A leisurely picture-taking pace put me on Rattlesnake after three hours. By 9:17 AM the ridge was already disturbingly hot. I had consumed only one liter of electrolyte water, and there were nearly three remaining. That should be enough for the climb to South Hawkins, I thought. Also my pack contained an orange and five energy bars. Plenty of food.
The main objective was to scout the route between Rattlesnake and South Hawkins for a possible attempt at the San Gabriel Death March next year. With a folding saw I also hoped to clean up any remaining brush obstacles en route. The saw came in handy only a few times, during the initial descent from Rattlesnake.
It's an 800-foot drop down to a saddle at the head of Graveyard Canyon. I started approximately 150 feet before the Rattlesnake summit and basically executed a controlled slide down the slope, trying to stay upright until it was possible to contour over to the ridge, where a group of pine trees offered some shade. Below this point were rocks and blackened branches. The remaining decline was a bit slow but generally straightforward, sticking close to the ridge spine.
From Graveyard Saddle (5000+) I climbed up to Summit 5346, where the ridge turned right and immediately dropped down to another saddle (4960+), thereby robbing me of the elevation just gained. This happened again as I rollercoastered up and down to the next saddle (4880+), while crossing the head of Bichota Canyon.
Losing elevation gain can be mentally taxing, especially while simultaneously baking in the sun's burning rays. But I was enjoying the new experience and the fantastic views of Iron Mountain next door. Still, there were another three miles and 3000 feet that needed to be gained somehow.
Occasionally a breeze cooled me off slightly. But it wasn't long before the shirt had to come off. I had forgotten sunscreen and hoped the sun would go easy on my flesh.
At 11:30 AM I was hunting for any shade available. I found some under a large blooming yucca and took a break. The ridge was alternating between steep rocky terrain and steep non-rocky terrain, sometimes involving stepping through brush with thorns that attempted to penetrate my skin.
I was getting low on water and started rationing. Some trees around 6400' provided welcoming shade for a ten-minute rest.
It was a slow climb the rest of the way. Dehydration worked on me. The sun refused to go away. By the time I reached the firebreak at 7000' and turned left toward South Hawkins, I had long abandoned any hope of returning to the car the way I had come. I considered dropping down Pigeon Ridge but instead decided to continue to South Hawkins where I could nap in the shade. Secretly I hoped to find someone on Hawkins and maybe bum some water. My fingers were losing mobility, and it took a long while to chew and swallow an energy bar because of dry mouth.
On Hawkins I drank the last of the water and rested for fifteen minutes. I napped again in some shade in the middle of the S. Hawkins fire road, after deciding to go to Crystal Lake for water. Some ways down the road, however, I noticed a use/animal trail dropping into the head of Soldier Creek, which, to my relief, still had a small flow of water trickling across the rocks.
After getting my fill, I felt brand new and climbed out of Soldier. I descended cross-country to the Crystal Lake campground, picking up an old path here and there, including something called the Tototngna Nature Trail.
The cafe was still open, but I had no money. I was down to one energy bar. Some PCT thru hikers were waiting for a ride down to the city. They had been on the trail for two months already and were going to bypass the closure.
Two Asian dudes gave me a ride down to the East Fork Road, which I then walked all the way back to my car over five miles away. To avoid thinking about the pain in my blistered feet, I counted the last 1,343 steps as the final bits of sunlight faded in the west.
Starting up Shoemaker Road
Shoemaker Canyon watershed with Rattlesnake Peak route
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1575844/Shoemaker Watershed with Rattlesnake Ridge Route.jpg)
Flowers and scorched yucca
Rattlesnake Peak register
Rattlesnake summit
Dropping down to Graveyard Saddle
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1575849/Dropping Down to Graveyard Saddle.jpg)
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1575851/View while dropping down to Graveyard Saddle.jpg)
Approaching Graveyard Saddle with Summit 5346 above it
Viewing Rattlesnake from Summit 5346
Looking back at Rattlesnake
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1575854/Looking Back at Rattlesnake.jpg)
Devil Gulch west fork and Iron Mountain in upper left
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1575855/Above Devil Gulch West Fork.jpg)
Dodder
Trees in sight
Baden-Powell and Ross
Above Devil Gulch north fork
Pigeon Ridge
Nearly at South Mt. Hawkins
View from upper Soldier Creek
Descending to Crystal Lake campground
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/gallery.myff.org/gallery/1575869/Crystal Lake Area.jpg)
Tototngna Nature Trail
Camp Williams from Shoemaker Road