sunset from in front of the bump on Mt. San Gorgonio where I ate dinner.

I found a spot with a great view of the sunset where I ate my dinner and enjoyed watching the lights come on in the city below.

Night view from the summit.

Night view from the summit.

The rest of the night I enjoyed looking up at the stars and down at the city lights from a variety of spots.

View toward Mt. San Jacinto from the Sky High Trail

View toward Mt. San Jacinto from the Sky High Trail (click to enlarge)

The following day I continued my traverse of Mt. San Gorgonio by heading down the Sky High Trail where the views were breathtaking.

View of Dry Lake with Mt. San Gorgonio in the background.

View of Dry Lake with Mt. San Gorgonio in the background.

I met my friend Scott at Dry Lake.We hiked down the Dry Lake Trail and then the South Fork Trail and Scott drove me back to my car at the Vivian Creek Trailhead on the other side of the mountain.

Photos of the Vivian Creek Trail

Photos of Mt. San Gorgonio

Photos of the Sky High Trail

Photos of Dry Lake / The Dry Lake Trail

Photos of the South Fork Trail

Favorite Places #2: Inconspicuous Trail Camp Near Mt. Baldy

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I must have hiked the Baldy Bowl Trail 6-7 times before exploring a spur trail off the official trail (between the ski hut and Mt. Baldy) that looked like it would be an interesting place to go. If you’ve ever hiked the Baldy Bowl Trail, I’m pretty sure you’ve thought about going there too. Unnamed and unmapped (at least as far as I know), it leads to an inconspicuous trail camp that it is one of my favorite places in the forest.

Spur Trailhead leading to trail camp. Left and down leads to the ski hut.

Spur Trailhead leading to trail camp. Left and down leads to the ski hut.

Normally, when I hike the Baldy Bowl trail I find myself chasing light and never wanting to break out my headlamp to finish off my hike. Last year, I went on a hike with my wife and daughter and we stopped after making the steep climb up to the ridge where this spur trail begins. While they were resting, I finally took the opportunity to go exploring and within a few minutes I found myself in an area that clearly gets used as a trail camp. It’s easy to get to, just follow the spur trail.

The most conspicuous of several sites that are flat and appropriate to set up a tent.

The most conspicuous of several sites that are flat and appropriate to set up a tent with a view down to the city below.

Last Sunday I used it as a wonderful end destination for a few of us who are training to do a multi-day hike of Mt. Whitney at the end of July. We are getting used to carrying full packs and rehydrating meals etc. We will be stepping things up on a weekly basis and hiking the usual training destinations.

View toward Mt. Harwood from another flat area.

View toward Mt. Harwood from another flat area.

We spent a while there enjoying the excellent views and I’m sure I’ll camp there someday. In my opinion, the view from there is much better than that of the Ski Hut area, it isn’t exposed the way the summit of Mt. Baldy is, and it is half the distance to water than it is from Mt. Baldy. I think it would be a great trip to hike up to this campground starting in the afternoon, set up a camp site, then go back down to the creek next to the Ski Hut and filter a bunch of water for the night and the next day’s hike. On the next day, hike up to Mt. Baldy and come back down via Devil’s Backbone.

View out toward Three Tees, Cucamonga Peak, and Ontario Peak.

View out toward Three Tees, Cucamonga Peak, and Ontario Peak. (click to enlarge)

Also on Sunday, I crossed paths with one of my favorite bloggers (Lady on a Rock). Unfortunately, I couldn’t figure out why I recognized her until she was too far away for me to say hello. I also wasn’t entirely sure it was her until I read on her Facebook page that she had hiked to Mt. Baldy that day. Since ours is a very public outdoor activity and with so many people blogging and reading blogs about hiking, I’m sure some of us cross paths but never know it. For those who would enjoy saying a quick hello, I’ve decided to start including photos of me on some of my posts.

Kyle Kuns enjoying the view from his "rocky chair". Photo by Debbie Kuns.

Kyle Kuns enjoying the view from his “rocky chair”. Photo by Debbie Kuns.