Icehouse Canyon Trail to Saddle, on to Timber Peak.
Hi friends of the outdoors. First time posting here & some-what new to the forum, but been exploring through the Gabriels for some time now. Just a short write up & some photos from a backpack training trip this past weekend. Need to get those shoulders strong.
As per most explorations into Icehouse Canyon, the lower portions were cool and shaded, with minimal traffic at the 8am hour. Met several people along the trail that were also training for future backpacking trips. Some off to Grand Canyon & others to the high desert.
Once hitting the lower portions of the switch backs, snow covered most of the faces of lower Ontario Peak and the hillside leading up to it off to the right, quite beautiful. Only small portions of the actual trail were icey or snow covered, but ascending closer to the saddle snow did appear a bit more often & slushier. Potentially enough to make an unskilled hiker a bit nervous. Plus a muddy trudge coming down late afternoon.
Finding the saddle a bit to crowded, I opted for a short climb to Timber Peak. Finding a spot, just below and off the ridge, looking into the Cucamonga Wilderness. Lunch time.
All around good first training trip. Cool temps, nice breeze, sunny day & all of the outdoors to enjoy.
Cheers,
JDB22
