Hike Log

San Gorgonio – my final and hardest hike of the 6

Trailhead:

Vivian Creek

Type of Hike:

Day hike

Trail Conditions:

Minor obstacles posing few problems

ROAD:

Road suitable for all vehicles

Bugs:

Bugs were an annoyance

Snow:

Snow free

Holy hard!  My hats off to anyone who thinks this hike is a cakewalk.  Left trailhead at 6:45 AM. After crossing the stream bed you climb crazy steep switchbacks for a mile.  I was proud of myself since I made it to the top at a steady pace without stopping.  I was told this was the steepest part of the hike so I was feeling super confident.  After the first switchbacks is one of the most beautiful sections of the hike, thru a shaded forest along Vivian Creek, with lots of incense cedars that look like redwoods.  There were several switch backs over the first 5 miles, but none too difficult.  At 10:00 I rested at high camp creek for about 10 minutes, before starting another set of switchbacks, which were long and easy.  I reached the ridge where San Jacinto came into view, still feeling ok.  I would have to say my mindset changed greatly at mile 7.  Here you start steep switchbacks, at an elevation of 10,200 feet.  I suddenly felt exhausted, and my pace slowed dramatically. Though it was less steep than the beginning, the thinner air had kicked in.  When I reached the bowl, I had to set a timer and rest every 10 minutes.  I discovered how much the mind comes into play.  I would be doing ok until I looked up at the peak which never seemed to get closer.  As soon as I did this, my endurance tanked.  My suggestion is to not look up at the peak.  It is needlessly frustrating, and you are making progress even though your mind says otherwise.  I finally reached the summit at 1:00 PM.  Very cathartic!  As of yesterday there is no summit sign :[.  I don't know why people take these!! Anyway there is the copper marker on one of the rocks.  Enjoyed watching a small group of ravens play on the snowbank on the north slope.  I knew my time was limited and left summit at 1:45.   Going down was easy for the first 2 miles.  After that, my body began to get progressively achier.  Everything started to hurt, and each set of switchbacks was murder on my lower back and knees.  The worst part was that I didn't even remember going up these same switchbacks!  They seemed to go on and on.  By the time I went down the last switchbacks, I felt like I had the flu I was so achy!  I swear it took longer to get down, but it was about 1 hour less.  I got to the car at 7PM.  This was twice as hard going down than up.  I say the trail had minor obstacles because of the rocks.  They are not a big deal, but it is what makes going down so much harder, because you cannot get in a rhythm.  The bugs were only annoying near the streams later in the day.

 

 

 

 

 

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