EISPIRATEN

Going up Williamson and then across to Pallett and then descending to Burkhart saddle is one of the nicest XC trips in the range. Not much brush and none of the terrain is overly steep. There is a bit of a rub in the form of the frog closure. Whereas one used to be able to leave the Burkhart Trail a...

That short loop is a nice one -- a classic of the range. There's an interesting longer loop. It's about 15 miles RT but covers some really interesting country.

HJ

JayO wrote: ↑ Overall about 20 miles.

Ouch.

HJ

wildhorse has abandoned on it? why is that? is that an old trail and to the east is a new trail? Yes, exactly. There's an old and to my mind better routed trail that goes right up the drainage. It's more or less followable. East of the drainage is a better maintained but more round about route. Her...

Sean wrote: ↑maintain the illusion that I'm a gentleman.

Hey, Sean, I think you misspelled "delusion."

HJ

Have not read any of the new additions, so no comment on the writing. I have tagged along on an 'update' hike in a different range for a different book. Seemed very thorough as far as directions/mileage/landmark changes that needed to be made. Well, keep in mind that Robinson's "big two" ...

that's a whole guidebooks worth of info on the San Bernadinos, Ever think of becoming an author? Ha! Maybe, but it's so much work -- and there is a good guide out there: Trails of the San Bernardinos by John Robinson. I think though that I'm covering a lot more than Robinson tried to, and Robinson ...

Yeah, for real.

HJ

HJ

Well, take a look at this map from 1900 . Notice that supplies for a mine in Mineshaft Flat (Mineshaft Flat is not labeled, but you can discern it east of San Gorgonio Mtn.) have to come in from Dry Lake -- all routes into the area whether via Falls Creek or from Seven Oaks pass through Dry Lake. Wh...

You're welcome. I switched it up a bit since I started: XC routes continue to be gold. Old trails now are shown in yellow. There's a legend available at Interactive SGW Map . The legend explains the somewhat cryptic numbers by the various symbols and has various cross references for trail camps and ...

Sean wrote: ↑Yeah, it was my first, and I'll always think of it fondly. I humped up that trail repeatedly over the span of three months. Finally I came to the top, exhausted, but fully satisfied.

Dude, you're in serious need of some girlfriendage.

HJ

I've added a cross reference of all the trail camps in the SGW. The numbers below (and on my blog post in Appendix II) correspond to the numbers shown on the interactive SGW map. HJ 1. Columbine Springs 2. Johns Meadow 3. Limber Pine Bench 4. Jackstraw Springs 5. Trail Fork Springs 6. Anderson Flat ...

The court case in AZ established that the fee system isn't legal, and it applies to the whole program (not just Arizona). I think the legal decision was a bit more nuanced than that. I don't think they found the program illegal per se. Rather I think they found certain aspects were illegal in certa...

Just saw this on Facebook. There's apparently some letter that's been sent out by the USFS with a proposal to re-open Williamson Rock to climbing. All I have is this right now: https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/lh4.googleusercontent.com/-o1iJA6-4s7o/UrIiomqLrkI/AAAAAAAAsMs/OD70plcGils/s512/Will...

I've put together an Interactive San Gorgonio Wilderness (SGW) Map. I've got a lot of present day trails, trails of yesteryear, routes, etc. marked out. Have a look if you like.

HJ

heck of a title there, Sean. Something between you and the trail, eh?

HJ

Looks like it's back up now.

HJ

CalTopo, the (usually) excellent mapping website looks like it's down this morning.
http://caltopo.com

HJ

He's a little light on the details, at least thus far. More of an outline and the reader then needs to go fill in the blanks. For example, he talks about four types of bearings but doesn't go into a) what they are or b) how to do them. I've been thinking of doing something too. But it's a lot to cov...

Andrew Skurka has been writing a series on backcountry navigation. I generally like his perspective and writing style. And it's tough to argue with his level of experience. He's got the first three posts up with more to come. I'll update as he posts. Introduction. Part I -- Equipment. Part II -- Ski...

Sean wrote: ↑Does anyone have suggestions for relatively brush-free cross-country routes, particularly in the Santa Anas or San Bernardino Mountains?

Here's an interactive map of the San Gorgonio Wilderness. I've sketched in a lot of winter routes (in blue) and XC or long abandoned trails (in gold).

HJ

Nice route up Modjeska. The fire road itself winds around and takes forever.

HJ

Yeah, call me a freak, but I don't mind paying it either. Groups like the San Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders are funded by the Adventure Pass.

HJ

We went up Silverado Canyon on Maple Springs Road. The road follows the canyon at first, then climbs out of the canyon. We drove up the road a ways, but it was a bit too rough for my Honda Accord, so I pulled over in a large turn out , and we walked from there. Interesting hiking, but I wouldn't rec...

Cool stuff.

HJ

Heckuva price if they're any good.

HJ

I was out in the Santa Ana Mountains yesterday and snapped this photo of the Eastern High Country of the San Gabriels: https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5-NQ7APcrGs/Uq55woR9DyI/AAAAAAAAsMc/OXob6t3Ab6c/s9024/Eastern_High_Country_From_Santa_Ana_Mtns.jpg I always like se...

Took my first semi-real hike since moving to the OC two weeks ago. Went to Silverado Canyon. There's a visitor center there (pretty small but nice volunteer) and a fire road that goes up the canyon. Didn't know it, but the fire road is open to the public. So, we played "dodge car" through ...

Once a year, the Sierra Club holds a course called the Wilderness Travel Course (WTC) held in four locations: West Los Angeles, Pasadena, Carson, and Tustin. It's 10 classroom sessions and four field trips. Navigation, First Aid, Gear, Planning, Snow Travel, Snow Camping, Rock Travel (class 3 maximu...