SG Wilderness(Twin Peaks) from WF SG river 2/18/08
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:56 am
Nice pink/purple glow sunrise over Baldy and managed to grab last convenient parking space for the West Fork at 6:50am. 1 mile later turned upstream along Bear Creek, then 30 crossings later, to the west Fork. Nice river, was certainly running along, but none of the crossings like the East Fork during storm. My nickname for the west fork is Grim creek, but winter had shedded all the trees and it was a delightful canyon. It did seem like forever to get to its tributary coming from Triplet, something like 15 crossings. This tributary(shall we call it Triplet creek for lack of a name) was actually(likely) a class 3 canyoneering canyon and kept on throwing obstacles at me. I was finally foiled at a swimmer(swim through a pool and climb up a small waterfall), which it was like, if its starting to get technical now and Im in the easy part, whats the point of continuing?. As it happened, the one way up to get some views was at this spot.
Followed an animal trail up finally to a small summit. Took a look around some nice views and thought about getting to a nearby peak(3200). However, an infusion of paranoia about this remote place was amplified by the trails made by whatever roams this area...I was thinking mountain lion but could be bears. Started back and returned to the confluence of the 2 bear creeks. Forgot to charge my camera battery and it was out at this point in the trip.
Headed upstream to check out any approaches. Progress upstream much harder, little or no trail, heavy water at times, but some cool looking boulders. Got to the first tributary upstream of the 2 creeks, which is one tributary short of a Smith mtn approach to Triplet. Not bad to gain the canyon rim, but the question as I saw from my earlier view was then what? I guess follow the GPS closely, but the bottom line is a Triplet Peaks hike is best served from the top. The east ridge was quite steep and lastly Triplet looked unobtainable right near the end as there was a drop of unknown height. If I had to guess maybe 30 or 40ft minimum.
Thereby I returned the way I came at arrived at 2pm. Drove over to Glendora mtn ridge road but was closed at the Saddle. So headed back on Glendora Mtn road, which had some great views, including Twin Peaks. Hazy that day, but still snow on major mountains except for the imposing Ross.
Pictures: like 8 more also to be added to Flickr later today...
Sunrise over Baldy...
Boulder in Bear Creek(the best rock I saw was one spilt in half, and one side was completely straight up vertical with water flowing over the other side on its side)....
Trail view just after 13th crossing....
Foiled by the swimmer...
View of lower Triplet peak(center) from little hill summit perch(SG canyon ridge left, unnamed ridge right with Twin east ridge of out sight)
West side of Smith Mtn
isolation shot Looking back at Bear Creek
Trail at summit....
Followed an animal trail up finally to a small summit. Took a look around some nice views and thought about getting to a nearby peak(3200). However, an infusion of paranoia about this remote place was amplified by the trails made by whatever roams this area...I was thinking mountain lion but could be bears. Started back and returned to the confluence of the 2 bear creeks. Forgot to charge my camera battery and it was out at this point in the trip.
Headed upstream to check out any approaches. Progress upstream much harder, little or no trail, heavy water at times, but some cool looking boulders. Got to the first tributary upstream of the 2 creeks, which is one tributary short of a Smith mtn approach to Triplet. Not bad to gain the canyon rim, but the question as I saw from my earlier view was then what? I guess follow the GPS closely, but the bottom line is a Triplet Peaks hike is best served from the top. The east ridge was quite steep and lastly Triplet looked unobtainable right near the end as there was a drop of unknown height. If I had to guess maybe 30 or 40ft minimum.
Thereby I returned the way I came at arrived at 2pm. Drove over to Glendora mtn ridge road but was closed at the Saddle. So headed back on Glendora Mtn road, which had some great views, including Twin Peaks. Hazy that day, but still snow on major mountains except for the imposing Ross.
Pictures: like 8 more also to be added to Flickr later today...
Sunrise over Baldy...
Boulder in Bear Creek(the best rock I saw was one spilt in half, and one side was completely straight up vertical with water flowing over the other side on its side)....
Trail view just after 13th crossing....
Foiled by the swimmer...
View of lower Triplet peak(center) from little hill summit perch(SG canyon ridge left, unnamed ridge right with Twin east ridge of out sight)
West side of Smith Mtn
isolation shot Looking back at Bear Creek
Trail at summit....
Granted, who knows what I traveled on in the hillsides. 
