| When: | Saturday, May 17th |
| Time: | Meet 6:00-6:30. Start hiking promptly at 6:30 |
| Duration: | @12 hours @17.2 miles |
| Location: | Vivian Creek Parking lot, Forest Falls |
| What you need: | Walking/Hiking shoes, backpack, plenty of water, plenty of food, sunglasses!, sunscreen, bug repellent (maybe) |
| What you need to know: | This is the tough one, it's also the LAST one, so let's do everything right. Exercise this week, eat plenty and drink lots of water the night before the hike. It could be really warm, even hot. Be ready for whatever weather is thrown at us. We're starting early, so get to bed early, it will be a long day. |
| Other Information: | There are restrooms at the trailhead, but after that, you're on your own, so plan on using the natural "facilities". There are plenty of trees, bushes and rocks, just plan ahead, and watch for your spots. |
| Directions: | Turn east off HWY 38 towards Forest Falls. Follow this narrow winding road all the way to the end, and park in the paved parking area to the left. If you need further instructions email me, or call 951-323-9089. |
3 Peaks in 3 weeks comes to an end with a successful hike to the summit of Mt. San Gorgonio. GREAT JOB EVERYONE! | ||
| Because this was going to be a long, tough hike, the group started out at different times, with the hope of being together on the top. Miles: 17.2 |
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| Experienced hiker Sierra Steve joined us for the second time, fresh from returning from an excursion to the Caribbean. | ||
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| Steve & Iscela paused long enough for Sierra Steve & Dave to catch up for a breather after the steep climb up to Vivian Creek Campground. | ||
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Megan had started a little earlier with Aaron, and was past Halfway Camp when the group caught up, including Steve who was carrying her newly tranformed walking stick. | |
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Aaron changed gears and set out to catch Sonya and Kathy, who had left the earliest. | |
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| It wasn't long before we heard them greeting us from the switchbacks above. | ||
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Aaron passed and was headed for the summit. | |
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Sonya & Kathy trudged on up the gently sloping switchbacks. This actually was gently sloped, compared to what was in store for us higher up. | |
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| Dan, ever the sneaky one, moved up off the trail to see if he could get everyone's picture as they passed without them knowing it. Dave passed, but then Dan made strange animal noises........ | ||
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.....so Dave joined him and watched as everyone passed. | |
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Sierra Steve | |
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Iscela & Steve | |
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Megan | |
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Kathy & Sonya | |
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| The group paused at a nice spot for a break. | ||
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Steve & Iscela taking in the sight with a fellow hiker. | |
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Dave & Steve moved farther out onto a nice rock outcropping. We soaked in the sun, and the view of Mt. San Jacinto, where we had been on the top of just a week before, looking back at where we were headed today. | |
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The view looking towards Banning/Beaumont area. | |
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Dave & Dan, with Mt. San Jacinto in the background. | |
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A view from where we had come from...... | |
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A view towards where we were headed. | |
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Dan & Dave setting out towards High Creek. (Photo courtesy Sonya) |
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Is that hiking exhaustion, pain & misery on Dan's face? Nah, the sun was just in his eyes. A good shot of Sonya and Kathy though. |
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| The group finally spotting the final summit ridge. This was the most brutal spot on the hike, because we had already been hiking for hours, and this was one of the steepest, longest, most exposed parts. | ||
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Megan & Kathy on the exposed slope. | |
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Still quite a bit of snow, which just made things worse on a worn out body and mind. | |
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Megan, reaching the summit ridge, with only 1/2 mile to go! | |
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At last, the summit in sight! | |
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Kathy & Sonya just coming over the last hill, the summit peaking out in the near distance. | |
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Sonya & Kathy reaching the summit, and being greeted by the whole group. | |
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The whole group had waited on the summit, and enjoyed the success together. | |
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A fellow hiker took the first group shot. 7 in the picture had made all 3 summits in 3 weeks. Kathy, Dave, Steve, Sonya, Megan, Aaron, and Dan. | |
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The summit view was just ok....I guess. | |
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The group discussing plans for their Everest expedition next year. (Photo courtesy Sonya) |
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Iscela, Steve, Kathy, Sierra Steve (Photo courtesy Sonya) |
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Kathy, Sierra Steve, Dave (Photo courtesy Sonya) |
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Aaron and Megan, enjoying their accomplishment. Mt. Baldy can be seen in the distance. (Photo courtesy Sonya) |
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The 100% Club! Kathy & Sonya, signaling 3 peaks in 3 weeks. They were the only 2 who came to every single hike throughout the 10-week program! (Photo courtesy Sonya) |
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But wait....just when we thought it was over, and were winding down....yelling from the distance. | |
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We were all surprised when over the ridge came Alicia and Christina led up by Kack. The group had met Kack on Training hike #5, and he had joined us on Training hike #6. | |
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| Christina & Alicia had lost their way on the freeway, coming all the way from LA County, but managed to get to the trail head. | ||
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| They met Kack by chance, and he led them all the way up, including some difficult straight uphill "short-cuts"! | ||
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Christina, Kack, Alicia, Dave, enjoying the last few minutes on the summit, at 11,500 Ft. | |
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Thank you Kack! You're an awesome guy and a strong hiker! (Photo courtesy Sonya) |
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| Thanks to Kack and his great digital camera with remote, we were able to wrap up 3 peaks in 3 weeks with style. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR A GREAT EXPERIENCE! | ||
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