POTATOE Loops: SGDM Training Hike #1
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:43 pm
I conceived POTATOE Loops as a training hike for the San Gabriel Death March. It is approximately half the distance and gain of the March (though at a lower altitude), and the gain per mile is nearly the same. Also, being not particularly fond of Potato Mountain, I thought it would likely test my sanity, as I imagine the Death March will.
Basically, the idea is to summit Potato Mountain eight times in one day via the fire road/firebreak loop. Start at the Evey Canyon gate off Baldy Road and go up the fire road. After a quarter-mile you'll notice a trail on the left heading up to a firebreak. You use that to form the loop with the standard approach via the fire road and ridge trail. Do the loop whichever way you want, but I recommend mixing it up, going counter-clockwise, then backtracking clockwise, etc. The firebreak is very steep and loose in some sections. But I still managed it in hiking sandals--just barely.
Each time I summited Potato, I placed a small potato on the tank, where the word "POTATOE" is painted on the concrete. I carried two potatoes and left one each time I summited, then after two loops I returned to the car for more potatoes. During my last loop, some birds apparently flew off with several of my summit potatoes. So I didn't get the money shot of all eight together.
Trail Sign during first loop. It was cloudy and cold all day long.
I finished four loops, then drove into Rancho for lunch.
Driving back from lunch. Note the firebreak going up the east ridge of Potato.
The clouds lifted from the summit during my afternoon loops.
Frankish Peak and east ridge firebreak
Final loop #8
Bird eating my potato.
Basically, the idea is to summit Potato Mountain eight times in one day via the fire road/firebreak loop. Start at the Evey Canyon gate off Baldy Road and go up the fire road. After a quarter-mile you'll notice a trail on the left heading up to a firebreak. You use that to form the loop with the standard approach via the fire road and ridge trail. Do the loop whichever way you want, but I recommend mixing it up, going counter-clockwise, then backtracking clockwise, etc. The firebreak is very steep and loose in some sections. But I still managed it in hiking sandals--just barely.
Each time I summited Potato, I placed a small potato on the tank, where the word "POTATOE" is painted on the concrete. I carried two potatoes and left one each time I summited, then after two loops I returned to the car for more potatoes. During my last loop, some birds apparently flew off with several of my summit potatoes. So I didn't get the money shot of all eight together.
Trail Sign during first loop. It was cloudy and cold all day long.
I finished four loops, then drove into Rancho for lunch.
Driving back from lunch. Note the firebreak going up the east ridge of Potato.
The clouds lifted from the summit during my afternoon loops.
Frankish Peak and east ridge firebreak
Final loop #8
Bird eating my potato.
