Gobblers Knob and Circle Mountain

TRs for the San Gabriel Mountains.
Post Reply
User avatar
Anthony
Posts: 327
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:53 am

Post by Anthony »

I've been itching to take my first trip to the high country this year and drove out to Wrightwood on Sunday. I also just bought a 4Runner, so I've been itching to get it off road.

We drove up Sheep Creek Truck Trail (3N31) to the PCT. The road was in surprisingly good condition although I wouldn't drive it in a low clearance vehicle. When we parked at the PCT, we saw two groups of PCTers relaxing under trees. From there, we did a quick but steep hike to Gobblers Knob (1 mile with 500 feet gain).

After Gobbler, we drove back down to the valley and did another short but steep hike: Circle Mountain (3 miles with 800 feet gain).

The views from Gobbler and Circle were some of the best I've seen in the San Gabriels. You get 360 views of the Mojave, San Gabriels, and San Bernardinos. Those peaks might be overlooked because of how short they are -- but if you combine them with other hikes in the area -- they're totally worth it.

I think my next trip to Wrightwood will be for Pine Mountain and Dawson Peak.

IMG_8570.jpg

Snow on north side of Baldy (from Gobbler)

IMG_8633.jpg

Looking east from Gobbler

IMG_8658.jpg

Stretching before the next hike

IMG_8667.jpg

Hiking out of the valley to Circle Mountain

IMG_8733.jpg

The summit of Circle is amazing

IMG_8718.jpg


IMG_8736.jpg

Looks like the register bandit struck again

IMG_8749.jpg

Rain over the Mojave
User avatar
Girl Hiker
Posts: 1403
Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2014 7:46 am
Contact:

Post by Girl Hiker »

Nice pics. Did you find the two benchmarks?
When I hiked Circle Mtn in 2015, I don't recall seeing a register.
"Never limit yourself to what you can do!"
--Bart Yasso, my hero
Instagram My Blog
User avatar
Anthony
Posts: 327
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:53 am

Post by Anthony »

Girl Hiker wrote: Nice pics. Did you find the two benchmarks?
When I hiked Circle Mtn in 2015, I don't recall seeing a register.
What's a benchmark? These?

IMG_8737.jpg


IMG_8598.jpg


There was also THIS bench... ?

IMG_8706.jpg
User avatar
Girl Hiker
Posts: 1403
Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2014 7:46 am
Contact:

Post by Girl Hiker »

Anthony wrote:
Girl Hiker wrote: Nice pics. Did you find the two benchmarks?
When I hiked Circle Mtn in 2015, I don't recall seeing a register.
What's a benchmark? These?

IMG_8737.jpg

IMG_8598.jpg

There was also THIS bench... ?

IMG_8706.jpg
You must be new to hiking :) Those are fire break signs. These are benchmarks. Many of the Sierra club peaks have benchmarks. Some peaks have anywhere from 1 to 3 of them. They are placed on peaks by the geological surveyors. Some of them are reference marks or triangular stations. Perhaps Sean can do a better job at explaining them. I get very excited when I find them. The oldest one I found was dated 1930.
10628337_10205091052699250_8868372549419404137_n.jpg
11988279_10205091052379242_3268756120122846128_n.jpg
"Never limit yourself to what you can do!"
--Bart Yasso, my hero
Instagram My Blog
User avatar
Anthony
Posts: 327
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:53 am

Post by Anthony »

Girl Hiker wrote:
Anthony wrote:
Girl Hiker wrote: Nice pics. Did you find the two benchmarks?
When I hiked Circle Mtn in 2015, I don't recall seeing a register.
What's a benchmark? These?

IMG_8737.jpg

IMG_8598.jpg

There was also THIS bench... ?

IMG_8706.jpg
You must be new to hiking :) Those are fire break signs. These are benchmarks. Many of the Sierra club peaks have benchmarks. Some peaks have anywhere from 1 to 3 of them. They are placed on peaks by the geological surveyors. Some of them are reference marks or triangular stations. Perhaps Sean can do a better job at explaining them. I get very excited when I find them. The oldest one I found was dated 1930.
10628337_10205091052699250_8868372549419404137_n.jpg11988279_10205091052379242_3268756120122846128_n.jpg
I've actually been hiking for years, but I'm still learning the lingo. ;) I've seen a lot of geological survey benchmarks, though I don't recall seeing one on Circle.
User avatar
JeffH
Posts: 1234
Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2010 7:09 am

Post by JeffH »

Those two pics belong in the Triangular Peak Markers thread.
"Argue for your limitations and sure enough they're yours".
Donald Shimoda
User avatar
HikeUp
Posts: 3932
Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:21 pm

Post by HikeUp »

10 years ago...
3917193918_d21b68f5b8_o.jpg
User avatar
Sean
Cucamonga
Posts: 4053
Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2011 12:32 pm

Post by Sean »

The marker on Circle is a little down-ridge from the summit area. They aren't always on the highpoints. Surveyors sometimes needed a better viewing angle and placed them elsewhere.
User avatar
Girl Hiker
Posts: 1403
Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2014 7:46 am
Contact:

Post by Girl Hiker »

JeffH wrote: Those two pics belong in the Triangular Peak Markers thread.
Ok Jeff lol
"Never limit yourself to what you can do!"
--Bart Yasso, my hero
Instagram My Blog
User avatar
JeffH
Posts: 1234
Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2010 7:09 am

Post by JeffH »

Girl Hiker wrote:
JeffH wrote: Those two pics belong in the Triangular Peak Markers thread.
Ok Jeff lol
?
"Argue for your limitations and sure enough they're yours".
Donald Shimoda
User avatar
Anthony
Posts: 327
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:53 am

Post by Anthony »

JeffH wrote:
Girl Hiker wrote:
JeffH wrote: Those two pics belong in the Triangular Peak Markers thread.
Ok Jeff lol
?

Done!

Question though: what's the point of that thread? To have a place where we can look at triangular metal signs? ?
User avatar
Sean
Cucamonga
Posts: 4053
Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2011 12:32 pm

Post by Sean »

Anthony wrote:Question though: what's the point of that thread? To have a place where we can look at triangular metal signs? ?
Dima wanted a list of them, so we're giving him a list. At first it was about understanding their purpose. Now we have developed a weird fetish.
User avatar
Anthony
Posts: 327
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:53 am

Post by Anthony »

Sean wrote:
Anthony wrote:Question though: what's the point of that thread? To have a place where we can look at triangular metal signs? ?
Dima wanted a list of them, so we're giving him a list. At first it was about understanding their purpose. Now we have developed a weird fetish.
Fair enough. I'll start taking photos of the triangles now that I know there's an audience for them.
Post Reply