Ontario Peak via Falling Rock Canyon

TRs for the San Gabriel Mountains.
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Sean
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Post by Sean »

Cecelia, Henry, and I returned to Falling Rock Canyon, this time to take the canyon all the way up to Ontario Peak.

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We reached the Icehouse parking lot around 6:15am on Saturday. Already it was almost full.

Falling Rock appeared pretty much as I remembered it, except this time three sheep greeted us before they fled up the east slope.

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We were in no rush and spent lots of time goofing around in the canyon, climbing rockfaces and bypassing waterfalls.

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Had to bypass this waterfall on the left.

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Beyond this fall the stream flowed above ground and caused the canyon floor to be thick with brush and small trees.

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Henry sidehilled along the east bank, while Cecelia and I found an animal route along the west side. After a short stretch the water disappeared, and we returned to the bottom.

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The gully became treeless and boring while approaching the headwall, so we exited up to the right and connected with the standard ridge route.

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Henry pushed ahead to the summit. Cecelia insisted on taking a picture on these rocks.

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While waiting for her, I munched happily on these tasty berries which were in abundant supply.

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The ridge route was clogged up with the berry bushes and fallen trees that we hopped over.

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We connected with the Ontario Peak Trail close to the summit.

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Henry was waiting for us. It was Cecelia's first time. She wanted to pose for pictures all over the peak.

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RichardK
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Post by RichardK »

I'm glad to see that the beer bottle opener is still attached to the tree.
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CrazyHermit
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Post by CrazyHermit »

Awesome shots of the bighorns and the peak.
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JeffH
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Post by JeffH »

RichardK wrote: I'm glad to see that the beer bottle opener is still attached to the tree.
That's a new opener, at least since last year which was my last visit to Ontario Peak.

Sorry I couldn't join you guys, work gets in the way sometimes. I've been wanting to go that route but would likely need a guide or prod.
"Argue for your limitations and sure enough they're yours".
Donald Shimoda
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tekewin
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Post by tekewin »

Really nice! I like the shots of the upper canyon. Bighorns always a bonus.
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RichardK
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Post by RichardK »

JeffH - Are you sure that the opener is new? Here's a picture from 9/18/2010

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HikeUp
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Post by HikeUp »

In '08 there wasn't an opener at all. We had to rough it man!

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Uncle Rico
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Post by Uncle Rico »

Geez Hike Up. You're from the era when folks had to walk to and from school in the snow barefooted and it was up hill both ways. ?
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HikeUp
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Post by HikeUp »

Yup. Got a problem with that? lol
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Sean
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Post by Sean »

HikeUp wrote:In '08 there wasn't an opener at all. We had to rough it man!
When I was a kid, we couldn't open a beer bottle without breaking a tooth.

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