Kimchi Ridge to Sheep Flat

Post by **Sean** » Wed Jun 17, 2015 5:53 am

On Sunday Willie and I took Icehouse Canyon up to Sheep Canyon and basically followed the top of Kimchi Ridge, which offers a fairly clear class 4 route through the jagged, rocky stretch above a class 2 boulder field.

(Kimchi is the ridge on the west side of Sheep Canyon.)

(Initial stretch of class 1/2 scree)

(This was one of the harder class 3/4 spots)

(Neighboring ridge ('Soba') for another day.)

(View looking down)

(Sheep Canyon above the headwall)

(Willie scrambling to that lonely tree on the other side of the canyon)

(Me at Sheep Flat, where we stopped to eat.)

(Merely visiting Sheep Flat entitles you to an up close encounter with a member of its namesake.)

arocknoid · Post by **arocknoid** » Tue Jun 23, 2015 9:29 am

Good hike, fine pix.
That sheep is Gamma Jr.

Getting warm now; grateful at least for water at Columbine.

and sadly there have been some vehicle break-ins at IHC. grrr

kind regards,
arocknoid

Mike P · Post by **Mike P** » Wed Jun 24, 2015 12:16 am

arocknoid wrote: ↑Good hike, fine pix.

and sadly there have been some vehicle break-ins at IHC. grrr

kind regards,
arocknoid

Arocknoid, overnight vehicles or dayhikers...?

arocknoid · Post by **arocknoid** » Wed Jun 24, 2015 8:45 am

Mike, mid-week dayhikers suffered the vehicle burglaries.

That happened to me twice while hiking, at trailheads @ San Gorgonio. Both occurred with late returns after 10 p.m. The second was a real surprise -- not isolated, campers/activity etc. You know how that goes, though.
Also, lousy target vehicle from the mid 90s; all they got was loose change and emergency kit, but my cost of repair etc was burdensome.

Hike on.

kind regards,
arocknoid

Post by **tekewin** » Wed Jun 24, 2015 1:17 pm

I think I have figured out how you and Willie pick your hikes...

"Hey, that looks dangerous, let's go!"

Sheep Flat looks like a nice destination. The rock in your pictures looks OK, but I know stuff on that side near Falling Rock Canyon is partly to mostly rotten. Nice photos and bonus points for the sheep.

Post by **Sean** » Wed Jun 24, 2015 7:51 pm

tekewin wrote: ↑I think I have figured out how you and Willie pick your hikes...

"Hey, that looks dangerous, let's go!"

I'm still primarily a destination-hiker. I look at a map for interesting, new spots to visit, like a random peak, canyon, flat, point, etc. Then I consider ways to get there.

This time I wanted to get to Sheep Flat, and the shortest approach is Sheep Canyon/Kimchi Ridge. Willie is more about the climbing, I think. He seeks out the hardest way possible. I'm more of a middle way guy, though I do feel the itch to push myself sometimes.

Kimchi Ridge is awesome, and the rock is mostly good, though you always need to test your holds in the Gabes.

Sheep Flat is also awesome. There are tons of new trees growing up there, plenty of room to play some Frisbee or football, and have a camping jamboree.