Mt Whitney Zone Forums Trip Reports San Gorgonio - South Fork Trail

My last training hike before my Whitney summit attempt was yesterday (9/11). Summited San Grorgonio using the South Fork trail. It was a beautiful day, hit the summit a little before 1pm. Clear blue sky, cool temps, and breezy. Found a summit register (notebook) left by Jeff Schofield earlier in the day. (Jeff posts on the WPS board) The register is dedicated to 9/11 and all those in the military. I thought that was a very nice gesture.

For those that are not familiar with the South Fork trail, it splits a little over 4 miles up. It goes towards the west to a cut-off for Dollar Lake or east towards Dry Lake. Both trails meet again about .5 mile from the summit. I decided to take the Dollar Lake trail up and the Dry Lake trail down, to make a loop. I knew the day was going to be long, as the loop is 23.7 miles. And it was a very long day. About 13 hrs car to car.

If I can find the cable to my camera to download the pictures I will post a few. There's a couple that I hope look good. There was an avalanche over the winter that downed a grove of trees that had to cover the trail at least 20' accross and 6' deep. Looking at the debris field, you can really understand the power of a avalanche. I have to give high praise to the folks that cleared the trail.

The other is a few shots of a military plane crash from 1956. I had read about it, but reading and seeing the photos really doesn't do it justice. The wreckage must have covered the trail at some point. I was really amazed at how much was still intact over 50+ winters/summers. There's a plaque as a memorial and it lists all the people that lost their lives. Almost all USMC. It really moved me, especially considering the date, 9/11. I'm not expecting my photos to capture the site the way it should, but I'm hoping it will be enough for me to remember the moment.

Anyway, there is a lookout point about 2.5 miles from the trailhead, Poop Out Hill. On the way up I found it amusing and was thinking of all the ways that could be interpreted. On the way back, as dusk is setting, my feet are aching, my left hip/knee is on fire with pain (IT band flare up which made the downhill very slow), I passed the sign and I have know idea why, but the old 'Vitametavegamin' skit from I Love Lucy came to mind. In particular the part of the skit that has Lucy saying 'Do you poop out at parties'. I started busting up.

Made it back to the car as it was just getting dark and while taking the boots off was treatd to a moon rise of one of the biggest cresent moon I've seen in awhile. Along with Mars close by. (at least I think it was Mars, I should check to make sure)

A little over a week to rest and recover and treat the IT band and then off to Lone Pine.

Wazzu,

From your report it sounds like you may be on the trail to Mt Whitney during the same time as I and my friends are. I've read your posts and hopefully I will be able to meet you in person on the trail. If you see four, chatty women who all think they're each the leader of the pack, that will be us. Three of us work together Mon - Fri and we all walk marathons together,we're like sisters.

P.S. I hope no one minds, but we tend to break a rule.....we enjoy happy hour every night.

Happy trails to you.

What rule would that be Lynn? I'm aware of no such rule. I can assure you they've never heard of this rule at the Portal.

Best of luck to both you and wazzu! Hope you all have good weather, successful summits, superb TRs and lots of photos.

Turn up in Fresno some time & we will show you a Happy Hour. To remember.

lynn, I will be at Horseshoe Meadows starting Sun 9/18 then to the portal on 9/22 and starting my day hike very early on 9/23. Maybe we will pass on the trail. You can't miss my day-glo yellow hiking poles.

And I've never heard of a rule about no happy hours while enjoying the great outdoors. If there is such a rule, I've broken it many, many times.

Have you read Bulldogs story about good friends, happy hour, steaks, and a bear?

wazzu,

Bummer, we'll be at the Portal on 9/18 when you're at the Meadows and we'll be departing on 9/21. I guess I'm going to miss seeing your day-glo hiking poles. All four of us girls will probably be wearing day-glo t-shirts so you would have complimented our attire.

I'm so glad to hear that you, wagga and Bulldog approve of Happy Hour on the mountain. I brought the subject up teasingly at a backpacking seminar being given one night in Yosemite and I thought the eyes of the room were burning a hole through me with disdain. I'll have to check out Bulldogs story, thanks for the tip.

http://www.whitneyzone.com/wz/ubbthreads.php/topics/4737/A_Walk_in_the_Woods#Post4737

lynn, here's the link to the bear story, you'll have to read from the begining.

hope all the angels have a great time!

i'll send you a pm

Damn wazzu, how'd you come up with that one?! That was quite a while back, as posts go.

And Lynn, just ignore that far-too-serious backpacking crowd's disapproval of Mountain Happy Hour. They're not the majority - or even a major minority - but they sure want you to believe they are. Probably the same population sub-set that had the Happy Meals outlawed at some Cali McDonald's. Over the top and controlling, certainly not representative of what you'll find at the Portal. Doug keeps a very well-stocked, high-quality beer cooler for a reason. As some on the boards describe themselves: drinkers with a hiking problem. I know several high-profile Sierra regulars who won't blink an eye at the thought of hauling a bottle of scotch or a bladder of wine to the backcountry for that special summit - or just for the helluvit. And care one whit what some amped-up, shame-on-you, backpacking zealot thinks? Hah!

The real wilderness ethics key is to haul the empties back, though!

Me and Zach must have broke some major rules after we iced down the rum and Coke he packed up to our campsite near the wrecked DC3. Tied all three bottles (one coke, two rum) to a shoestring and tossed them in the lake while we explored. After dinner, it was right out of a Joe Walsh song - Life's Been Good To Me So Far.................................DUG

And then there was the Ultra-lighter I read about once. Guy was obsessed with weight, but was also one of those drinkers with a hiking problem. His formula for maximum efficiency was Golden Grain, Crystal Light packets and stream water. This dude meant business.

An aptly titled book by the late great (beloved hero of mine) Richard Feynman says it all:

"What Do You Care What Other People Think?"

(the book's title is taken from a question Feynman's wife often put to him when he seemed preoccupied with his colleagues' opinions about his work.)