Early Saturday morning, September 18th, Turtle and I dropped a car at the Icehouse Canyon lot and continued on up to Wanker Flat. We were on the hoof to the Ski Hut Trail around 0425. Temperatures were in the mid-fifties; very comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt. We reached the Baldy summit a few minutes past seven. Following a short break we hiked down the Devil's Backbone to the notch, just in time to grab the first egg sandwiches off the grill at the Top of the Notch.
We next took a leisurely stroll across the Three Ts trail to Icehouse Saddle. Temperatures were definitely headed northward, mitigated somewhat by the occasional breeze. The saddle was quite crowded, with groups of all sizes scattered about. Hikers continued to flow in as we grabbed a quick snack and rested.
After leaving the throngs, we took a straight pull up to Cucamonga. Turtle and I were chillin' on that summit roughly an hour and a half later. The views were great in the mountains, though the valleys were filled with a light haze.
We next dashed back through Icehouse Saddle, continuing on through Kelly's Camp up to Ontario Peak. We lost track of the number of club hikers descending from Ontario. There had to have been twenty or more spaced out along the normally desolate trail.
The dearth of water at Kelly's was a bit problematic. Luckily both Turtle and I were aware that this would likely be the case. I saved my last liter for the descent to Columbine (stupidly not drinking through the hot ascent from Kelly's). I think Turtle's supply made it back to Icehouse Saddle. We refilled our reservoirs at the spring, and though usually pretty cavalier about treating the springs in the Gabriels, I suggested iodine tabs due to the extensive "human activity" in the area.
I trudged back up to the Chapman Trail while Turtle went on ahead to do laps between the saddle and Chapman until I arrived. It remained HOT until the sun cleared the canyon. It was finally dark enough to don headlamps when we reached the funny guardrails near the bottom of the Chapman Trail.
Turtle and I reached the shuttle car just before 2000, following a delightful fifteen-and-change hours hiking.
Sunrise just beginning to light the Ski Hut Trail.
Old Baldy's trees aglow.
Morning view down San Antonio Canyon.
Old Baldy's morning shadow receding from Mt. Baden-Powell and Fish Fork.
Setting off for the 3Ts trail after a little breakfast.
Mts. San Antonio, Harwood and the Devil's Backbone, seen from the top of the South Bowl Chutes.
Cucamonga Peak and Timber Mountain as seen from Telegraph.
Ontario Peak as seen from Telegraph.
View from the Telegraph-Timber saddle towards Mt. Wilson.
A very busy Icehouse Saddle.
view towards Mill Creek from Cucamonga summit.
GPS track and elevation plot.
