We rallied at my house Friday evening to sort through our gear and split up communal items amongst our packs. During a medium, yet persistent rain, we loaded our packs into the truck, and with smiles on our faces, and excitement in our gut, we headed for the highest mountain range in Southern California.
After driving through constant rain, we arrived at the South Fork trailhead (1E04) shortly before 9:00pm to medium snow fall and standing temperature around 24 degrees. We quickly put on our boots and gaiters, donned our packs and headed into the darkness. With 3-4 inches of fresh powder under our boots, light to no winds, yet at times heavy snowfall, we excitedly trudged our way up the South Fork trail, bypassing Poopout Hill by staying right (west) and regaining the South Fork trail and onto South Fork Meadows. Somewhere on the trail, we escaped the heavy snowfall and took a quick break inside the cabin at Horse Meadows. We kept our break to 7-8 minutes and quickly reshouldered our packs and headed off once again into the white night. We soon arrived at the fork to Dry Lake (1E05) and somewhere near here, Zach lead us cross country up the creek drainage to Dry Lake. We soon found ourselves post holing, at times up to our waist, but between Zach and Alex, we continued at a pretty good rate. Soon to everybody’s relief, we reach Dry Lake. Zach lead us across the lake to a sheltered area to make camp. It’s still snowing hard, so we quickly shoveled a platform, set up the tent, unpacked important gear, clothes and food from the packs, shoved them all in the tent and packed ourselves inside. It was after 2:00am and about 11 degrees. We needed to get warm, hydrated and some food in our bodies, so Alex quickly got to boiling some water in the tents rear vestibule, I got our dinners ready (or was it breakfast) and started opening snacks. After getting some liquid in our bodies and snacking on some chocolate covered cherries, Zach quickly passed out. Alex and I stayed up a little longer boiling some water for the following day and finishing our dinner. It was almost 4:00am when Alex and I finally got to sleep.
It snowed non-stop through the night. I woke up about 5:30am to 14 degrees and 6-8 inches of fresh powder since we made camp a couple hours earlier. In total, we were looking at 12-20 inches fresh snow since we left the trailhead eight and a half hours earlier. I dug the tent out a little, placed some fresh snow in the rear vestibule for cooking, rescued our packs from deep snow cover and made my way back inside for some warmth. Soon, Alex and Zach were waking from there fitful sleep, and with much excitement, we were looking forward to a great morning on the slopes of San Gorgonio.
As quickly as we could, we boiled more water, had some breakfast, stripped our packs down to the minimal gear for a quick summit push. We crossed Dry Lake, leaving fresh tracks and quickly saw our prize. There was a beautiful couloir coming straight down the north face, with a slight westerly bend near the bottom, which would be our prize. We trekked crossed country up a couple ravines and ridgelines on a direct track towards the base of the couloir. We’re post holing the entire time in the fresh snow, and within a mile or so, I’m starting to feel severe pain near my groin where the left femur joins the pelvis. I had the pain for the last 2 miles or so the previous night to an almost “crippling” point. I hike a bit further and near the base of the couloir, I inform Alex and Zach that it wouldn’t be prudent for me to push on, as I’m 100% sure the most I can do is maybe halfway up the couloir, and we’re still looking at an 11 mile hike out in 14-18 inches fresh powder. Everyone agrees it would be beneficial for me to save my leg for the hike out while Alex and Zach push on to the summit. I bid them good luck and turn back to camp to clean up, get lunch ready upon their return and fill bottles with fresh water.
Over three hours later, I see Alex and Zach returning from their summit attempt and go to greet them, only to see gloom in their eyes. They sadly inform me they were turned around, about 200 feet from the summit, due to bad weather and white out conditions. I congratulate them none the less for their valiant effort and we proceed to eat some food and finish breaking down camp.
We reload our packs and as we begin our trek out, the clouds part for a few minutes, the sun shines brightly, the winds die down completely, and with a bit of mockery, Old Greyback prods us to attempt his flanks once again. We wave goodbye to the S.O.B., and with tired and sore bodies, we begin the journey out. Less than halfway out, the snow starts falling again and we three are completely spent; legs sore, and backs aching. Every half mile, we feel like we just walked 2. Time is moving agonizingly slow. The cold in our bodies and the fatigue in our legs are almost enough that we are ready to sleep in our tracks. Temps are hovering around 22 degrees and the snow is falling heavy now. We know we only got a couple more miles to go. With heads down, and an eagerness to get to our vehicle and down the mountain, we push on.
We finally reach our vehicle. After 22 hours of hiking, post holing and climbing in the snow, and a few hours sleep thrown in, we are happy to end this feat. Alex quickly digs out the truck, and we quickly throw our packs in and head down the mountain with the heater on full blast and the tales of adventure already starting amongst us.
Summit or no summit, this will remain at the top of my list of most memorable trips. Alex and Zach are great cohorts and I don’t know if I could have pick better companions to share a tent and a mountain with.
9:00pm, Febraury 06, 2009
The Players:
Heading in:
The cabin:
The assault packs:
Making our way:
Still feeling good (???):
Making progress:
The last fork, next stop "CAMP":
Our fresh tracks:
Zach first to arrive at camp:
Checking on the water before bed:
Zach out for the count:
Alex still in good spirits:
David in good spirits:
Packs had a cold night:
Tent at 5:30am:
Getting motivated (snow piled up on rear vestibule wall):
Alex making his (oh so good) miso beach mushroom soup:
Ooops! Who put that there:
Dry Lake with 12" or so fresh powder:
Jepson Peak:
Little Charleston and Charleston Peak:
Heading across Dry Lake:
Leaving fresh tracks:
Alex and Zach with route in background (cener left couoir):
David and Alex:
Zach on the couloir:
Not too much further:
Alex breaking trail to the top:
Ready to leave camp:
Our tracks from beyond (Jepson in background):
Skies clear, and Old Greyback beckons us to return:
Finally!!!!
~EnFuego
