| Peak | San Gorgonio |
|---|---|
| Group | Sunday Hiking Crew |
| Trailhead | Vivian Creek |
This NOW is my FAVORITE of all the 6 pack. I started out Friday evening after getting off work early, and went straight to Trailhead. I was prepping for my Whitney hike which at that time was to be the following weekend so this was my LAST chance to make sure all my equipment was working properly and see what needed fine tuning etc….
I was again having to Lone Wolf it because my group had already summited this Peak 3 weeks prior ad I was unable to make it. No matter, it was phenomenal!!
First, Halfway Camp is NOWHERE NEAR halfway. By my account it’s 1/3-way Camp! Anyway, calm it what you want it was gorgeous! Off the trail in a little Valley. I could hear people on the trail and see them come into view every once in a while, but from the trail, it’s not as easy to see the camp. Pretty cool.
I set up and had dinner just in time before it got dark. The next morning I got a decent start, 7:30, and refreshed my water at High Camp. That’s where I had intended to stay if not for it being full. I enjoyed Halfway much more anyways.
After summiting, and meeting a few other hikers, small chit chat about Whitney, I made my way back down to 1/2 way where I had left all my overnight gear save for my 10 essentials and day pack.
On the way down I noticed something I hadn’t really thought of on the way up………
That 1st mile after the wide dry riverbed……….is STEEP!! I think my training hikes here in SD on El Cajon Mountain was CRUCIAL now looking back because EC is a STEEP, ROCKY, NO SHADE, BEAST that made this 1st mile seem like a breeze. She’s ugly, but she’ll have you ready for ANYTHING! Anyway, I finished up about sunset on Saturday and made my usual post Hike Traditional stop at the Islands on Mira Mesa Blvd for my Blue-Nami w/bacon to go!
I’ll probably take my 11 yr old beginning of next season if for nothing else, to stay at Halfway. There was a cool scramble up the opposite side of the valley that goes up to a FANTASTIC lookout ridge. Pretty epic! Almost as cool as summiting!
