Staff Jeff
Staff
41
Peaks Climbed
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First, you're prepared for possible winter mountaineering conditions? SoCal just got fresh snow, so be sure to temper your expectations, as hiking all six peaks in a week is tough even under dry conditions. I know of only five people who have done it in six days or less.
That being said, there's a good overview map of the six peaks here: https://socialhiker.net/six-pack-peaks-challenge/southern-california/
The peaks are pretty spread out, so your best bet is at lodging at two or three locations, positioning you closer to the mountains.
When I did Mt Wilson, Cucamonga and Mt Baldy in three days, I booked a cabin at the Mt Baldy Lodge. I hiked Mt Wilson first, then drove “home” to Mt Baldy Lodge. This is a great spot for tackling both Mt Baldy and Cucamonga Peak.
Trailheads to San Bernardino Peak and San Gorgonio are pretty close to each other, but your lodging choices are limited. You can stay down in the valley (i.e. Redlands) or the Angelus Oaks Lodge. I haven't stayed there, but one of our ambassadors @cece12 has.
San Jacinto is further south of San Gorgonio. If you hike in from Idylwild, you could book lodging there, or if you take the tram up from Palm Springs, you could stay down there.
Be sure to check the latest avalanche bulletin before you head out: http://www.socalsnow.org
Good luck!
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Hi Debra! Let me know what the correct date is and we can fix it. There isn't yet a way for you to edit your hikes, but we can make those changes for you — just send a message or even leave a comment on the hike log and we will take care of it. 😉
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[quote quote=4670]Now that the differences between crampons and micro-spikes have mainly been addressed, I would like to expand on the question for everyone if that's ok?
What micro-spikes do you recommend, or not recommend? I'm looking to purchase some for my wife and I. User experience from here would be highly appreciated! Thank you![/quote]Tyler, as for microspikes, I'm a big fan of the Kahtoola microspikes. Both my wife and I have them and swear by them.
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Hey Dave! We use a points system for each hike logged and some of the activities here on the site (like posting a forum topic or reply). The points menu shows your current points total, but you're right about the Points History being broken. We will check into that.
As for what you can do with the points? Not much, at least not yet. We mainly use that when awarding badges on your profile for logging hikes. 🙂
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I have microspikes, snowshoes, and crampons and have used all three at various times. Here's my $0.02 worth…
Snowshoes are fun and easy to learn. The only tricky thing to remember is that you need to turn carefully and deliberately; you can't whip around like when you're hiking with regular shoes. I've found that snowshoes are most useful in deep snow (where there is not “tread” laid down by other hikers). So far, there was only one snow hike up Mount San Jacinto where snowshoes would've been useful. I left mine in the car that day, and instead “post-holed” up to my crotch more often than I can count. It was a slog.
Microspikes are AWESOME for packed snow and ice where there is already some tread laid down. Joan and I used microspikes on a hike up Icehouse Canyon to the saddle a couple years ago, and they gave great traction and confidence. The trick here is to not get overconfident… which leads to crampons.
If you are using crampons, that means you are ALSO using an ice axe and helmet, because you are now doing something called winter mountaineering. When does a snow hike turn into winter mountaineering? My REI Winter Mountaineering Skills instructor said it best: “If you slip, could you slide to your death?” Think about that when you're traversing a steep, snow-covered slope. Of course, having the gear also means knowing how to properly use it, including traversing, ascending, descending, and self-arrest. All of these require appropriate training.
I did a snow hike up San Gorgonio with @greg a couple years ago and we used microspikes up until High Creek, then crampons and ice axe up to the ridgeline, then reverted back to microspikes for the remaining hike to the summit. Having the appropriate gear and training also made it safe for us to to glissade down to High Creek on our way back. Nobody should be glissading without a helmet, ice axe and proper training, period.
One item I didn't note here, but always bring on these hikes anyway are trekking poles. Pop on the snow baskets if the snow is deep enough to warrant them, but definitely bring poles and use them.
If at any time you find yourself feeling you might be getting in over your head, trust your gut turn around. The mountain will always be there to climb another day.
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Hey Jackie! You can hike Baden-Powell from any route you choose. Vincent Gap is the most popular, but they are all challenging.
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[quote quote=4025]Hello,
I would like to know if we need passes or permits to hike any of these mountains in the pack?! and how to get them?[/quote]None!
Colorado has a very open stance toward trail use. No permits or quotas are in place on ANY of these six peaks.
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[quote quote=3494]Hi Jeff, that’s a great picture ! What a great accomplishment!
I’m planning to hike San Bernardino Peak in two weeks. It’s between that and Baden-Powel. Can you please tell me how the conditions are? Any suggestions/recommendations?
I’ve never hiked Baden-Powel either so I’ll appreciate your thoughts if you’ve hiked that peak.[/quote]Thanks Anush, but I can't take credit for the photo — it's not me, just another Six-Pack of Peaks Challenger.I haven't hiked any of the SoCal peaks yet this year, and probably won't until this summer. I suggest you take a look at the hike logs. You can see the hike info and photos by the date of the hike, and you can filter to see just Baden-Powell or San Bernardino. That's one way to get up-to-date info. You can also leave a comment on the hike log, to ask for more details on trail conditions.
Generally speaking, these peaks USUALLY have snow on them this time of year. When the peaks are covered with snow and ice, it's no longer just “hiking” — it's winter mountaineering. Are you ready for that? Have you been through a winter mountaineering skills course (REI has them, as do others)?
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Hi Gerardo!
Here is a list of groups who have hiked the SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks in the past: https://sixpackofpeaks.com/hiking-groups-clubs/
I know that both Hike Beyond the Hills and Heritage Hiking Club have planned group hikes on the Six-Pack of Peaks. There are many other hiking groups on Meetup.com that also get involved. They don't necessarily have to state that they are hiking the Six-Pack of Peaks — just look to see if they are hiking the individual peaks.
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[quote quote=2799]Thanks! Do you use a GPS phone app or a separate device?[/quote]Actually, I use Gaia GPS on my iPhone. It's not free, but it allows you to layer different maps, see exactly where you are, and work offline in airplane mode (important for conserving battery since many of these hikes are out of range). You just have to be sure to download maps for the area you're hiking when you're at home.
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One more update… we have replaced Mount Bierstadt with Mount Sherman.
Mount Sherman is still a 14er, and it's very near Peak #4 (Horseshoe Mountain) so you could easily hike those two back-to-back. The plus is that Mt Sherman is WAY less crowded than Mt Bierstadt (where challengers reported waiting 45 minutes in line for the porta-potty).
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[quote quote=2745]Any trail is good for hiking the peaks so its ok if i start on the other side of Baldy then link up the Cucamunga summit as well?[/quote]Absolutely! That's a hella long day, but it can be done if you're prepared. And you can bag Mt Harwood, Timber, Thunder, and Telegraph peaks along the way. Six peaks in one trip!
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Yeah, the Adventure Pass is controversial (in some circles) but I think it's an great way to help support the Forest Service. The annual pass is the smart and convenient move. Keep it in your glovebox and you'll never have to worry about it for 12 months. Other than remembering to display it at the trailhead. 🙂
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Sarah, right now, there is snow on Mount Baldy. @greg was up there on Sunday, and while it's not particularly deep, conditions can change. Unless you're experienced and equipped to handle winter mountaineering, I suggest waiting until later in the season.
We are assembling a team for the annual Climb for Heroes up Mt Baldy on June 3rd. If you're interested, you can join our team here. It's a ton of fun!
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