Three Tees Hike - September 10, 2011

Timber Mt. / Telegraph Peak / Thunder Mt.

See Timber Mt. hike description and Telegraph Peak/Thunder Mt. hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

What an incredible hike! Cucamonga Wilderness offers spectacular scenery and some of the finest hiking in the San Gabriels. And today I finally got to conquer the Three Tees: Timber Mt. (8303’), Telegraph Peak (8985’), and Thunder Mt. (8587’).

The Three Tees have been calling me for years. Previously I’ve hiked Thunder Mt. and Telegraph Peak from Baldy Notch, and Timber Mt. from Icehouse Canyon. But I’ve not had the opportunity to hike all three summits in one hike. One of the hitches is that it requires a car shuttle. A few years ago a couple friends and I had planned to do the hike and had our cars in place, but ended up hiking to Baldy instead because one friend decided he was not up to the Three Tees.

In the last number of weeks I’ve gotten into a groove of hiking an average of about 9 miles a hike with meaningful elevation gain. In the middle of that an opportunity came up to join a group in hiking to Baldy via Bear Flat on Sept. 17...6,000 feet in 6 miles. So I figured that Three Tees would be a great final conditioning hike with more than 5,000 feet in elevation gain. And heck with the car shuttle! I’ll just try to hitch a ride from somebody at my destination.

5:15 AM - Begin my hike at Icehouse Canyon trailhead (4960’). It is almost a repeat of my hike two weeks ago, only now it is darker and cooler. Stars shine through patches of clouds. My pace is earnest but guarded since I know I have long hike ahead of me. Dawn arrive as I’m in the upper canyon. There is an amazing beauty to the stillness of a new day emerging. I fill a bottle at Columbine Spring.

7:14 - Arrive at Icehouse Saddle (7580’). I had total solitude the whole way. A strong, chilly breeze blows from the east. I pause only briefly as I see other hikers coming up the trail. I head north toward Timber Mt. The expanding views are stunning. As I walk it’s almost like I’m on sacred ground. There is such a special quality about this amazing forest. I look across the canyon toward Bighorn Peak to reflect on my adventure two weeks ago. On the second switchback as I approach the ascending ridge, I look up and there is a magnificent bighorn sheep ram standing majestically on the ridge about 150 feet away. I gasped in unbelief. This is my very first bighorn sighting in all my years of hiking. What a wonderful encounter! Read about my bighorn experience here. Shortly I reach the broad west ridge of Timber Mt. and turn right (east) on the signed junction and climb the .25 miles to the summit.

8:04 - Timber Mountain (8303’), the first of my Three Tees, achieving the first 3,400 feet of my climb for the day. It’s been 7 years since I’ve been here. It’s cool and cloudy. There is an incredible peacefulness. I sit on some rocks on the north edge of the summit, eat, and study the massive southern flank of Telegraph Mt. The maps show the trial going straight up the ridge, but I don’t see any semblance of possibility of any such route. I leave the peak at 8:55 as others have arrived.

Back at the trail junction I turn right (northwest) to begin my 560-foot decent to a saddle. This is my first time on this portion of Three Tees Trail. Telegraph Peak looms ahead. I am thoroughly enjoying the incredible scenery. This truly is a wilderness with virtually no human trappings. The narrow path makes the lightest of impact. Carpets of manzanita cover the slopes and tall pines and firs reach to the sky.

9:26 - Timber/Telegraph saddle (7740’). Amazing beauty! Windy. Views east and west. I review the map and psych up for the 1,245-foot climb ahead of me. Still can’t see any semblance of trial up the steep ridge. I continue up the trail as it climbs northwest past knob 8023’. The manzanita needs trimming along the trail here. Great view down into Telegraph Wash. I reach another small saddle and decide to walk the 100 yards or so south to the top of knob 8023’. Most rewarding. Back at the saddle I hear voices coming up the trail.

At 10:16 I begin to climb the steep ridge to Telegraph Peak. This route had been a mystery to me, but now I see, contrary to the maps, it does not go straight up the ridge. The trail climbs at a reasonable rate using a number of switchbacks as it zigzags up the east flank of the ridge. At several places the switchbacks meet the ridge and provide spectacular views west and down. At one of these points I scramble off trail 30 feet to a rugged outcropping and linger for a bit, enjoy great views, and let the noisy voices of two male hikers pass. I continue up. I’m so enjoying the amazing landscape and thankful for the cool weather.

The trail reaches a wide hip on the ridge below high point 8921’. I pause to soak in the views. A passerby asks for directions. Others are coming up the trail. I run into Andrew with SGV Hikers. He is leading a group of about 20. I met Andrew at Fish Canyon a while back. From here the trail climbs straightway to the gentle saddle between Telegraph Peak and high point 8921’. Just before reaching that saddle, I turn left and take the 5-minute walk to the high point, which stands at the southern edge of Telegraph Ridge.

11:24 - Summit 8921’. Wow! For an unnamed summit that is mostly ignored, this is one the finest peaks in the San Gabriels! The scenery is stunning. I sit on a comfortable rock out of the cold wind, have some lunch, study the maps, and soak in the incredible landscape. There are remarkable places of solitude in the San Gabriels. Nearby thunder prompts me to move my poncho from my pack to my pants pocket. As I leave the summit I decide to explore the dominate ridge that juts west. As usual, it is a most rewarding jaunt. Now off to Telegraph Peak.

12:26 - Telegraph Peak junction (8800’). I’m back at the point where I was with my buddy Drew 8 years ago. Boy, has it been that long?! The scene is familiar because I have a photo of it on my Inspiration page. As I’m walking up the trial to Telegraph I run into Andrew again and with him is Letty, who I met at Fish Canyon awhile back. Nice to see her and meet Jennifer, who is a fan of Dan’s Hiking Pages. The trail gets steep in the final pitch to the summit. The sun is warm now and I’m ready to shed the long sleeves.

12:47 - Telegraph Peak (8985’), the second of my Three Tees for today and 4,000 feet above the trailhead. This is wonderful peak with slopes steeply dropping a thousand feet. Three young men are leaving. The peak register is in stainless steal strongbox chained to a rock. Peaks in view include Timber, Bighorn, and Cucamonga to the south and Thunder, Dawson, Harwood, Badly, and West Baldy to the north. The Cajon Pass, the Mojave Desert, and the San Bernardino Mountains are to the east. Distant views are obscured by clouds and haze. The view west is dominated by the west end of the ridge where I was earlier (8921'). The clouds create fascinating shadows and lighting on the surrounding mountains.

Leave Telegraph peak at 1:20 and retrace my steps to the junction (9 minutes). Turn right (north) and begin the 620-foot descent to the Telegraph/Thunder saddle. Several long switchback legs negotiate the steep slope. I’m loving the majestic scenery of Cucamonga Wilderness.

2:02 - Telegraph/Thunder saddle (8180’). Windy. Stunning imagery looking back toward the “Baldy-Bowl-like” northern slope of Telegraph Peak (photo at top). A lush carpet of manzanita graces the view down into Cedar Canyon to the west. I begin my final 400 feet of climbing for the day as the trail ascends the southern slope of Thunder Mt. At 2:22 I reach the end of Three Tees Trail at the wilderness boundary on the west ridge of Thunder Mt. I bend right on the wide ski-slope swath and walk the final 0.1 mile to the summit.

2:33 - Thunder Mt. (8587’), the third of my Three Tees for today and the culmination of 5,100 feet in elevation gain. The bulldozed summit, ski lift machinery, fences, and other miscellaneous junk makes this peak a homely visit and an anticlimactic final peak to an otherwise fantastic hike. I make the best of it as I sit on the ski lift foundation, enjoy a snack, and reflect on the accomplishment of getting here. The billowing white clouds adorn the sky. Leave summit at 2:55. At the junction I turn right (east) and begin the 1.5-mile descent to Badly Notch. I ponder the possibility of building a handsome trail from the notch to bypass this unappealing dirt road. Almost to the notch, a 4-way signed junction, “Desert View,” provides a glimpse of the desert through the V-shaped canyon to the northeast, but it's nothing compared to the real desert views found on the peaks.

3:42 - Baldy Notch (7840’). I’m done, kind of. Wander around a little more and take navigational notes for hike descriptions. I walk over to the chair lift on the far south and study the north slopes of Thunder Mt. looking for ways to bypass the dirt road. At the lodge I pay my $10 fare for the 15-minute ski lift ride down.

4:32 - Arrive at ski lift parking lot. Now to find a ride. Thankfully, the first people I asked were graciously willing to give me a ride to Icehouse. They are hikers new to the area and were scouting out trails. I arrive back to my car at 4:48.

Epilog - What a fulfilling day of hiking! The spectacular beauty along Three Tees Trail revivals anything that Baldy has to offer. I enjoyed considerable solitude and fascinating weather. Running into hikers I’ve met previously is always nice and I value the positive affirmation I receive from users of Dan’s Hiking Pages. Not being struck by lighting is a good thing. Encountering a bighorn sheep for the first time is an experience I shall savor. Ten miles and 5,100 feet in total elevation gain is good preparation for next week’s hike to Baldy via Bear Flat Trail. I am humbly ready to challenge The Mountain.

See Timber Mt. hike description and Telegraph Peak/Thunder Mt. hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

See the photo album for this hike - Featuring 88 photos with captions
 

Register Ridge to Harwood, Baldy & W. Baldy - Aug. 21, 2011

See Introducing Mt. Baldy and Mt. Baldy hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

Unequivocally, this was one of my very best hike experiences in the San Gabriels. An amazing day of hiking! I’ve been hearing about the Register Ridge route for years, but its purported difficulty has had me avoiding it. But two weeks ago while hiking to Mt. Baldy, I met a man who had just hiked it that morning. So based on his first-hand report, I decided it was time to tackle the notorious Register Ridge. The route begins on Ski Hut Trail just past the sign-in register, climbs 2,600 in about 1.6 miles, and intersects Devils Backbone Trail on the south face of Mt. Harwood. My plan was to hike the ridge and continue onto Harwood. Then if I felt up to it, I could continue on to Baldy or descend via the Backbone.

I psyched myself up the whole week, read some hike descriptions, studied maps and aerials, and got my gear together. And the weather forecast was for mild temps. I arose at 5:00 Sunday morning and headed off to Manker Flats.

6:25 AM - Begin hike (6160') on Falls Road. I was here two weeks ago but this morning there is an excitement in my step. The ragged ramparts of Baldy Bowl catch the morning’s first rays of sun 3,900 feet above. I transition onto Ski Hut Trail, sign the register, round the bend and arrive at the junction for the Register Ridge route. I take 5 minutes and do some stretching exercises.

6:55 - Begin climbing Register Ridge. The well-worn path zigzags up the steep slope. The footing is loose and I’m thankful I brought a walking poll. At 7:07 I step into the sun. It’s bright. Shortly the trail gets less steep. A gentle breeze feels good. I’m loving the expanding views in all directions. Baldy Bowl in all its glory rises high above while a marine layer blankets the valleys below. I’m seeing the area from a perspective I’ve not experienced before. I love the smell of pine. Sugar pine, Jeffery pine, and white fir decorate the ridge. The path is easy to follow for the most part. At one point I find my own route scampering over some rocks. There are great views down both sides of the ridge. The climb is steep but I’m really enjoying the trail. There is a real sense of climbing a mountain. And I have it all to myself! The grand scenery is breathtaking while the micro features such as pine cones, stumps, dead branches, and delicate flowers add a unique beauty. At times the ridge gets narrow with steep drop-offs.

8:36 - Reach a high spot on the ridge which drops slightly to a small saddle. The ridge broadens out and the climb gets steeper. A huge outcropping greets me and I pass easily to its left. Scrambling up scree now. Stopping to catch my breath affords me ample time to soak in the majestic vistas. I am thoroughly enjoying an exhilarating climb. Gentle breezes and pleasant temps are so welcome.

9:29 - Arrive at a splendid outcropping which provides an ideal place to sit, rest, eat, and savor the awesome scenery. I don’t feel guilty for lingering a half hour since this setting rivals just about any peak in the San Gabriels. I call my wife, upload a photo to Facebook (technology...gotta love it!) and enjoy perfect solitude...until I hear the clicking of trekking poles. A woman and man pass me climbing to the top. Finally I leave this delightful spot at l0:05. Manzanita and gnarled pines dominate the landscape of the now-broad mountainside. Suddenly I’m caught by surprise as I see a runner moving laterally just ahead. Wow, I’m almost there!

10:12 - Arrive at Devils Backbone Trail. Maybe I was over psyched for climb, but it was not nearly as tough as I thought it would be. Perhaps the shire beauty of the route outweighed its difficulty. Or maybe 5 weeks of noteworthy conditioning helped. I’m reluctant to even mention Register Ridge for concern of increasing its traffic. But it is indeed a serious climb and its demand for experienced hikers in good hiking condition will always weed out the multitudes. Word to the wise: Don’t even consider this route unless you can handily climb Ski Hut Trail to Baldy.

10:18 - I feel great so I fix my gaze to the north and begin ascending Mt. Harwood. There is no established route--I just climb straight up the crushed-rock-covered barren mass. The scenery is breathtakingly expansive. I’m having such an enjoyable hike!

10:29 - Mt. Harwood (9552’). Wow, this is an awesome summit! The vistas are simply stunning. It’s curious to me that peaks often have their identity based on the relationship to other peaks. If Old Baldy wasn’t looming above it by 500 feet, this would certainly be one of the most popular peaks in the San Gabriels. The wind is blowing briskly and I strap on my hat. The view northwest toward Dawson Peak and Pine Mt. reinforces my desire to hike them this season. I leave the summit at 10:44 and head west toward Baldy. In 100 yards I pass a spacecraft-looking device that seems at home on this moonscape (It’s actually an EarthScope GPS monitoring station). I pass a couple outcroppings and descend to the saddle as I eyeball the steep pitch to Baldy with hikers looking like ants sprinkled along the route.

11:02 - Badly/Harwood saddle (9360’). With the solitude behind me, I now join the masses in scaling the 700 vertical feet to Baldy’s summit. The scenery is still stunning and the temps still pleasant. A stiff wind to my back at times helps propel me uphill. After 18 minutes I reach a junction where the route splits. To the right the trial is less steep as it passes through a draw. I veer left on the steeper trail with the intent to explore the rim of Baldy Bowl. I wander off the trail in several spots to view the spectacular scene. Massive scree slopes, topped by jagged rocks, drop a 1,000 feet.

11:33 - I reach a recessed area. I continue to bear left staying close to the rim. I climb a knoll and am drawn downward toward a small outcropping and then down to a large one. What an incredible vantage point as I sit perched on the very rim of Baldy Bowl. I’d love to be sitting at the ski hut and see me sitting up here! I’ve long been one who strays off the path to find interesting things, and this ranks as a real treasure. I linger, snack, soak in the beauty, and feel no need to rush off to a crowded, bald summit. At 12:02 I leave my sweet spot and head toward the peak. It’s fun creating my own route. I reach the main trail at 12:27 and take the final steps to the top.

12:29 - Mt. Baldy summit (10,064’)! It’s a great peak but I’m not as wowed today after having experienced the amazing scenery on Register Ridge, Mt. Harwood, and Baldy Bowl rim. I count 14 people here. I still feel great so decide to make it a triple crown day! I manage to accomplish what I wasn’t able to two weeks ago: I stay briefly! At 12:39 I leave the summit and head toward West Baldy. I follow the path that traverses directly down the board, gentle ridge. Wispy white clouds in the deep blue sky add beauty to the day. I reach the saddle in 10 minutes and begin the climb to my third summit for the day.

12:56 - West Baldy (9988') - I meet Cindy, Lindella, and Tony, who climbed here via the long route on Bear Flat Trail from the village. We chat and I’m amazed and inspired by their hiking exploits. There is a lot less haze today than two weeks ago when I made my first visit to this peak. Leave the summit at 1:42 and retrace my steps to Baldy.

2:02 - Mt. Baldy summit, the second time. Count 18 people. Linger for a while, have a snack, chat with few people, and enjoy the beauty of this grand, bald summit.

Leave the peak at 2:25 to begin my 3.2 mile trek to Baldy Notch. I’m glad the sun is to my back. Hikers are still coming up the trail. My pace is casual as I enjoy the scenery and take pictures. Reach the Baldy/Harwood saddle at 3:01. It’s nice to finally be on a decent trail. At 3:13 I pass the junction of Register Ridge route. I smile with satisfaction. I continue along Devils Backbone Trail. I’m surprised to run into my friend Dave Dorman, who’s coming up the trail. I chuckle because over the years we have crossed paths while hiking on 5 or 6 occasions. I guess we’re on the same wavelength in trial selection. A few minutes later I meet a young man named Drew who recognized me from my hiking website. He’s working on a personal best time up Baldy. I take a short snack break sitting on a log. I still have ice in my Gatorade...so refreshing!

4:06 - Reach the backbone section. It’s pretty short in contrast to its notoriety. I walk it in 10 minutes. Always breathtaking scenery. My pace is casual as I walk along the ski lift service road. My body is starting to feel the effects of a long day of hiking. I resist the temptation to drop down one of the ski runs, although, they do make good shortcuts.

4:51 - Baldy Notch (7800’). I’m so done. Ten bucks for a one-way ski lift ticket is a good value right now. I’ve never ridden the lift going up but I can justify going down after a long hike. I enjoy the 15-minute ride down the 1,500 vertical feet and arrive at the bottom at 5:22. Now walk the half mile back to the car.

5:40 - Done, indeed!

Epilog - What an amazing day of hiking! The weather was perfect. The Baldy high country is stunning. Connecting with other hikers, experiencing a new route, exploring Baldy Bowl rim, and hitting all three peaks was greatly rewarding. I am always eternally grateful for these wonderful mountains in my back yard and for the gift of being able to hike.

See Introducing Mt. Baldy and Mt. Baldy hike description at Dan's Hiking Pages

See Mt. Baldy Hike photo album (8-21-11)