Mt Bliss, AirWest 706 and Fish Canyon

[Sean]

...the canyon is now unrecognizable...

I prefer my canyons "unrecognizable" actually. Makes it more of a challenge.

[Pappa_Snowflake]

55 Year anniversary of this tragedy was this past weekend. I’m new to the San Gabriel Mountains other than some light exploration on the anniversary weekend and a trail hike 20 years ago nearby. I’m pretty versed in exploring air mishaps from the military especially all over Nevada. I live in Orange County and I would love to connect and explore air wrecks with anyone especially Dima and his crew. I would love to get into the DC9 area. I didn’t descend because of rope gear. I’m 51 YO still active Former Marine and I have a lot to offer. Since I am new here I can not yet send PM’s but I hope to hear from anyone of interest and especially Dima.

[dima]

Hi. The sites are above all the falls, so you don't need ropes. However, I originally did all this shortly after the Fish fire, and the brush thus wasn't a problem. Today some years have passed, and it's all probably a heavy bushwhack. If you want to try it, start with the tail. It's large enough to have been easily seen in the aerial imagery last I looked.

[Pappa_Snowflake]

Thanks Dima. I appreciate your rapid response. I’m getting a bit buried with my research but I’ve got some areas to explore. Wouldn’t mind a private conversation with you sometime to see what I know about that you may have interest in.

[Berryfarm]

Hi,

Definitely new here, don't use forums too much since for my generation it's a bit passé lol, I've been meaning to try and get out to this site since I'd seen Jeremiah's video ages ago, I know the exact coordinates of both the main wreck site of the DC-9 as well as the T-tail, but I have a pretty limited amount of off-trail experience and was wondering what the actual hike looked like, how much of a commitment it is, etc.

Did you guys just swing the ridgeline from the top of Mt. Bliss down to the gulley, from the road? It seems like a somewhat straightforward off-trail hike if you just leave the road near the summit and start down that one specific ridgeline to the wreck. If I recall from the 3D map on Google it's essentially right on the edge of a drop off toward a larger canyon. Certainly don't mind a bit of bushwhacking but I really have no idea what I'm looking at atm with regards to this hike or the route to take. Don't want to reveal too much on public forum either in case the location is meant to be a bit of an IYKYK thing.

Cheers!

[dima]

The route is straightforward, but it has almost certainly overgrown in the years since we went over there. Bring loppers and saws, and expect to go slow.