It seems as if the trail might have been intended as a road grade at one time as it certainly maintains an even grade most of the way down and contours along every side canyon that comes in. The canyon gets more rugged and rocky as you approach the lower gorge.
I was looking forward to getting to the creek and putting my feet in a pool of water, but alas, there was no water anywhere in sight at the bottom of the gorge. I was glad I was carrying nearly 2 gallons of water in my pack. The South Fork campground area is also a bit impacted with graffiti and trash, but not nearly as bad as some other places.
It was at this point that I didn't feel too keen on hiking back up the long, hot, rocky trail to Islip Saddle. So I came up with the brilliant idea of going along the northeast ridgeline to Mt. Williamson through the pines and all. I had no idea how much work I was about to get myself into. Actually, I had some idea but I didn't fully grasp the size and magnitude of this thing. The only way this didn't end in a rescue is because I was carrying so much water and was in fair enough shape not to collapse in exhaustion. I think it's about seven miles of ridgeline with a lot of altitude gained, lost and gained again as you negotiate a chain of minor summits on the way to Williamson.
Anyway, I headed up the High Desert National Scenic Trail towards Devil's Punchbowl and enjoyed the mixture of desert and mountain country that lies along that trail. I was treated to nice views of the South Fork campground and the Manzanita Trail switchbacking up the slope above it:
The first part of my route became visible: follow the High Desert Trail to a saddle (not visible here) and then follow a ridge made of some white, chalky, desert rock to gain the pine-covered rib descending from left to right from a corner of the first major summit along the ridge system.
My target, the piney rib, begins right of center above the white cliffs and tops out in the middle of the picture:
Once at the trail saddle you start to get views of the Punchbowl area:
You also get a nice view of the mouth of Holcolm Canyon where it leaves the alpine zone:
The ridge gets narrow and has some ball-bearing gravel in places so you have to pick your steps carefully in the steeper spots:
Once you gain the woods, the slope is much steeper than it looks from below and there are a number of crisscrossing animal and use trails, so you have to pick one and slowly work your way up. If you get too far to either side, you may find yourself on steep gravel slopes. However the views start to get nicer and the trees provide some shelter. The Punchbowl starts to open up below:
South Fork area:
For a while I was following another traveler who'd gone up the same path:
Eventually you get higher:
And you finally arrive at the summit of Peak 6621 to discover relics of ancient civilization:
Maybe firefighters landed their helicopter there or something?
So this is the first time you get a look at what lies ahead and there are at least 4 minor ridge summits before you get to Williamson. You can see some of the major ones above and the amount of altitude that must be gained to arrive at Williamson.
Crossing a bunch of manzanita on 6621 you descend to a rugged notch before the next peak. On both sides the canyon seems to drop away into steep rocky slopes and cliffs, and the ridge starts to pinch out:
When you get to the notch you can see the path to take. You either climb directly up an open chimney to a small pine or slightly right then traverse back left to the pine and follow a ledge around the corner:
The route to the right:
The view down into Holcolm Canyon from just above the rocks:
Typical ridge conditions just beyond the notch:
Now begins a long series of climbs, descents and traverses taking you over one summit after another. At this point a bit of a use trail also starts to show up, but sometimes it isn't all that much help.
Looking back down towards the notch, which is practically invisible here:
We are gaining more altitude. The San Andreas rift zone:
There's still a long way to go. This is the view from the unnamed peak that's nearly 7000 feet tall:
And the view from the next one, looking towards Peak 7040 and 7341 poking up behind it and Williamson on the skyline:
Peak 7341 ahead with the headwall of Holcolm Canyon to the right in the shadows:
Here's what the Holcolm headwall looks like. Have any of you radical canyon dudes ever descended directly from the summit of Pleasant View Ridge?
Looking back at some of the rolling ridge country we came up:
This is where the final grunt to the summit of Williamson begins:
Looking back at what we came up:
Having gained the summit, it's now a couple of miles and a couple thousand feet back down to the car at Islip. My efforts on this long hike were rewarded with this beautiful moment as the sun went down:
In retrospect, it might be smarter to descend the ridge and return via the trail or do a car shuttle of some kind. In any case, a beautiful, rugged area which I didn't quite expect. The San Gabriels never cease to inspire and amaze me. Enjoy!
