San Gorgonio Mountain

San Gorgonio Mountain is the highest peak in Southern California at 11,503 feet.

The day started off beautifully, as it always does in this area, when we set off from the Vivian Creek parking lot. The sun had risen over the horizon, but had yet to reach the valley floor, which made for comfortable conditions.

The trail was a gentle uphill for the first kilometre, then shot upwards for the next kilometre or so, before levelling off a bit as the trees thinned and we were hit by the morning sun.

Sunrise in the hanging valley below Mount San Gorgonio

There were three campsites on the way to the summit, with most groups we came across either being day hikers or heading towards the highest of the three, as it was the only site which had a water source.

Getting above treeline, the rocky terrain made me think of home, with clear views all around and deep blue skies. We could see some clouds rolling in, but they didn't seem that threatening at the time ...

Summit shot

I spent about 90 minutes on the summit, relaxing, rock hopping, and enjoying the cool air. There were many people sharing the summit with us, but we managed to get a shot of us on the summit with no other people around.

The descent was tedious, especially after getting back below treeline, until the first booms of thunder rolled in. The rain hit soon after, and was heavy at times, making for a bit of a miserable time.

As I crossed the last dry river bed, the flash flood started, bringing muddy water down through the rocks. Seeing the initial wave of water reminded me of the scene in the Fellowship of the Ring where Arwen raises the river to drive back the Morgul (minus the horses). I waited for the rest of the group to cross before continuing.

Flash flood!

Gerry leading

By the time we got back to the cars, everyone was muddy and soaked. The town of Forest Falls, having suffered flood damage from the last storms (back when I went to Mount San Bernardino), seemed to be okay, but as we drove lower, there were actually no signs of rain at all! Getting back to the town of Redlands, it was sunny and hot, so we dried our clothes on a sidewalk next to a Starbucks, then went and got some Mexican food.

This was, by far, my favourite hike so far in Southern California. It had a great variety of terrain, gets above treeline, and is a long day.

http://app.endomondo.com/workouts/404086526/3101909