End Pavement

Alex and I have been talking about hiking up San Gorgonio at some point this year. This seems like a spiffy goal. Wikipedia says:

San Gorgonio Mountain (or Mount San Gorgonio, or Old Greyback) is the highest peak in Southern California. It is located in the San Bernardino Mountains, 27 mi (42 km) east of the city of San Bernardino and 12 mi (19 km) north-northeast of San Gorgonio Pass. It lies in the San Gorgonio Wilderness, part of the San Bernardino National Forest. Spanish missionaries in the area during the early 1800s named the peak after Saint Gorgonius.

The mountain is 11,499′ (or 11,502′ depending on the vintage of the measuring) and is one of several prominent peaks in the range. Check out this from the San Gorgonio Wilderness Association FAQ:

Q. I noticed a patch offered through the SGWA’s store proclaiming “I Climbed the Nine Peaks”. What are the names of the nine peaks that would satisfy this claim?

A. From west to east, they are San Bernardino Peak, San Bernardino Peak East, Anderson Peak, Shields Peak, Alto Diablo (a curious “pile of rocks” not recognized by the U.S. Geological Survey, but recognized by the Boy Scouts of America and many “locals”), Charlton Peak, Little Charlton Peak, Jepson Peak, and Mt. San Gorgonio. These peaks are generally linked up by Boy Scouts groups and others on a three-day outing beginning at the Vivian Creek Trail and culminating at the San Bernardino Peak trailhead. There are other peaks in the San Gorgonio Wilderness, but those listed above are all located along the several mile long ridge from San Gorgonio to San Bernardino Peak.

Here are some preliminary links:

• San Gorgonio Mountain at Wikipedia
• San Gorgonio Wilderness Association
• “Up Mt San Gorgonio” by Russell Bell
• San Gorgonio Wilderness: Hiking on GORP.
• San Bernardino National Forest

The first “hike” of the year was into the Redlands hills, mostly along suburban streets, but I think the preponderance of good upward grades and a lot of walking on dirt qualifies it as a hike. ;) Six miles altogether, with a goodly portion of the middle in the rustic Caroline Park.

It was daytime when we left, the final bits of sunset up on Sunset, and night time when the poodle and I got home. Pharaoh was crazy hyper for the first half since we’ve been cooped up for a few days, so it was awesome to get out and about — also to see some of the neighborhoods we’ve been missing. Clear night, occasional bursts of wind, and temps in the 60s. Cool enough to get a sniffly nose.

(I don’t expect much sympathy from those folks dealing with more, shall we say, “inclement” versions of winter. :)

So, six miles on New Year’s Day, and now I’m off to cook some spicy black beans and rice for dinner.