The Dobbs Loop

TRs for ranges in California.
Post Reply
User avatar
Sean
Cucamonga
Posts: 4067
Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2011 12:32 pm

Post by Sean »

For a couple years now I've been looking at Dobbs with drool spilling out of my open mouth. It's one of those peaks you look at and say, "You know, that might be a really awesome place to be standing."

Image
(Dobbs seen middle right, during 9 Peaks hike in Sep-2012)

On Friday, my dream was realized as Keith (tekewin) and I took the west ridge route out of Vivian Creek.

Image
(Crossing Vivian Creek below the camp)

We scrambled up the slope a short distance before finding a use trail which took us to the ridgeline.

Image
(Looking across at the San Bernardino/Andersen Peak ridge from the Dobbs ridge)

Dobbs Ridge had a nice use path with cairns sprinkled here and there. It was mostly very easy to follow.

Image

Image

We saw a really cool bird with steel blue and white coloring. The picture doesn't really do it justice.

Image

Of course there were some spectacular views up there.

Image
(Mill Creek below, Baldy in the distance)

Image
(Yucaipa Ridge with Saddleback popping out of the clouds)

After climbing the final, very steep, western slant, we reached the broad summit of Dobbs.

Image

Unfortunately my other dream, of bumping into Mars Bonfire on Dobbs Peak, remains unfulfilled. We missed him by one day.

Image

The remaining portion of our journey included tagging Little Dobbs,

Image

dropping down the south ridge,

Image

and visiting the Penis Tree on 9782.

Image

If you want to know what happened next, you'll have to read Keith's blog.
http://ironhiker.blogspot.com/2014/10/d ... -9782.html
User avatar
tekewin
Posts: 1270
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2013 5:07 pm

Post by tekewin »

The trees were really interesting on this trip, especially the dead trees. Happy Halloween.

Image
Deadfall starting up the ridge

Image
Sean by a dead giant

Image
Uprooted

Image
Dead conifer?

Image
"Tim Burton" pine

Image
"Poltergeist" tree. I see a face in the trunk, maybe just my imagination.


Image
Curious buck
User avatar
Uncle Rico
Posts: 1442
Joined: Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:48 pm

Post by Uncle Rico »

Well done lads, but I'm a little worried about your visit to the penis tree. :shock:
User avatar
tekewin
Posts: 1270
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2013 5:07 pm

Post by tekewin »

Uncle Rico wrote: Well done lads, but I'm a little worried about your visit to the penis tree. :shock:
It just looked like a cigar to me. :lol:
User avatar
dima
Posts: 1525
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2014 1:35 am
Location: Los Angeles

Post by dima »

What IS it with this Mars Bonfire fellow? I was at Dawson Peak today, and the register said this:

Image

Why 25 both times? Why final visit?
User avatar
Sean
Cucamonga
Posts: 4067
Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2011 12:32 pm

Post by Sean »

dima wrote: What IS it with this Mars Bonfire fellow? I was at Dawson Peak today, and the register said this:

Image

Why 25 both times? Why final visit?
Possible explanations:

1. He's been hiking nonstop now for a hundred years and has finally decided to do something different, like visiting every capitol building 25 times.

2. Steppenwolf is reuniting for a tour of the universe. He won't have anymore time to hike.

3. 25 is the magical number. If he does any peak 26 times the world will end.
User avatar
walker
Posts: 248
Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2013 11:14 pm

Post by walker »

It's not your imagination!
User avatar
longcut
Posts: 190
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 1:40 pm

Post by longcut »

cool report! I was just eyeballing Dobbs myself and you guys just confirmed that I should check it out. Thanks!

Also for some reason I peeked at the summit register on SB East (never really look at registers) and one of the few entries I can remember, Mars Bonfire 25x final visit.
User avatar
arocknoid
Posts: 72
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:39 am

Post by arocknoid »

Mars is doing the Hundred Peaks Section 25 times, and then finito, retiring to parts mentioned but not widely broadcast. Yessir, 2500 peaks...

As for the bird, when I hear "steel blue, and white " in that neck of the woods (with your photo, lousy on my lanternbox) me thinks of Western Scrub Jay. But I wouldn't have thought of it as a mystery bird, so i wonder if you saw something less often encountered. ?

Great hike and TR, gentlemens.

kind regards,
arocknoid

Here's one, an odd fellow also known as a one-legged MugWump (pardon the etymologo politico humor):

Image
User avatar
HikeUp
Posts: 3937
Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:21 pm

Post by HikeUp »

If you could send the original version of the bird pic that would help. My guess would be Clark's Nutcracker (the gray color can sometimes look bluish) or a lost Magpie (just kidding)! Clark's love to perch on conifers on the rocky peaks of our high country.

Met Mars once on my 1 hike to Bare Mt. Hiking machine.
Post Reply