In 2017, Hawkins Ridge.
In 2018 Rico and I explored Telegraph's east ridge to Peak 7465.
After missing a couple years, we did it again in 2021, hitting Hines Peak.
And last year we went up the Middle Fork of Lytle Creek.
Well, this year the tradition continued with a hike to Markham and San Gabriel. There were eleven of us: Madison (Uncle Rico), Kellie, Cecelia (Girl Hiker), Dima, Sondra, Jeff, Ira (Elwood), Brian (HikeUp), JJ, Nate and me. We dropped some cars at Redbox, then sandwiched into two SUVs for a shuttle to Eaton Saddle.
It was a beautiful, sunny day. It's always nice starting a hike at the top of Eaton Canyon. The rocky cliffs are amazing to behold.
Our first objective was Mt. Markham. We headed up the Mt. Lowe Trail and then made the left turn at the small saddle to join the Markham Trail. It's a steep but shortish ascent over nice rock.
Nate informed us that the rock is called tonalite. And here I've just been calling it granite or decomposed granite. You learn something new every day.
There were many other people climbing Markham, another big group. So the place seemed like a weekend on Baldy almost. We sat around the summit for awhile, chatting and taking in the views.
Then we headed down the way we came, en route to San Gabriel Peak.
The San Gabriel Peak Trail has some downed trees across the path. We removed a few but others need sawing. At the summit another group played music and annoyed us, so we eventually invaded their space like a boss and they got the hint and left.
I gave Madison his birthday gift of framed photos. Then we settled in for a grilled cheese and tequila lunch. Jeff made delicious sandwiches for everyone, and Madison brought the tasty tequila.
I think it was Elwood who brought the pickles, whose juice we later used to make pickle-tequila shots.
(Photo by Madison)
After a final group photo taken by Jeff,
we headed down the pleasantly shaded Bill Riley Trail to Redbox, completing the point-to-point. Happy birthday, Rico!
