6POP Finale & Birthday Hike

It was an exciting day that I was able to celebrate my birthday with my hiking family. Non-hikers may find it weird that backpacking and hiking the highest mountain in SoCal is a fun way to celebrate… but it does in our community????

Not a simple feat for sure but definitely memorable. This was not a day hike when I planned it with my friend and maybe there will be 4-5 of us. We always started in Vivian Creek and she got the permit to camp at the summit but I know myself, I’m willing to suffer to a certain distance only????. I prefer High Creek but it is no longer available in less than a month inquiry. The next camp available was Halfway Camp.

While she had both reserved, I checked other TH/CG. I was debating between Dollar and Dry Lakes as we need to be somewhat near a water source. Ended up with Dollar Lake and with a total of 9 people.

There was a good amount of water, no pond or lake but a flowing, cold water.

Original plan was to get to the camp slowly, set up, eat and rest then summit for sunset. At least 2 in our group had slightly experienced altitude sickness and just summitted the following day.

After dinner, my dear friends handed me the dehydrated ice cream bar with a bat-op candle and a ‘birthday girl’ headband (it was like winning a beauty pageant when someone stuck a tiara on the head????)… and it wasn’t complete without the obligatory happy birthday song… we were too deep in the celebration already.

We started very early in the morning and reached the summit by 7am… I was extremely sleepy when reaching over 10mi and had to take a quick nap during breaks…even going back to camp. That was the altitude impact for me.

Stayed about an hour at the peak, just ourselves most of the time but there were 2-3 people camping at the adjoining peak.

It was memorable indeed and going back to parking was so hot but thankful for my handy dandy umbrella.

Also, this area was devastated by fire as well but if wasn’t, the trail should have a better shade and not too exposed. I love this trail though, although long but the gradual incline helped and I can consider day hiking it in the future. Not crowded even at the peak but then we were there fairly early.

The best part, I logged it in record time, on my actual birthday, which means, I’ll have my completion badge as sort of a present for myself????????????