Hike Log

Ontario and Bighorn: Two for One hike

Trailhead:

Icehouse Canyon

Type of Hike:

Day hike

Trail Conditions:

Trail in good condition

ROAD:

Road suitable for all vehicles

Bugs:

Bugs were not too bad

Snow:

Intermittent snow – not hard to cross

This was my second time to hike Ontario Peak. Unlike my first time last year which was a solo, this one was a group hike with 3H (Hiking for Health and Happiness). We started out at Icehouse Canyon. The water in the creek was flowing strongly. But we made good progress after a short stop at the Cucamonga Wilderness boundary we were soon off. The trail between the Cucamonga Wilderness Boundary and the second mile marker seemed broken in places with the whole place like a rock pile but the trail was not too difficult to find. Everyone started slowing down once the switchbacks between Mile 2 and 3 started. We took a break at Icehouse Saddle before setting off for the trail leading to Keller Camp and Ontario Peak. We didn't stop at the campground but we stopped at the ridge where the trail splits off to Ontario and to Bighorn. There was snow but it was not on the trail itself, in fact one would have to leave the trail in order to step on the snow. We proceeded to Ontario after taking some photos at the start of the ridge. This part of the trail didn't seem so bad unlike the earlier switchbacks between the Mile 2 and Icehouse Saddle. We arrived in Ontario took photos and had some meals.  When we got back to the the trail junction some of us decided to go on The to Bighorn while the others decided to return to Icehouse Saddle. The hike to Bighorn also involved passing by a false summit and the trail while visible tended to be obscure in some points. But we all reached Bighorn Peak. Again we took photos, rested, had some meals and looked at the views of the switchbacks leading to Cucamonga Peak. Then we left Bighorn and proceeded to Icehouse Canyon where the rest of the group was and then we returned back to Icehouse Saddle. On the way back, there was a rattler spotted about a mile from the trailhead. The rattler wasn't on the trail though and eventually we all got back to Icehouse Saddle. Not bad for one hike bagging two peaks.

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