Hike #17 of the Six (Eighteen) Pack of Peaks Challenge. Ontario Peak via Middle Fork Trail, 17.2 miles and just over 5040’ in total elevation gain. Joining me on this hike today was Sara Groban. Sara and I met a year ago this month on the Marion Mountain Trail and summited San Jacinto together in the snow. Today was our first hike together since. Thank you Sara for coming. I really enjoyed your company today.
We were expecting snow after Icehouse Saddle on our way to Ontario Peak (even with the warm conditions) so we brought microspikes and snowshoes.
We arrived at the Middle Fork Trailhead at about 0510 and stepped off to summit Ontario Peak at 0520. The lot only had one car in it, aside from mine and we saw no other hikers on the trail until we got to Icehouse Saddle. There was about 15/20 or so hikers at or near the saddle when we arrived. Most heading up to Cucamonga Peak and a small handful going to either Ontario or Big Horn.
The trail going up to the saddle was clear of snow and easy to maneuver. However, there is a section between Third Stream Camp and Comanche that is a little sketchy. It is a rock/scree section that has had a few rock slides from weather and hikers going through. There is a high potential that someone could slip and become a part of a rock slide. I do not recommend this route (at this time) for novice hikers or kids. It is an accident waiting to happen!
After the saddle we hit a few moderate patches of snow on our way Kelly Camp. After the second section we decided to put on our spikes. Just in case. There were several patches moderate to large patches of 2 to 3 foot deep snow on our way to the Peak. Several hikers managed without any traction devices and others, including us, just use spikes. No snow shoes were necessary even though the snow got really soft in spots and we post holes a few time.
Temps today were perfect. Low 50’s in the morning when we stepped off and it warmed up quickly on our way to Icehouse Saddle. The summit has no winds and temps in the 60’s. As we descended I say the highest temps we encountered were probably in the low 80’s (with direct sun).