Last year I headed up into the San Gorgonio wilderness to climb Mt. San Gorgonio(11,503'). I've climbed it several times. In fact it's the peak I've climbed more times than any other with this being my 10th ascent. And although I'd already taken every trail to the top, I'd never gone straight up the north face... and so I really wanted to do it. I started at the locked gate at the Heart Bar campground. I hiked passed the campground around Big Meadow and up to the Aspen Grove trailhead.
Hiking through Big Meadow
Views from near the Aspen Grove trailhead
Overlooking Big Meadow
From there I headed up Fish creek. I passed lower Fish creek Meadow, upper Fish creek meadow, Fish creek camp, and then I climbed up to the top of Fish creek saddle.
Lower Fish creek meadow
Upper Fish creek meadow
Fish creek camp
Climbing up to Fish creek saddle
From there I dropped down the other side and made my way down to Dry Lake. I found a couple of perfectly spaced trees by the little meadow above the lake and hung my hammock there for the night.
Dropping down to Dry Lake
Camp
Views from camp
The next morning I got up, made some breakfast, and headed out around the lake and up the north face to the summit. The climb up was a bit tiring, but it was a lot of fun! Of course the views from the top were epic and I spent quite awhile just hanging out enjoying it.
Dry Lake
Hiking around Dry Lake
Starting the ascent
Climbing the north face
Selfie on the north face
Approaching the summit
On the summit of San Gorgonio
Eventually I started down. On the way down I was able to enjoy a bunch of glissading, which is always fun! I got back down to the lake and enjoyed another beautiful evening in my hammock.
Selfie on the way down
Back at Dry Lake
Evening views from camp
The next morning I climbed back up and over Fish creek saddle, down Fish creek, and back down passed Big Meadow to the locked gate at Heart Bar where I first started.
Climbing back over Fish creek saddle
Dropping down into Fish creek
Small waterfalls on the west fork of Fish creek
Until next time...
I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse into
My California!!
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