San Gorgonio via Fish Creek 7/4/10

jfr · Post by **jfr** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 10:07 pm

My wife and I spent 3 nights over the (extended by me) holiday weekend in the San Gorgonio Wilderness, via the Fish Creek Trailhead.

Trip report (probably too verbose) and pics here

Or the Slideshow here

Or just go straight to the Glissading in Southern California IN JULY Video here

mve · Post by **mve** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 10:55 pm

I enjoyed reading your trip report -- thanks for sharing the pictures. Great times.

Dry lake is not so dry -- what a huge difference from last year!

simonov · Post by **simonov** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 8:01 am

Wow, nice detailed trip report.

That's my favorite approach to San Gorgonio; I only wish there was water at Fish Creek Saddle. Carrying water back up the draw from Lodgepole after a day of backpacking is never pleasant (I normally start at Aspen Grove trailhead to avoid the bone-jarring five miles of dirt road).

Last year I escorted a group down to Mineshaft Flat, normally one of the more secluded trail camps in the Wilderness. Several of the veteran hikers were really surprised how pleasant and peaceful it is there.

Dave G · Post by **Dave G** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 10:07 am

Great TR! Our scout troop will be heading up there in three weeks and will be camping at Fish Creek Saddle. It looks like Lodgepole Springs will be our closest water source?

simonov · Post by **simonov** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 10:41 am

Dave G wrote:Great TR! Our scout troop will be heading up there in three weeks and will be camping at Fish Creek Saddle. It looks like Lodgepole Springs will be our closest water source?

Lodgepole is the closest, a half mile away. It's kind of a bitch, because hauling all that water back up the draw is hard work. Be smart and bring big bladders and wear your empty packs during the water run so you can put the full bladders in the packs for the hike back up to camp. Don't do this:

The other alternative is carry all your water up from Fish Creek.

I'm not sure which is better/worse. Flip a coin.

jfr · Post by **jfr** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 7:05 pm

mve wrote:I enjoyed reading your trip report -- thanks for sharing the pictures. Great times.

Dry lake is not so dry -- what a huge difference from last year!

We were up there last year on Memorial Day weekend, and it was dry. There was also less snow on the peak. We had a great season for snow this year.

Dave G wrote:Great TR! Our scout troop will be heading up there in three weeks and will be camping at Fish Creek Saddle. It looks like Lodgepole Springs will be our closest water source?

Years ago I hiked with my son's troop (yes, that kid backpacking with the guitar is an Eagle Scout!) on this same hike (to Mineshaft Flat). I think that staying at Fish Creek Saddle may be a better idea for younger scouts. That extra 800 feet climbing with full packs on the way out from Mineshaft Flat really whupped them! I think that an afternoon expedition to Lodgepole Spring for water after setting up camp (and having lunch) is a good idea. They can check out Dry Lake first, then stop and pump at the spring on the way back. By the time they get back to camp and eat dinner they'll be exhausted and will go right to sleep.

I assume you'll be dayhiking the peak the next morning and then heading back to the cars with the big packs. This should work well. The wimps can avoid the peak and simply head back. About a third of my son's troop wimped out, including the scoutmaster. Then they had to wait for the rest of us in the parking area for hours! That's the punishment for wimping out, I guess.

Post by **Hikin_Jim** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 9:50 pm

simonov wrote:
Dave G wrote:Great TR! Our scout troop will be heading up there in three weeks and will be camping at Fish Creek Saddle. It looks like Lodgepole Springs will be our closest water source?
Lodgepole is the closest, a half mile away. It's kind of a bitch, because hauling all that water back up the draw is hard work. Be smart and bring big bladders and wear your empty packs during the water run so you can put the full bladders in the packs for the hike back up to camp.

The other alternative is carry all your water up from Fish Creek.

I'm not sure which is better/worse. Flip a coin.

Simonov has pretty much nailed it. The last time I slept at the saddle, I took my water from Lodgepole, but I came in that way.

I think it's a little farther to carry it in from the Fish Creek side, but on the other hand then you don' have to make a side trip.

Here's a map of the water sources near Fish Creek Saddle.

A = The really nice water source (stream) you cross on the way in.
B = Fish Creek Camp
C = The last water source before you climb up to the saddle.
D = Fish Creek Saddle
E = Lodgepole spring.

Simonov called it about right: Flip a coin.

HJ