20090107 Baden Powell Mine Gulch Attempt

Post by **Taco** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:09 pm

Almost made it to the large rocky central buttress of the East Face of BP, but turned back due to purely awful conditions. It was hot out. That is flat out wrong.

Some pics:

Iron Mountain from the north.

Private plane wreck

The area and a cliff

The objective, Mine Gulch Direct

Hiking up Mine Gulch

Cool ski couloir

Pine

Up

Central Buttress

Alex on a not-fun part

Alex

Looking out from our turn around point. Waterfalls.

Baldy and W Baldy

Iron

Forgot my can opener

We turned around and retreated on our approach. Instead of heading up the lowest easy part of Boulderdash back onto the Bighorn mine road, we continued up the "Vincent Gap Trail" I believe. I was destroyed by the time we got back to Alex's truck, having been up for 29 hours by then. Not fun. That trail wouldn't end.

I'm kinda burned out for a bit. Not getting what I used to get out of mountaineering.

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:57 pm

TacoDelRio wrote:I'm kinda burned out for a bit. Not getting what I used to get out of mountaineering.

Take two naps and call me in the morning.

Seriously, lack of sleep turns the whole world to crap.

Wow, so you actually tried that route. Yeah, that would be pretty hard core if the conditions weren't right. Pray for snow.

Post by **Taco** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:10 pm

I've been burned out for a week or so now. I think I can fix it though.

This winter is starting to piss me off with the lack of cold weather and snow. What gives?

Ze Hiker · Post by **Ze Hiker** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:47 pm

TacoDelRio wrote:I've been burned out for a week or so now. I think I can fix it though.

This winter is starting to piss me off with the lack of cold weather and snow. What gives?

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:42 pm

Supposed to be in the 80's this weekend.

AlanK · Post by **AlanK** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:45 pm

TacoDelRio wrote:
Forgot my can opener

That looks like a great can opener to me! (You should probably be wearing your helmet, though -- flying shards.)

Post by **Taco** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 5:11 pm

Nice one, Joe!

Too friggin hot. WHAT THE HELL NATURE?

Alan, I should wear a helmet 24/7 with how little my brain has functioned these past few years.

AW~ · Post by **AW~** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 5:34 pm

Ack, I was curious as to what was ahead of your turn around point.

Post by **Taco** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 5:48 pm

Several waterfalls probably 20-30ft tall with crummy options to bypass (mud climbing). Then around a bend into the unknown. If only it were VERY cold out... maybe freeze those waterfalls up... like that'll ever happen.

EnFuego · Post by **EnFuego** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 7:35 pm

Wow. That looks like a long approach hike. What do you think you're mileadge was to the turn around point? How about round trip?

You guys look like you put some work in.

I gotta give you credit though.....

yoskolo · Post by **yoskolo** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:33 pm

I'm guessing we hiked/climbed/postholed/stumbled over loose rock somewhere in the region of 15 miles. Having done a brisk San Gorgonio summit up the Vivian Creek trail in one day, I can say this was by some margin tougher.
We eventually had to turn back after encountering a series of waterfalls against largely unclimbable (under present conditions and with the equipment we had available) rock walls. Here's a shot of my favorite.

yoskolo · Post by **yoskolo** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:37 pm

Man, the compression algorithm on this site really kills image quality...

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:49 pm

Cool shots. I've been down that gulch before. That was tough enough. Going up? Dang.

I don't suppose you could plot your turn around point on a map or something and post herein? I'd be very interested to know just how far you got.

Post by **Taco** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:03 am

Jim, about here...

34°21'6.75"N 117°45'6.28"W

That's my best guess.

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 9:48 am

Oh, OK, about at point "A" on the map.

That's pretty far up. I've never been up that far. I went to BH mine one time and dropped down the N Fork of Mine Gulch to Mine Gulch proper, but I've never been up Mine Gluch past where the N Fork drops in.

Post by **Taco** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 2:49 pm

Looks about right.

Is there a safe and quick way to get from BH mine to close to our point and back?

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 3:00 pm

TacoDelRio wrote:Looks about right.

Is there a safe and quick way to get from BH mine to close to our point and back?

Safe and quick? It's pretty quick to hike the old mining road from Vincent Gap to the BH mine. It's maybe 2 miles with negligible gain/loss. But safe? Not so sure. Once you get to the mine, you have to drop down the old tailings pile down the gully that leads from the mine to the main fork of Mine Gulch. I've done it before, but it's steep and loose. If it were snow filled, it might actually be easier though.

Going to the mine and dropping down the tailings into the gully that leads to Mine Gluch proper is definitely faster than taking the trail from Vincent Gap down Vincent Gulch to the San Gabriel River and then going up Mine Gulch. Safe? Not sure. I did it. I know others who have. Not sure what the current conditions are.

Bill, who is on this forum, has done it more recently and might be able to give you better beta.

HJ

Bill · Post by **Bill** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:11 pm

Hikin_Jim wrote:
TacoDelRio wrote:Looks about right.

Is there a safe and quick way to get from BH mine to close to our point and back?
Safe and quick? It's pretty quick to hike the old mining road from Vincent Gap to the BH mine. It's maybe 2 miles with negligible gain/loss. But safe? Not so sure. Once you get to the mine, you have to drop down the old tailings pile down the gully that leads from the mine to the main fork of Mine Gulch. I've done it before, but it's steep and loose. If it were snow filled, it might actually be easier though.

Going to the mine and dropping down the tailings into the gully that leads to Mine Gluch proper is definitely faster than taking the trail from Vincent Gap down Vincent Gulch to the San Gabriel River and then going up Mine Gulch. Safe? Not sure. I did it. I know others who have. Not sure what the current conditions are.

Bill, who is on this forum, has done it more recently and might be able to give you better beta.

HJ

I did Bighorn mine down to Mine Gluch and back up Vincent Gulch in early Nov. The descent from the mine is not physically demanding, but it beats you up from slipping and falling, and picking your way down. Took about 45minutes from the mine to Mine Gulch (I think going up that way would be brutal). It showed on Topo that there was a trail that goes from the top of the mine area over to Mine Gulch, (at approximately your turnaround point) but I have not explored that area yet. Looks a little steep and rocky to me though.

I may check it out if the weather stays like this. Was your goal the mine?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30922174@N ... 326335875/

Post by **Taco** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:43 pm

Bill wrote:
Hikin_Jim wrote:
TacoDelRio wrote:Looks about right.

Is there a safe and quick way to get from BH mine to close to our point and back?
Safe and quick? It's pretty quick to hike the old mining road from Vincent Gap to the BH mine. It's maybe 2 miles with negligible gain/loss. But safe? Not so sure. Once you get to the mine, you have to drop down the old tailings pile down the gully that leads from the mine to the main fork of Mine Gulch. I've done it before, but it's steep and loose. If it were snow filled, it might actually be easier though.

Going to the mine and dropping down the tailings into the gully that leads to Mine Gluch proper is definitely faster than taking the trail from Vincent Gap down Vincent Gulch to the San Gabriel River and then going up Mine Gulch. Safe? Not sure. I did it. I know others who have. Not sure what the current conditions are.

Bill, who is on this forum, has done it more recently and might be able to give you better beta.

HJ
I did Bighorn mine down to Mine Gluch and back up Vincent Gulch in early Nov. The descent from the mine is not physically demanding, but it beats you up from slipping and falling, and picking your way down. Took about 45minutes from the mine to Mine Gulch (I think going up that way would be brutal). It showed on Topo that there was a trail that goes from the top of the mine area over to Mine Gulch, (at approximately your turnaround point) but I have not explored that area yet. Looks a little steep and rocky to me though. I may check it out if the weather stays like this. Was your goal the mine?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30922174@N ... 326335875/

Thanks guys! I'll remember that tailings scree slope dealy for next time.

Was our goal the mine? Not sure if I understand, Bill.

Thanks for the info!

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:33 pm

TacoDelRio wrote:
Bill wrote:Was your goal the mine?
Was our goal the mine? Not sure if I understand, Bill.

Bill, I believe their goal was the summit of Baden-Powell itself. They're both insane ice pirates; they're interested in taking the summit via the E face of B-P. On ice.

The mine itself would just be a quick way to drop in to Mine Gulch so they could climb B-P.

Have I got that right you crazy ice pirate Taco?

Bill · Post by **Bill** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:37 pm

TacoDelRio wrote:
Bill wrote:
Hikin_Jim wrote:Safe and quick? It's pretty quick to hike the old mining road from Vincent Gap to the BH mine. It's maybe 2 miles with negligible gain/loss. But safe? Not so sure. Once you get to the mine, you have to drop down the old tailings pile down the gully that leads from the mine to the main fork of Mine Gulch. I've done it before, but it's steep and loose. If it were snow filled, it might actually be easier though.

Going to the mine and dropping down the tailings into the gully that leads to Mine Gluch proper is definitely faster than taking the trail from Vincent Gap down Vincent Gulch to the San Gabriel River and then going up Mine Gulch. Safe? Not sure. I did it. I know others who have. Not sure what the current conditions are.

Bill, who is on this forum, has done it more recently and might be able to give you better beta.

HJ
I did Bighorn mine down to Mine Gluch and back up Vincent Gulch in early Nov. The descent from the mine is not physically demanding, but it beats you up from slipping and falling, and picking your way down. Took about 45minutes from the mine to Mine Gulch (I think going up that way would be brutal). It showed on Topo that there was a trail that goes from the top of the mine area over to Mine Gulch, (at approximately your turnaround point) but I have not explored that area yet. Looks a little steep and rocky to me though. I may check it out if the weather stays like this. Was your goal the mine?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30922174@N ... 326335875/
Thanks guys! I'll remember that tailings scree slope dealy for next time.

Was our goal the mine? Not sure if I understand, Bill.

Thanks for the info!

I was wondering if you guys intended to make your way up to Baden Powell by that route, or had you intended to exit via the mine?

Post by **Taco** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 12:18 am

Yaesht, just wanted to see if I was reading right. 'Twas a climbing trip.

Kit Fox · Post by **Kit Fox** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:28 am

TacoDelRio wrote:Looks about right.

Is there a safe and quick way to get from BH mine to close to our point and back?

If you continue past Bighorn Mine things look a bit interesting:

http://www.lagoldmines.com/index.php?page=674120.txt

Just beyond the stamp mill a faint trail with dangerous exposure continues over a mile passing a prospect that supposedly contains a hidden tunnel. The writers strongly recommend against any solo trips on this dangerous trail and urge all parties to tie in with rope. The trail ends at the top of a rather steep canyon. At the bottom of the canyon another tunnel entrance may be seen. This tunnel is reportedly quite shallow but has not been visited by the writers.

http://www.lagoldmines.com/images/big%2 ... igging.jpg

Post by **Taco** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:52 pm

I've been on that trail, but didn't know about a tunnel. Loose terrain though from an attempt last year with Paul on here.