Wednesday morning, 9/10/2008. At the Fish Creek Trailhead just outside the San Gorgonio Wilderness. Me, left, and James, right.
Entering the San Gorgonio Wilderness on the Fish Creek Trail.
The junction with the trail coming up from Aspen Grove.
James on the bank of Fish Creek.
The junction with the small side trail to Fish Creek Trail Camp. Fish Creek Trail Camp isn't marked on the USGS topo map, but it is just below a small switch back below the main switchbacks en route to Fish Creek Saddle.
Looking over the Fish Creek drainage from the Fish Creek Trail.
Fish Creek Meadows from the Fish Creek Trail.
Another shot of the countryside in the Fish Creek area.
Looking up at Ten Thousand Foot Ridge from the Fish Creek Trail.
Another shot of Ten Thousand Foot Ridge.
Looking back over the Fish Creek area. Note the bare peaks in the distance. I believe these peaks were denuded by the recent Millard Fire.
Ten Thousand Foot Ridge from higher up the Fish Creek Trail. The peak on the left is known as "Ten Thousand Foot Ridge" on the Sierra Club's Hundred Peaks list, a list of prominent peaks in Southern California. The list now contains about 270 peaks, well over the original 100 peaks.
Another view of Ten Thousand Foot Ridge.
Looking out into the desert from the Fish Creek Trail. Note again the denuded peaks.
Looking out toward the Mission Creek drainage where the PCT comes through.
Looking toward Onyx Peak and the eastern San Bernardino Mountains. If you look closely, you can see the road that we drove in on to reach the Fish Creek Trailhead.
Looking NE from the Fish Creek Trail. Gorgeous day.
The view from higher up the Fish Creek Trail.
San Gorgonio Mountain comes into sight from the Fish Creek Trail. The Fish Creek Trail is a great alternate route to the standard Vivian Creek and South Fork routes to San Gorgonio.
Ten Thousand Foot Ridge.
San Gorgonio Mountain peeks up over Lake Peak.
Approaching Fish Creek Saddle on the Fish Creek Trail.
I love the high country near Fish Creek Saddle, but the old growth lodgepoles on the west face of Lake Peak have really taken a hit in the last few years. Many of the beautiful, high altitude trees are now dead. :(
Fish Creek Saddle Trail Camp
The view of San Gorgonio Mtn from the south ridge of Grinnell Mtn.
Ascending Grinnell Mountain. The top is very flat and open.
James ascending Grinnell Mountain.
The summit of Grinnell Mtn. Not exactly a distinct peak, but an interesting place none-the-less. It's really great to go XC in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. There's a profound peace to be found in the trail-less sections of the SGW and a feeling of true wilderness.
James on the summit of Grinnell.
The rocky summit of Lake Peak from Grinnell Mtn.
San Gorgonio Mtn from Grinnell Mtn.
James descending Grinnell Mtn.
A good view of Lake Peak and San Gorgonio Mtn from a rocky outcrop on the south ridge of Grinnell Mtn.
Jepson Peak from Grinnell Mtn.
Dry Lake as seen from the Fish Creek Trail.
Looking back at Grinnell Mtn.
This is the new trail sign at the saddle between Zahniser Pk and Lake Pk. From Zahniser-Lake saddle, one descends via the North Fork Meadows Trail first to Mineshaft Flat Camp and then to Big Tree Camp. Note that Zahniser Pk is not named on the USGS topo. Zahniser Pk is the small peak just north of Mineshaft Saddle.
The old signs at Zahniser-Lake Saddle. There is also an old, abandoned trail from the Lodgepole Springs area that comes to this saddle. Here, at Zahniser-Lake Saddle, we leave the "beaten path" and enter the lesser known and lesser visited SE portion of the SGW.
The east face of Mt. San Gorgonio from near Zahniser-Lake Saddle.
Flat areas just below Mineshaft Saddle and Zahniser-Lake Saddle. Note that the flat areas just below the two saddles are not Mineshaft Flats.
More flat areas.
James heading down the North Fork Meadows Trail en route to Mineshaft Flats. It looks like he's in deep brush, but really he's just rounded the bend on a switchback and is just below me.
Large moraines can be seen in the glaciated valley that the N Fork of the Whitewater River flows through.
Mineshaft Flats. The trail is not clear here. At the stump immediately in front of James, take a fairly sharp right and look for a large ponderosa pine with two trail signs on it. The trail signs are about the same color as the bark of the pine tree, so look sharp. Note that the 1996 version of the USGS topo map shows Mineshaft Flat Camp on the side of the hill near the end of a switchback. The topo is incorrect. The camp is in the large flat area (as indicated by the contour lines) below the location shown.
One of the trail signs. Go left to get to Mineshaft Flats Camp. The first part of the trail is fairly clear, but the trail disappears in the flats. As far as I know, one can just camp anywhere in the flats. The ground there is a bit sandy/gravelly, but otherwise it's a fairly good camping area and is quite large. One could easily take larger groups here.
The other trail sign. Go right to get to Big Tree Camp. The trail beyond Mineshaft Flats is in FAR poorer shape. Keep your eyes open, your map out, and your brain on.
A bit past the tree with the sign on it, the trail descends a bit and crosses the canyon to the west, crossing just above a series of springs. If you look closely at this picture, you can see a) the green area with a number of trees in it where the springs are and b) the trail continuing on the other side of the canyon. The springs were flowing quite well as of 9/12/2008.
The thin path between the Manzanita shown here is the trail heading away from the ponderosa pine with the trail signs on it. As you can see, it is not a clear, well used trail. There is a lot of buckthorn encroaching on the trail. Long pants highly recommended.
Just past the tree with the trail signs on it, you'll encounter this downed tree. Bypass all of the branches on the left.
Just past the downed tree's branches, the trail takes a hard right. Note in the photo that James and I piled up a lot of branches in a gap in the brush that might mistaken for the trail.
Looking down the canyon from the vicinity of the downed tree and the point where the trail takes a hard right. Note a large tree standing alone in the middle of the canyon in the midst of lighter green vegetation. This tree is a critical landmark that will lead you to Big Tree Camp.
Looking back at the springs area from further down the trail. Note that one switchback just past the springs area has been abandoned due to being overgrown with buckthorn. One simply cuts down to the switchback below. Look for ducks.
There is a large gap in what appears to be a lateral moraine lying on the west side of the valley. The gap extends upwards to Tosh's Tarn. When one reaches this gap, one begins to switchback down toward Big Tree Camp.
Here is another view of the large, stand out white fir tree that is in the middle of the valley. Note that the tree is on the very edge of the greenery of North Fork Meadows.
Coming closer to the large white fir.
Just past a band of elderberry, you come to this spot. Note the duck. The actual trail goes to the right, but the trail angel of Big Tree, Steve M, didn't get the opportunity the last time he was through to clear this section. Turn left at the duck, and follow breaks in the brush to the large white fir tree.
The uncleared portion of the trail. Don't go here!
Getting closer to the large white fir.
Closer still. This is a large tree, but this is not THE big tree. This tree is simply a good landmark. Note that on the 1996 version of the USGS topo map Big Tree Camp is marked as being in the vicinity of this large white fir. The map is incorrect. Big Tree Camp is across the river at the confluence of the river and the small side stream just downstream from the white fir.
This photo was taken while standing at the base of the large white fir. Note in the left side of the picture the oddly well defined line of greenery that is the edge of North Fork Meadows. From the base of the large white fir, proceed approx. 30 feet south along the edge of the meadow. In this photo, a small cluster of yellow flowers marks the approx. spot you're looking for.
About 30 feet south from the tree along the edge of the meadow, you'll come to a barely discernable break in the vegetation. From this slight break in the vegetation, you'll want to head toward the gap in the pine trees that you can see in the photo. There is no discernable trail through the meadow. A walking stick is helpful here as there are many "potholes" in the meadow. Be forewarned that grooves in the meadow aren't trails; they're water courses. If you look closely, you can see a largish white rock through the gap in the trees. The rock may or may not stand out depending on the time of day, but if you can see the white rock, it's a good land mark.
Past the gap in the pines, the slope steepens as it approaches the river. The trail past the gap becomes discernable again if one looks closely. This photo was taken from where the slope starts to steepen past the gap in the pine trees. Note the fallen log with a large bole on the left end of the log. Head toward the log, and then go around the log on the right hand side of the log.
These willows should remain well on your right. Do not go into these willows.
In the midst of trying to find Big Tree Camp, don't forget to enjoy the beauty of N Fork Meadows. :)
As you get closer to the river, you should be able to see a large, bare tree with its top broken off. This large, bare tree is THE big tree for which the camp is named. This is your next landmark. You need to cross the river and head toward the big tree.
Once you're past the downed log with the large bole in the meadow, you should be able to see this large log which has fallen across the river. Cross the river on this log. The smaller tree that has fallen across the large log really isn't much of an impediment. If you don't feel comfortable crossing a log, simply head to the river as if you were going to use the log, but go around the log to the left. The river is easily crossable here.
The N Fork of the Whitewater R just a few feet upsteam from the log. The river was flowing well on 9/10/2008, but it was still easily crossed. I'm not sure what the river would be like in the spring. Just something to think about for an early season trip.
Once on the NE bank of the river, start heading toward the big tree. The trail isn't totally clear of buckthorn, and the route leaves the trail in at least one spot.
Getting closer to the big tree. As of 9/10/2008, the big tree had just one tuft of pine needles left, all brown. Regrettably, the big tree is no longer among the living. Note the trail through the buckthorn.
Closer still to the big tree. The top of the big tree lies in the buckthorn before you. The tree must have been quite tall indeed in its heyday.
The big tree, if there were any question in your mind, can be identified by this telephone pole spike that someone has driven into the trunk.
There is a sandy, flat site suitable for camping at the foot of the big tree. Since the tree is dead, branches falling off during a strong wind might be an issue.
A small path leads south from the big tree toward the pine tree in the photo. If you look closely, you'll see that there are actually two pine trees, the second one is partially obscured by the first.
Beneath the two pine trees is a small flat spot. This spot could be used as a camp site if the rocks were cleared. This might actually be the safest of the sites at Big Tree Camp.
Past the two pine trees, the small trail descends the stream bank, through the willows seen here, to the stream bed. This stream is a small tributary to the N Fork of the Whitewater River.
The nicest camp site is here, under the willows in the stream bed. DO NOT camp here if rain is forecast. The stream bed has two water courses. The water course pictured here is the dry one of the two, and it doesn't appear that water has flowed here recently, but all that could change in an instant in a large storm. The water course with water in it is only about 15 feet away, and not much separates the two water courses at this juncture. As I mentioned earlier, the small site on the "bench" above the streambed is a safer site, but it's not nearly as nice nor as spacious as this site in the stream bed.
Another photo of the site in the stream bed.
This small path leads from the dry water course to the one with water in it.
This lovely and pleasant stream runs just a few feet from the stream bed camp site. All night long, one can hear the soothing, idyllic sound of the flowing creek. It's a lovely and restful spot far removed from civilization.
The big tree seen from the stream bed camp site area.
The view from North Fork Meadows/Big Tree Camp looking up toward Mt. San Gorgonio.
Looking down the N Fork of the Whitewater River drainage from the Big Tree Camp area.
Looking up the drainage of the side stream that flows through Big Tree Camp.
The big tree.
There are a lot of ferns near Big Tree Camp.
North Fork Meadows
On day two of our backpack, we headed downstream from the Big Tree Camp on a cross-country exploratory hike just to see what the N Fork of the Whitewater River was like below the camp. This shot was taken just below the camp as we set out on our exploration.
James on a rock above the river. We stayed generally high on the NE bank of the river to try to avoid the willow and buckthorn thickets on the valley floor.
Looking at the E face of San Gorgonio Mtn. This is very rugged country. Because of its glacial origins, the N Fork of the Whitewater River drainage is very open and has sweeping views of the craggy escarpments of San Gorgonio Mtn and Bighorn Pk.
Looking up at the rugged west side of the canyon of the N Fork of the Whitewater River.
Where do mylar balloons go to die? To the SG Wilderness. Don't let go of balloons! They drift here to the SGW. I've found multiple mylar balloons per trip in the SGW. This trip was no exception. We found two mylar balloons.
James in front of Ten Thousand Foot Ridge. As it turned out, the N Fork isn't a very good pathway into the little travelled SE portion of the SG Wilderness due to heavy brush. However, from the topo map, Ten Thousand Foot Ridge appears as though it might be a good pathway into this interesting and seldom visited section of the SGW.
Looking down canyon toward the desert. The terrain started getting rougher at this point, and we called it a day and returned to camp.
A small meadow along the N Fork of the Whitewater River.
Looking back up the canyon from well downstream of Big Tree Camp. On the left is San Gorgonio Mtn. In the center are Mineshaft Saddle and Zahniser-Lake Saddle.
A zoomed in look at the two saddles at the head of the canyon.
I'm the king of the world! We had to do some class three scrambling to get around brush in spots.
Day three. Packed up and ready to leave Big Tree Camp. A lovely and restful spot, far removed from the hubbub of urban life. A spot I hope to return to soon! There's an amazing degree of solitude here even though it's so close as the crow flies to Southern California's major urban areas.
Heading back up toward Mineshaft Flats Camp. The springs area can be seen.
Another shot of the springs area.
San Gorgonio Mtn. as seen from the North Fork Meadows Trail above Mineshaft Flats Camp.
Another shot of San Gorgonio Mtn. as seen from the North Fork Meadows Trail above Mineshaft Flats Camp.
Dry Lake as seen from the SW ridge of Lake Peak.
James ascending the SW ridge of Lake Peak.
Ten Thousand Foot Ridge as seen from a the western high point of Lake Peak. The top of Lake Peak is quite flat and covered with old growth lodgepole forest. The lodgepoles have left a thick carpet of needles which would make for excellent camping. Grinnell also has a lot of flat area on its summit, but Lake Peak is more densely forested and appears to be the nicer spot to camp.
The main summit of Lake Peak.
James on the main summit of Lake Peak.
Dry Lake country as seen from Lake Peak.
Charlton Peak (left), Dollar Lake Saddle, Anderson Peak, Shields Peak, and Alto Diablo.
Gorgonio and Jepson as seen from Lake Peak.
James taking in the scene from the summit of Lake Peak.
James scrambling around on the summit of Lake Peak.
James and the "jackal tree."
Another shot of James and the "jackal tree."
San Gorgonio Mtn from the top of Lake Peak. Note the large bowl on the ENE face of Gorgonio.
Looking down the steep W face of Lake Peak. Dry Lake is seen in the background.
Fish Creek Saddle. Here James and I are standing at the trail sign for the (currently unmaintained) trail leading to Lodgepole Springs. Someone had recently torn the sign out of the ground and thrown it in amongst some logs above Fish Creek Saddle Camp. James and I retrieved the sign and restored it to its proper place. It is beyond me why anyone would tamper with a trail sign. I hold in very low regard such persons. Perhaps someone thought that the sign should be removed since the trail is no longer maintained, but even then a historic sign such as this should be preserved not discarded as just so much trash. This sign has stood since the 50's and is part of our cultural heritage. Defacement or removal of our cultural heritage is a shameful act indeed.
A closer shot of James and I at the trail junction in Fish Creek Saddle. Note: The 1996 USGS topo map shows the trail camp in a location north of the saddle. The topo map is incorrect. The trail camp is directly in the saddle. Although there are a couple of sites in the northern part of the saddle, none of the sites are as far north as the topo map shows them.
From Fish Creek Saddle, we headed directly down the drainage in order to avoid the upper switchback. The section of the drainage that bypasses the upper switchback is reasonalby navigable, however I recommend that you rejoin the trail mid way down the drainage. The lower section of the drainage is far more rugged and is brush choked and is not a good alternative to the trail.
The Fish Creek Trail below the switchbacks. There was a tiny bit of water flowing at the point where the trail starts to switchback up to Fish Creek Saddle. This is a particularly lovely section of the SG Wilderness.
Fish Creek Meadows.
Fish Creek. We crossed Fish Creek here and returned to the trailhead to end our three day adventure. On our little adventure, we climbed two 10,000' peaks via XC routes, went into a seldom visited section of the SG Wilderness, did an exploratory XC route down the N Fork of the Whitewater River, and did a short XC route down from Fish Creek Saddle. While hardly Lewis and Clark expedition material, we had a lot of fun doing a bit more than the standard trails and the same old spots. :)
