Sun Shine on a Cloudy Day
Prep for Mount Wilson started about a week before. I knew I was hiking Monday, but just didn't know where yet. I was considering Death Valley, Telescope Peak, then I saw the weather; too cold. I was worried about any of the 6 Pack of Peaks having too much snow this time of year, so I reached out to Socal Hikers on FB to see what others said. It came back that Mount Wilson would not be an issue.
I'm trying to use the hikes to train up for trips I have this summer, Havasupai, Bright Angel, and The Lost Coast. The plan is to train with a pack that is much heavier, that way the trips are a breeze. Putting my pack together, I decide to load it up with a lot of unnecessary water for weight. If it ended up being too much, it was as simple as dumping water until I could handle it. I ended up weighing 215 lbs with my pack. I weighed 200 lbs 4 months ago (recently lost 40 lbs), so I was thinking I could handle it. I got it all together the night before, and set my alarm.
I woke up to sunlight. I had slept through my alarm. No reason to be upset, I've been fighting a bad cold and needed the sleep, but now I'm running 4 hours behind. I'd have about 7 hours to complete the trail before I lost daylight. No way I could handle it with such a heavy pack. Change of Plans. All essentials into a day bag. I rush to get things done around the house, feed and water the foster dogs, kennel cleaning would have to wait until I return. I think, maybe I should throw my pack in the car in case I forgot to put something in the day back, but quickly decide against it. Don't want all that gear sitting in my car unattended.
As I get to the base of the Cajon Pass I notice all the dark clouds and realize I forgot to transfer a poncho into my day bag. I think to myself, this is what they tell you not to do, this is how you get in trouble, making last minute changes and rushing, what else did you forget? Then I think, it's just Mount Wilson, quit being a pansy. I guess if it rains I'm getting wet and hoping my cold doesn't turn to pneumonia. The clouds don't look much better when I get to Wilson.
I easily got a spot in the parking lot. When I've been there in the past I've had to park on the street. Someone approached me and asked me about the adventure pass and where to go. I gave him info and advice and hit the trail.
I deiced to take the Upper Winter Creek trail in and out. The incline on the First Water Trail can be killer, especially at the end. Upper Winter Creek had a decent about of hikers on it. Way more than I was expecting on a Monday. All of them obviously from a different country. I love the diversity in America. It makes me feel like I can experience different cultures in my own backyard. The traffic fades as all the Winter Creek trails come together.
I decide to go towards Mount Zion at the fork. In my experience, that route up Wilson gets more shade, so I would rather do it during the daytime over the western route. Along that route I come across three mountain bikers. They seem to be more interested in getting good video of themselves than the actual riding itself. Sometimes you have to get that social media material. I bypass the Mount Zion Peak.
On my way down Zion I defiantly pick up some momentum. I took advantage of the downhill to make decent time. I quickly went through some branches that were overhanging the trail. I didn't notice until it was too late, but one of the branches had broken off and had a sharp point like a spear. It ended up going in between my chest and shoulder. I stopped and pulled back before it punctured me. For the rest of the trip I kept thinking about what would happen if that branch had punctured me. What if there was serious bleeding? I have a GPS communicator, but would search and rescue come in time? What about my two dogs I brought with me, would they make me leave them during an evacuation? I wouldn't leave them. I need to watch it more on the downhill, control myself more. When I get to the Sturtevant intersection, the uphill steals half my momentum.
Heading up hill as I hit Sturtevant trail was slow and steady. I could easily tell that was the steepest portion. One foot in front of the other, keeping pace, no pausing, just steady pace. I pass one group of hikers on their way down. It was the first group I had seen in awhile, since the mountain bikers back before Zion peak. After I pass the half way rest, you can tell the grade changes to something more manageable, but I keep the same momentum, running low on steam I guess. Just keeping the same pace all the way up. I pause here and there to enjoy the views. As I make it to the overlook the clouds set in.
I sat in one of the many chairs that were left out on the overlook, they remind me of the chairs from elementary school. The view is completely hidden with dark clouds. I take some beef jerky out for me and the dogs to snack on, and wait. It doesn't take long before the clouds clear up to see the view, but only for an instance, then they hide the peak again. I'm too cold to enjoy it for long. Time to start moving again.
I work my way to the other side of the summit. I have to use the GPS to pick the trail back up on the other side. It's not easy to see. As I start heading down I notice the clouds quickly rising over the peak like steam, and take a second to appreciate it.
I was much colder on the trip down. I wasn't doing a lot of work to create body heat like I was coming up. I was also still damp with sweat from the hike up. I tried to keep moving quick to keep my body temperature up. I figured there would be very few people on the way down so I let the dogs run a head of me. They had a great time with free roam of the trail.
I took the Upper Winter Creek back in. Once I could see the parking lot from the trail, I secured the dogs again. Wilson ended up being a quick 6 hrs. Once I got back to the car, I was excited for the heater and to get some dinner.