Hoyt Mountain

[Anthony]

I planned on hiking from Shortcut Saddle to West Fork Campground today, but the weather was gloomy and I didn't feel like hiking into a dark canyon on a gloomy day. I contemplated a few options, finally settling on Hoyt Mountain, an extremely short but steep hike.

I started at Georges Gap. Who's Georges?

The initial ascent is one of the steepest, non-scramble climbs I've ever done. It's comparable to the south slope of nearby Mt. Lawlor.

Looking down on Clear Creek Outdoor Eduction Center. I could hear the kids.

The final ascent

Looking east south east from summit (left to right: Josephine Peak, Strawberry Peak, Mt. Lawlor, Red Box)

Looking south east from summit (Red Box in center)

Yucca in bloom

Mysterious shelter

Distance: 1.3 mi
Gain: 823 ft
Total time: 1:11:56

Notes:

- The trail was easy to follow in some places and practically non-existent in others. It's on a ridge though so getting lost isn't an issue.
- I would not recommend doing this without trekking poles.
- I would not recommend doing this on a hot and sunny day (there's no shade at all).
- The detour around the highway 2 slide is really getting annoying. I can't wait until it's fixed.

[HikeUp]

I did Hoyt on Jan 1 2008. I slid down that east ridge on my butt - damn it's steep (~2000'/mile). Thanks for the TR - great views from up there!

[Tom Kenney]

There are 2 of those 'shelters' next to the Rim Trail picnic area on Mt. Wilson. Someone destroyed them, and someone rebuilt them. They've each got a log placed center like a seat, but neither would provide much shelter even if covered with a tarp. I think it's some kinda cult maybe...

[oldcoot]

Yes, coming down Hoyt is the scariest thing I ever did hiking (and I did manage to do Big Iron in 2003, Rattlesnake in 2003 and 2004, and Sugarloaf via Falling Mike...er Falling Rock Canyon in 2005)...came down those standing up, but like HikeUp, came down Hoyt on my butt, too (in 2013 at age 67)...

oldcoot

[Anthony]

Yes, coming down Hoyt is the scariest thing I ever did hiking (and I did manage to do Big Iron in 2003, Rattlesnake in 2003 and 2004, and Sugarloaf via Falling Mike...er Falling Rock Canyon in 2005)...came down those standing up, but like HikeUp, came down Hoyt on my butt, too (in 2013 at age 67)...

oldcoot

That says a lot coming from an Iron vet! I haven’t done it yet. Planning on hitting it in fall.

[Anthony]

There are 2 of those 'shelters' next to the Rim Trail picnic area on Mt. Wilson. Someone destroyed them, and someone rebuilt them. They've each got a log placed center like a seat, but neither would provide much shelter even if covered with a tarp. I think it's some kinda cult maybe...

Yeah, there was a creepy vibe to it. And there was some sort of tarp or fabric inside. There was also a weird smell near it, possibly a dead carcass. I was in a hurry to get down Hoyt before the rain so I didn’t investigate further.

[walker]

Regarding the name of George's Gap, in the American Guide Series for California from 1939 there's one little shred of detail:

https://archive.org/stream/californiagu ... orge's+gap

There must be a bit more to that story...

As for those installations, seen some weird stuff like sacrificed animals out there a couple of times.

Sean, what did you do with that ceremonial goat's foot and monopoly money? ?

[Sean]

Sean, what did you do with that ceremonial goat's foot and monopoly money? ?

Oh, I just left it there. Wasn't that on Station Ridge, though?

[Anthony]

Regarding the name of George's Gap, in the American Guide Series for California from 1939 there's one little shred of detail:

https://archive.org/stream/californiagu ... orge's+gap

There must be a bit more to that story...

As for those installations, seen some weird stuff like sacrificed animals out there a couple of times.

Sean, what did you do with that ceremonial goat's foot and monopoly money? ?

Where did you see the animal sacrifices? On Hoyt? I did smell something dead near the structure... ?

Btw, I saw another structure on the way to Mt. Mooney last year.

So that's two structures at two lightly trafficked peaks within a few miles of each other...

[Sean]

Okay, I'll dig up pictures of all the religious stuff I've seen in the mountains, and we can build an archive, like with the signs.