Sunday, November 3, 2013
Friday, December 18, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
LSA Sunday December 13 2009
My friend Bernd and I wanted a canyon today and LSA beckoned
We'd done the canyon on 6/8/2008 shortly after the area was reopened after the Santa Anita Canyon fire that started on 4/2/2008 and extinguished on 5/1/2008 (photos)
I'd waffled on doing this until the NWS canceled the flash flood warning that'd been in effect all day Saturday 12/12 & early Sunday 12/13
I'd earlier expressed concern since the hourly forecast had 100% chance of rain until 4am with a 50% chance the remainder of the day. Along with the Flash Flood watch I was a no go.
The watch was lifted and I called Bernd and we where on....
I arrived at 7:15 am and sorted out my gear hacking off 45 feet off my 223 foot rope that'd suffered a core shot in Bailey Canyon the week before. :(
Bernd arrived at 7:45am and we where off by 8:15 am
There where a few hikers some of which turned back at the various rock falls and slides. As we rounded the ridge on the Mt Wilson Trail we heard the roar of the water flowing in the canyon!
I expressed concern about the last two drops, but knew we could deal with it or just back out, there is a spot up canyon where it is possible to climb up to the Mt Wilson Trail
We got our wetsuits on at First Water and headed down canyon about 9:30am, I could see lots of the rocks and stuff that fell into the canyon was washed out but much remained. The biggest problem we'd face the entire day was the numerous trees that have fallen in the canyon
At R2 a tree had fallen covering the anchor. But being a San Gabriel Canyoneer I had a collapsing pruning saw and went to work. We'd agreed it'd be best to leave the ropes in place until we where certain we could safely get past "The Spout".
That accomplished I went down "The Spout" first, at the bottom I stepped into the fastest part of the flow and it felt like I never touched the stone, rather I stepped on the water...A very odd feeling to be sure.
You still have too stoop under the chock stone but some has been washed away, it's gonna take a much more vigorous flow to wash it out.
Scrambling over, under and around the down trees was/is and will continue to be a pain for some time to come. At another rappel we had to break out the saw again, but this was to be the last time.
The hikeable part of the canyon had little evidence of the use trail that is usually very evident, lots of the rocks are loose so caution is required to get down safely.
"The Cave" was fun as I rappelled under the waterfall, Bernd rappelled off to the side. This and other places where the water hit me directly confirmed for me my decision to purchase a neoprene jacket for wet canyons. I can unzip it for the dry parts and zip it up for the wet ones. I used my farmer John shorty figuring the water wouldn't be all that cold (for me)
I was quite comfortable all day
Bernd wanted to have me in one of the videos so I gave him the camera at "The Saucer" which is still filled in :(
Past the emergency exit We came to the pothole and the final two rappels, I was belayed out to the anchor, and as I figured the pothole is still filled in WHAAAAAA
The last rappel was of concern to me as it would be hard if not impossible to stay out of the flow. If the flow was high this could be dangerous / fatal, but again the ropes where left in place until we where certain we could do it safely.
The rain of rocks we had the last time we where has was gone. Down canyon the debris basin behind the dam was noticeably shallower, I suspect the County Flood Control District will be out here soon trucking out all the fill to ???? who knows where.
They're gonna run out of places to put this stuff some day
Ah well it was a great day, certainly not hot nor was it cold... Goldielocks it was!
We'd done the canyon on 6/8/2008 shortly after the area was reopened after the Santa Anita Canyon fire that started on 4/2/2008 and extinguished on 5/1/2008 (photos)
I'd waffled on doing this until the NWS canceled the flash flood warning that'd been in effect all day Saturday 12/12 & early Sunday 12/13
I'd earlier expressed concern since the hourly forecast had 100% chance of rain until 4am with a 50% chance the remainder of the day. Along with the Flash Flood watch I was a no go.
The watch was lifted and I called Bernd and we where on....
I arrived at 7:15 am and sorted out my gear hacking off 45 feet off my 223 foot rope that'd suffered a core shot in Bailey Canyon the week before. :(
Bernd arrived at 7:45am and we where off by 8:15 am
There where a few hikers some of which turned back at the various rock falls and slides. As we rounded the ridge on the Mt Wilson Trail we heard the roar of the water flowing in the canyon!
I expressed concern about the last two drops, but knew we could deal with it or just back out, there is a spot up canyon where it is possible to climb up to the Mt Wilson Trail
We got our wetsuits on at First Water and headed down canyon about 9:30am, I could see lots of the rocks and stuff that fell into the canyon was washed out but much remained. The biggest problem we'd face the entire day was the numerous trees that have fallen in the canyon
At R2 a tree had fallen covering the anchor. But being a San Gabriel Canyoneer I had a collapsing pruning saw and went to work. We'd agreed it'd be best to leave the ropes in place until we where certain we could safely get past "The Spout".
That accomplished I went down "The Spout" first, at the bottom I stepped into the fastest part of the flow and it felt like I never touched the stone, rather I stepped on the water...A very odd feeling to be sure.
You still have too stoop under the chock stone but some has been washed away, it's gonna take a much more vigorous flow to wash it out.
Scrambling over, under and around the down trees was/is and will continue to be a pain for some time to come. At another rappel we had to break out the saw again, but this was to be the last time.
The hikeable part of the canyon had little evidence of the use trail that is usually very evident, lots of the rocks are loose so caution is required to get down safely.
"The Cave" was fun as I rappelled under the waterfall, Bernd rappelled off to the side. This and other places where the water hit me directly confirmed for me my decision to purchase a neoprene jacket for wet canyons. I can unzip it for the dry parts and zip it up for the wet ones. I used my farmer John shorty figuring the water wouldn't be all that cold (for me)
I was quite comfortable all day
Bernd wanted to have me in one of the videos so I gave him the camera at "The Saucer" which is still filled in :(
Past the emergency exit We came to the pothole and the final two rappels, I was belayed out to the anchor, and as I figured the pothole is still filled in WHAAAAAA
The last rappel was of concern to me as it would be hard if not impossible to stay out of the flow. If the flow was high this could be dangerous / fatal, but again the ropes where left in place until we where certain we could do it safely.
The rain of rocks we had the last time we where has was gone. Down canyon the debris basin behind the dam was noticeably shallower, I suspect the County Flood Control District will be out here soon trucking out all the fill to ???? who knows where.
They're gonna run out of places to put this stuff some day
Ah well it was a great day, certainly not hot nor was it cold... Goldielocks it was!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
After visiting this area on 12/3/09 I wanted to explore it a bit more..Today (12/9/09 Wednesday) seemed like a good day for it I'd previously hiked to Sandstone Peak which isn't really sandstone but volcanic rock, the peak named "Boney Mtn" on the Tom Harrison map looked to have some possibilities for long free hanging rappels I've been looking for.
Tri-Peak seemed of possible interest too, after looking at the map I decided a loop to "Boney Mtn", Tri-Peak, returning to Sandstone Peak Trailhead via the Mishe Mokwa Tr and connector was to be my route.
The Old Road Grade (ORG) (they call this a trail, it drives me mad!. It's a friggin road will always be a road) out of the Sandstone Peak Trailhead was deserted as was all the area parking lots on this cool Southern California morning. There was evidence on the ORG of a possible Mtn Lion, I stopped at one point and took a photo of one of the tracks (1.14 miles).
I made good time to the summit trail to Sandstone Peak (1.45, 0:38:17), and on toward "Boney Pk". I decided to approach from the saddle on the west (2.20, 0:55:04) . There was what appeared to be an Old trail grade (OTG) here. I followed it down a ways until it appeared to be going in a direction I didn't wan to go. I then went cross country and on game trails to "Boney Pk"
As I suspected the cliffs I saw from Sandstone Peak trailhead parking lot where not as vertical as they appeared to be from a distance. There are some rock climbing routes with bolted anchors, I followed the use trail back to my start point which I walked right by on my way to the saddle.
Further on the ORG a spur trail to Inspiration Point beckoned (2.79 1:32:19). It was lunch time so I made for it. There's a little BSA monument with compass pointing to various distant landmarks. This spot provided some additional views of Boney Pk.
I made my way to Tri-Peak, the use trail becomes less and less distinct as I approached the "Summit", passing by a surveyors monument "El Conejo", it appears to be a random point on a section line, there is more rock climbing route here.
I went back the way I came passing one, then another, & yet a third hiker, as I made my way down Mishe Mokwa Tr toward Split Rock.
Stopped at Split Rock for a drink and look at the map (5.66 3:07:34) . The Tom Harrison map sez 1.3 miles I make it 1.45 miles or so, There where people climbing at the "Java Wall" and I passed 2 more hikers.
I took the connector back (1.3 miles) to the ORG (0.16) and down to Sandstone Peak Trailhead (0.35) for a total of 7.54 miles 4hrs 1min 47sec
Tri-Peak seemed of possible interest too, after looking at the map I decided a loop to "Boney Mtn", Tri-Peak, returning to Sandstone Peak Trailhead via the Mishe Mokwa Tr and connector was to be my route.
The Old Road Grade (ORG) (they call this a trail, it drives me mad!. It's a friggin road will always be a road) out of the Sandstone Peak Trailhead was deserted as was all the area parking lots on this cool Southern California morning. There was evidence on the ORG of a possible Mtn Lion, I stopped at one point and took a photo of one of the tracks (1.14 miles).
I made good time to the summit trail to Sandstone Peak (1.45, 0:38:17), and on toward "Boney Pk". I decided to approach from the saddle on the west (2.20, 0:55:04) . There was what appeared to be an Old trail grade (OTG) here. I followed it down a ways until it appeared to be going in a direction I didn't wan to go. I then went cross country and on game trails to "Boney Pk"
As I suspected the cliffs I saw from Sandstone Peak trailhead parking lot where not as vertical as they appeared to be from a distance. There are some rock climbing routes with bolted anchors, I followed the use trail back to my start point which I walked right by on my way to the saddle.
Further on the ORG a spur trail to Inspiration Point beckoned (2.79 1:32:19). It was lunch time so I made for it. There's a little BSA monument with compass pointing to various distant landmarks. This spot provided some additional views of Boney Pk.
I made my way to Tri-Peak, the use trail becomes less and less distinct as I approached the "Summit", passing by a surveyors monument "El Conejo", it appears to be a random point on a section line, there is more rock climbing route here.
I went back the way I came passing one, then another, & yet a third hiker, as I made my way down Mishe Mokwa Tr toward Split Rock.
Stopped at Split Rock for a drink and look at the map (5.66 3:07:34) . The Tom Harrison map sez 1.3 miles I make it 1.45 miles or so, There where people climbing at the "Java Wall" and I passed 2 more hikers.
I took the connector back (1.3 miles) to the ORG (0.16) and down to Sandstone Peak Trailhead (0.35) for a total of 7.54 miles 4hrs 1min 47sec
Circle X Ranch area
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