On Sunday the family was out of town, so no better opportunity for some quality time between me and the quiet, brush-carpeted expanses of the western San Gabriel Mtns. (Informing people of my plans, of course)
I had done "The Pinnacle" about a year ago, and I figured now was a good time to continue working along the grand Mendenhall Ridge with Mendenhall Peak itself, the site of JeffH's birthday last year, which I had missed. I have long had this peak in my sights, (since 2020) particularly the striking point 4403, which features this big triangular slope rising from the little Tujunga watershed, prominent from my neighborhood and much of the San Fernando Valley. So taken by its prominence I was back in early 2023, that it is even featured in my profile picture here on the board. This might look familiar:
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I began at the Dillon Divide, and pushed my bike up the Mendenhall Ridge road, as my tolerance for pushing things up mountains is far higher than pedaling them. And wow, has Mendenhall Ridge road ever gotten a makeover! Its been plowed and grated into a super forest-highway! David R was right. Look at this thing!
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My targets revealed themselves around a few bends - Mendenhall and its surrounding bumps, green with winter's gift of life.
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I also soon entered the realm of Mendenhall's namesake gneiss, in all its swirling glory. I couldn't do a Mendenhall TR without a shot of this iconic rock of the western San Gabes you've heard me make mention many times before.
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stashing my bike in the bushes at Highline Saddle, I hauled up the somewhat steep triangular slope of 4403. After years admiring it from below around my home and daily commutes, its always a neat experience to peer back at myself so to speak down in the SFV. I was intimidated by this slope only a few years ago, but now it felt mild compared to the places I've been since. Here is my profile picture, but from the opposite side:
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2 hours after departing, I was on the summit of Mendenhall. I looked around the remains of the firetower and bunker-like outhouse, but no sign of a register. I did get a view of my "Iron and Sand" route to the west with Magic Mountain from a couple months ago.
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And the more exciting view to the east, with these peaks starting to feel like dear friends. Many of you reading could identify everything in this photo. I know I sure can!
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So certainly I could have descended via the road like a sensible person, but what fun is that? Instead I headed north, navigating the ridge line down and up again to bag point 4345. Usetrails or roads were no more, and the north slope at this elevation featured this sort of thing, with 4345 beckoning towards me from behind it:
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I sheathed myself with my rose pruning gloves and gaiters, and made quick work of this little Sand Fire north-facing slope brush, happy for the stimulation.
4345 featured some very cool mafic iron-rich Mendenhall gneiss that was oxidizing spectacularly, making the whole thing a striking orange and red.
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And THIS as ever enigmatic rusted triangle peak marker of mystery!!!
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The north slope of Mendenhall features that singular San Gabrian scrappy hanging-on-for-dear-life Bigcone Douglas Fir stand we all know and love.
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The slope down was a bit steeper, and I missed my turn by a few feet, so decided to challenge myself with a bit of blue slope-shading down-climbing the crumbling road cut. Get a little practice in! I'd show you the picture I took, but it doesn't look steep in the photo so not much point.
Mendenhall road up here was unimproved, the road upgrades and restorations opting to do the Pacoima Canyon Rd down into the canyon instead of continuing along the ridge for whatever reason.
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I made it back to my bike, and cruised down the fancy upgraded road back to Dillon Divide in a quick breezy 15 minutes.
A relaxing half day that may have been done solo, but feeling all the while like I was with old friends, out here in the Western Gabes.
8.58 miles, 2603 of gain.
Mendenhall Peak with a dash of spice
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Nate U
- Posts: 488
- Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2023 7:38 pm
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