Throop, Hawkins Ridge, and a Self-Tipper
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2018 6:17 am
Jeff and I parked at Dawson Saddle. It was 8:30am. The sky was blue and clear, the air fresh and chilly, the ground still damp from a storm the day before. Jeff packed like a normal person, except for bringing two jackets. I packed like a weirdo, carrying way more food and water than needed--and no jacket. Jeff also wore shoes and gaiters, whereas I chose my sandals, but had extra socks and underwear. Together we probably had enough supplies to rescue a naked man from South Hawkins, our ultimate destination.
But first we walked up to Throop, this time leaving the trail for a use path along the north ridge.
Jeff had never been on this route. So I gave him the full tour, taking XC where possible and sticking to the trail on the return. We left Throop via the south ridge and connected with the PCT to Hawkins.
After coming down Hawkins west ridge, we turned south on the trail and headed out to Middle and Sadie Hawkins.
Baldy looked interesting, capped with a bit of new snow, probably melted off by now.
After four hours we landed on South Hawkins.
We spent some time staring at something that looked like a deer, but after several moments of no movement, I dismissed it as a shadow. Yet this picture indicates that it was probably a well-disciplined deer trying to avoid being spotted by hunters.
On the south slope of South Hawkins, Jeff noticed something else of interest, a pole with a solar panel attached. Perhaps it once provided power for some equipment at the summit.
The hike back to the cars proved a bit tiresome. We took a few breaks and savored the perfect day until about 4:30pm. Then we drove to Wrightwood and ate at the Yoddler. After paying with cash, the server placed my 60 cents in change directly into the tip jar on the bar counter while not even looking at me and talking to another employee. I guess that's how things work in Wrightwood. And so I decided to keep the two or three bucks I intended to tip, since he was clearly satisfied with stealing 60 cents.
But first we walked up to Throop, this time leaving the trail for a use path along the north ridge.
Jeff had never been on this route. So I gave him the full tour, taking XC where possible and sticking to the trail on the return. We left Throop via the south ridge and connected with the PCT to Hawkins.
After coming down Hawkins west ridge, we turned south on the trail and headed out to Middle and Sadie Hawkins.
Baldy looked interesting, capped with a bit of new snow, probably melted off by now.
After four hours we landed on South Hawkins.
We spent some time staring at something that looked like a deer, but after several moments of no movement, I dismissed it as a shadow. Yet this picture indicates that it was probably a well-disciplined deer trying to avoid being spotted by hunters.
On the south slope of South Hawkins, Jeff noticed something else of interest, a pole with a solar panel attached. Perhaps it once provided power for some equipment at the summit.
The hike back to the cars proved a bit tiresome. We took a few breaks and savored the perfect day until about 4:30pm. Then we drove to Wrightwood and ate at the Yoddler. After paying with cash, the server placed my 60 cents in change directly into the tip jar on the bar counter while not even looking at me and talking to another employee. I guess that's how things work in Wrightwood. And so I decided to keep the two or three bucks I intended to tip, since he was clearly satisfied with stealing 60 cents.