Mike Werner, who came to town from Anchorage, Alaska to visit his father, donated some of his visiting time to driving Sue and me to the starting point for the Day 7 hike. We greatly appreciate Mike's contribution on this exceedingly difficult shuttle day. The barricade across the Angeles Crest Highway marks the western terminus of the highway closure zone. In order to be picked up at the other end, we had to walk to the eastern end of the closure zone at Vincent Gap.
The Pacific Crest Trail from this starting point climbs up and over the slope of Mount Williamson before arriving at Islip Saddle. Because there was no traffic on the highway, we chose to walk on the highway through two tunnels that went under Mount Williamson, thus saving ourselves a lot of extra up and down distance. Note the complexity of the relationships between gneiss, diorite, and granite on the face of the mountain.
At Islip Saddle we left the highway and resumed our hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail was pretty steep in many places, so Sue got out her walking sticks.
Near Little Jimmy Trail Camp the trail flattens out for a while and passes through shady groves of white fir trees. Jeffrey pine and sugar pine were also common on these slopes.
At Little Jimmy Trail Camp we paused for a short rest and had a snack. Little Jimmy Spring, just a quarter mile from the camp, was producing an excellent flow of water.
Beyond Windy Gap on the west slope of Mount Hawkins ridge the trail passes through the fringes of the burn area from the Curve Fire that burned through the Crystal Lake area in September, 2002. At this altitude, after over three years, natural reforestation has not progressed very far.
A nice Jeffrey pine on Mount Hawkins ridge provided a shady spot for our lunch, which commonly consists of sandwich, banana, apple, cookies, and water.
After skirting around the south side of Throop Peak, we got our first look at Mount Baden Powell, which would be the high point on our hike.
The trail on the north slope of Mount Baden Powell passes through many shady groves of exceptionally large lodgepole pine trees.
Sue celebrates and has some trail mix for a snack after reaching the high point on the hike. The rest of the day was all downhill.
The Boy Scout Baden Powell monument at the top of Mount Baden Powell (9,399 feet elevation). Sue and Gene were last here over 50 years ago. Gene hiked the Silver Moccasin Trail twice as a Boy Scout, and Sue led several Girl Scout groups to the top while serving as a Girl Scout Camp Counselor.
It's a long way down from Mount Baden Powell to Vincent Gap. We had already descended quite a ways before we could finally see down to where the bottom of the canyon was below us. It took one and a half hours of almost constant downhill walking to make it.
Although it had been our longest day of the entire GeoTrek, 14.4 miles, and the most elevation gain and loss of any single day, we were still able to stand on our feet long enough for a picture at Vincent Gap.
Photo of Old Baldy (the mountain in the background, not the guy in the green shirt). George Dunne kindly volunteered to pick us up at Vincent Gap and take us back home after the hike. We commend him for donating some of his time to make our part of the GeoTrek project a little easier. Mount San Antonio (Old Baldy, with some snow still on the north slope) is the highest mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains; Mount Baden Powell is the second highest.
The Pacific Crest Trail from this starting point climbs up and over the slope of Mount Williamson before arriving at Islip Saddle. Because there was no traffic on the highway, we chose to walk on the highway through two tunnels that went under Mount Williamson, thus saving ourselves a lot of extra up and down distance. Note the complexity of the relationships between gneiss, diorite, and granite on the face of the mountain.
At Islip Saddle we left the highway and resumed our hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail was pretty steep in many places, so Sue got out her walking sticks.
Near Little Jimmy Trail Camp the trail flattens out for a while and passes through shady groves of white fir trees. Jeffrey pine and sugar pine were also common on these slopes.
At Little Jimmy Trail Camp we paused for a short rest and had a snack. Little Jimmy Spring, just a quarter mile from the camp, was producing an excellent flow of water.
Beyond Windy Gap on the west slope of Mount Hawkins ridge the trail passes through the fringes of the burn area from the Curve Fire that burned through the Crystal Lake area in September, 2002. At this altitude, after over three years, natural reforestation has not progressed very far.
A nice Jeffrey pine on Mount Hawkins ridge provided a shady spot for our lunch, which commonly consists of sandwich, banana, apple, cookies, and water.
After skirting around the south side of Throop Peak, we got our first look at Mount Baden Powell, which would be the high point on our hike.
The trail on the north slope of Mount Baden Powell passes through many shady groves of exceptionally large lodgepole pine trees.
Sue celebrates and has some trail mix for a snack after reaching the high point on the hike. The rest of the day was all downhill.
The Boy Scout Baden Powell monument at the top of Mount Baden Powell (9,399 feet elevation). Sue and Gene were last here over 50 years ago. Gene hiked the Silver Moccasin Trail twice as a Boy Scout, and Sue led several Girl Scout groups to the top while serving as a Girl Scout Camp Counselor.
It's a long way down from Mount Baden Powell to Vincent Gap. We had already descended quite a ways before we could finally see down to where the bottom of the canyon was below us. It took one and a half hours of almost constant downhill walking to make it.
Although it had been our longest day of the entire GeoTrek, 14.4 miles, and the most elevation gain and loss of any single day, we were still able to stand on our feet long enough for a picture at Vincent Gap.
Photo of Old Baldy (the mountain in the background, not the guy in the green shirt). George Dunne kindly volunteered to pick us up at Vincent Gap and take us back home after the hike. We commend him for donating some of his time to make our part of the GeoTrek project a little easier. Mount San Antonio (Old Baldy, with some snow still on the north slope) is the highest mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains; Mount Baden Powell is the second highest.
At Islip Saddle we left the highway and resumed our hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail was pretty steep in many places, so Sue got out her walking sticks.
Near Little Jimmy Trail Camp the trail flattens out for a while and passes through shady groves of white fir trees. Jeffrey pine and sugar pine were also common on these slopes.
At Little Jimmy Trail Camp we paused for a short rest and had a snack. Little Jimmy Spring, just a quarter mile from the camp, was producing an excellent flow of water.
Beyond Windy Gap on the west slope of Mount Hawkins ridge the trail passes through the fringes of the burn area from the Curve Fire that burned through the Crystal Lake area in September, 2002. At this altitude, after over three years, natural reforestation has not progressed very far.
A nice Jeffrey pine on Mount Hawkins ridge provided a shady spot for our lunch, which commonly consists of sandwich, banana, apple, cookies, and water.
After skirting around the south side of Throop Peak, we got our first look at Mount Baden Powell, which would be the high point on our hike.
The trail on the north slope of Mount Baden Powell passes through many shady groves of exceptionally large lodgepole pine trees.
Sue celebrates and has some trail mix for a snack after reaching the high point on the hike. The rest of the day was all downhill.
The Boy Scout Baden Powell monument at the top of Mount Baden Powell (9,399 feet elevation). Sue and Gene were last here over 50 years ago. Gene hiked the Silver Moccasin Trail twice as a Boy Scout, and Sue led several Girl Scout groups to the top while serving as a Girl Scout Camp Counselor.
It's a long way down from Mount Baden Powell to Vincent Gap. We had already descended quite a ways before we could finally see down to where the bottom of the canyon was below us. It took one and a half hours of almost constant downhill walking to make it.
Although it had been our longest day of the entire GeoTrek, 14.4 miles, and the most elevation gain and loss of any single day, we were still able to stand on our feet long enough for a picture at Vincent Gap.
Photo of Old Baldy (the mountain in the background, not the guy in the green shirt). George Dunne kindly volunteered to pick us up at Vincent Gap and take us back home after the hike. We commend him for donating some of his time to make our part of the GeoTrek project a little easier. Mount San Antonio (Old Baldy, with some snow still on the north slope) is the highest mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains; Mount Baden Powell is the second highest.
Near Little Jimmy Trail Camp the trail flattens out for a while and passes through shady groves of white fir trees. Jeffrey pine and sugar pine were also common on these slopes.
At Little Jimmy Trail Camp we paused for a short rest and had a snack. Little Jimmy Spring, just a quarter mile from the camp, was producing an excellent flow of water.
Beyond Windy Gap on the west slope of Mount Hawkins ridge the trail passes through the fringes of the burn area from the Curve Fire that burned through the Crystal Lake area in September, 2002. At this altitude, after over three years, natural reforestation has not progressed very far.
A nice Jeffrey pine on Mount Hawkins ridge provided a shady spot for our lunch, which commonly consists of sandwich, banana, apple, cookies, and water.
After skirting around the south side of Throop Peak, we got our first look at Mount Baden Powell, which would be the high point on our hike.
The trail on the north slope of Mount Baden Powell passes through many shady groves of exceptionally large lodgepole pine trees.
Sue celebrates and has some trail mix for a snack after reaching the high point on the hike. The rest of the day was all downhill.
The Boy Scout Baden Powell monument at the top of Mount Baden Powell (9,399 feet elevation). Sue and Gene were last here over 50 years ago. Gene hiked the Silver Moccasin Trail twice as a Boy Scout, and Sue led several Girl Scout groups to the top while serving as a Girl Scout Camp Counselor.
It's a long way down from Mount Baden Powell to Vincent Gap. We had already descended quite a ways before we could finally see down to where the bottom of the canyon was below us. It took one and a half hours of almost constant downhill walking to make it.
Although it had been our longest day of the entire GeoTrek, 14.4 miles, and the most elevation gain and loss of any single day, we were still able to stand on our feet long enough for a picture at Vincent Gap.
Photo of Old Baldy (the mountain in the background, not the guy in the green shirt). George Dunne kindly volunteered to pick us up at Vincent Gap and take us back home after the hike. We commend him for donating some of his time to make our part of the GeoTrek project a little easier. Mount San Antonio (Old Baldy, with some snow still on the north slope) is the highest mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains; Mount Baden Powell is the second highest.
At Little Jimmy Trail Camp we paused for a short rest and had a snack. Little Jimmy Spring, just a quarter mile from the camp, was producing an excellent flow of water.
Beyond Windy Gap on the west slope of Mount Hawkins ridge the trail passes through the fringes of the burn area from the Curve Fire that burned through the Crystal Lake area in September, 2002. At this altitude, after over three years, natural reforestation has not progressed very far.
A nice Jeffrey pine on Mount Hawkins ridge provided a shady spot for our lunch, which commonly consists of sandwich, banana, apple, cookies, and water.
After skirting around the south side of Throop Peak, we got our first look at Mount Baden Powell, which would be the high point on our hike.
The trail on the north slope of Mount Baden Powell passes through many shady groves of exceptionally large lodgepole pine trees.
Sue celebrates and has some trail mix for a snack after reaching the high point on the hike. The rest of the day was all downhill.
The Boy Scout Baden Powell monument at the top of Mount Baden Powell (9,399 feet elevation). Sue and Gene were last here over 50 years ago. Gene hiked the Silver Moccasin Trail twice as a Boy Scout, and Sue led several Girl Scout groups to the top while serving as a Girl Scout Camp Counselor.
It's a long way down from Mount Baden Powell to Vincent Gap. We had already descended quite a ways before we could finally see down to where the bottom of the canyon was below us. It took one and a half hours of almost constant downhill walking to make it.
Although it had been our longest day of the entire GeoTrek, 14.4 miles, and the most elevation gain and loss of any single day, we were still able to stand on our feet long enough for a picture at Vincent Gap.
Photo of Old Baldy (the mountain in the background, not the guy in the green shirt). George Dunne kindly volunteered to pick us up at Vincent Gap and take us back home after the hike. We commend him for donating some of his time to make our part of the GeoTrek project a little easier. Mount San Antonio (Old Baldy, with some snow still on the north slope) is the highest mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains; Mount Baden Powell is the second highest.
Beyond Windy Gap on the west slope of Mount Hawkins ridge the trail passes through the fringes of the burn area from the Curve Fire that burned through the Crystal Lake area in September, 2002. At this altitude, after over three years, natural reforestation has not progressed very far.
A nice Jeffrey pine on Mount Hawkins ridge provided a shady spot for our lunch, which commonly consists of sandwich, banana, apple, cookies, and water.
After skirting around the south side of Throop Peak, we got our first look at Mount Baden Powell, which would be the high point on our hike.
The trail on the north slope of Mount Baden Powell passes through many shady groves of exceptionally large lodgepole pine trees.
Sue celebrates and has some trail mix for a snack after reaching the high point on the hike. The rest of the day was all downhill.
The Boy Scout Baden Powell monument at the top of Mount Baden Powell (9,399 feet elevation). Sue and Gene were last here over 50 years ago. Gene hiked the Silver Moccasin Trail twice as a Boy Scout, and Sue led several Girl Scout groups to the top while serving as a Girl Scout Camp Counselor.
It's a long way down from Mount Baden Powell to Vincent Gap. We had already descended quite a ways before we could finally see down to where the bottom of the canyon was below us. It took one and a half hours of almost constant downhill walking to make it.
Although it had been our longest day of the entire GeoTrek, 14.4 miles, and the most elevation gain and loss of any single day, we were still able to stand on our feet long enough for a picture at Vincent Gap.
Photo of Old Baldy (the mountain in the background, not the guy in the green shirt). George Dunne kindly volunteered to pick us up at Vincent Gap and take us back home after the hike. We commend him for donating some of his time to make our part of the GeoTrek project a little easier. Mount San Antonio (Old Baldy, with some snow still on the north slope) is the highest mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains; Mount Baden Powell is the second highest.
A nice Jeffrey pine on Mount Hawkins ridge provided a shady spot for our lunch, which commonly consists of sandwich, banana, apple, cookies, and water.
After skirting around the south side of Throop Peak, we got our first look at Mount Baden Powell, which would be the high point on our hike.
The trail on the north slope of Mount Baden Powell passes through many shady groves of exceptionally large lodgepole pine trees.
Sue celebrates and has some trail mix for a snack after reaching the high point on the hike. The rest of the day was all downhill.
The Boy Scout Baden Powell monument at the top of Mount Baden Powell (9,399 feet elevation). Sue and Gene were last here over 50 years ago. Gene hiked the Silver Moccasin Trail twice as a Boy Scout, and Sue led several Girl Scout groups to the top while serving as a Girl Scout Camp Counselor.
It's a long way down from Mount Baden Powell to Vincent Gap. We had already descended quite a ways before we could finally see down to where the bottom of the canyon was below us. It took one and a half hours of almost constant downhill walking to make it.
Although it had been our longest day of the entire GeoTrek, 14.4 miles, and the most elevation gain and loss of any single day, we were still able to stand on our feet long enough for a picture at Vincent Gap.
Photo of Old Baldy (the mountain in the background, not the guy in the green shirt). George Dunne kindly volunteered to pick us up at Vincent Gap and take us back home after the hike. We commend him for donating some of his time to make our part of the GeoTrek project a little easier. Mount San Antonio (Old Baldy, with some snow still on the north slope) is the highest mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains; Mount Baden Powell is the second highest.
After skirting around the south side of Throop Peak, we got our first look at Mount Baden Powell, which would be the high point on our hike.
The trail on the north slope of Mount Baden Powell passes through many shady groves of exceptionally large lodgepole pine trees.
Sue celebrates and has some trail mix for a snack after reaching the high point on the hike. The rest of the day was all downhill.
The Boy Scout Baden Powell monument at the top of Mount Baden Powell (9,399 feet elevation). Sue and Gene were last here over 50 years ago. Gene hiked the Silver Moccasin Trail twice as a Boy Scout, and Sue led several Girl Scout groups to the top while serving as a Girl Scout Camp Counselor.
It's a long way down from Mount Baden Powell to Vincent Gap. We had already descended quite a ways before we could finally see down to where the bottom of the canyon was below us. It took one and a half hours of almost constant downhill walking to make it.
Although it had been our longest day of the entire GeoTrek, 14.4 miles, and the most elevation gain and loss of any single day, we were still able to stand on our feet long enough for a picture at Vincent Gap.
Photo of Old Baldy (the mountain in the background, not the guy in the green shirt). George Dunne kindly volunteered to pick us up at Vincent Gap and take us back home after the hike. We commend him for donating some of his time to make our part of the GeoTrek project a little easier. Mount San Antonio (Old Baldy, with some snow still on the north slope) is the highest mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains; Mount Baden Powell is the second highest.
The trail on the north slope of Mount Baden Powell passes through many shady groves of exceptionally large lodgepole pine trees.
Sue celebrates and has some trail mix for a snack after reaching the high point on the hike. The rest of the day was all downhill.
The Boy Scout Baden Powell monument at the top of Mount Baden Powell (9,399 feet elevation). Sue and Gene were last here over 50 years ago. Gene hiked the Silver Moccasin Trail twice as a Boy Scout, and Sue led several Girl Scout groups to the top while serving as a Girl Scout Camp Counselor.
It's a long way down from Mount Baden Powell to Vincent Gap. We had already descended quite a ways before we could finally see down to where the bottom of the canyon was below us. It took one and a half hours of almost constant downhill walking to make it.
Although it had been our longest day of the entire GeoTrek, 14.4 miles, and the most elevation gain and loss of any single day, we were still able to stand on our feet long enough for a picture at Vincent Gap.
Photo of Old Baldy (the mountain in the background, not the guy in the green shirt). George Dunne kindly volunteered to pick us up at Vincent Gap and take us back home after the hike. We commend him for donating some of his time to make our part of the GeoTrek project a little easier. Mount San Antonio (Old Baldy, with some snow still on the north slope) is the highest mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains; Mount Baden Powell is the second highest.
Sue celebrates and has some trail mix for a snack after reaching the high point on the hike. The rest of the day was all downhill.
The Boy Scout Baden Powell monument at the top of Mount Baden Powell (9,399 feet elevation). Sue and Gene were last here over 50 years ago. Gene hiked the Silver Moccasin Trail twice as a Boy Scout, and Sue led several Girl Scout groups to the top while serving as a Girl Scout Camp Counselor.
It's a long way down from Mount Baden Powell to Vincent Gap. We had already descended quite a ways before we could finally see down to where the bottom of the canyon was below us. It took one and a half hours of almost constant downhill walking to make it.
Although it had been our longest day of the entire GeoTrek, 14.4 miles, and the most elevation gain and loss of any single day, we were still able to stand on our feet long enough for a picture at Vincent Gap.
Photo of Old Baldy (the mountain in the background, not the guy in the green shirt). George Dunne kindly volunteered to pick us up at Vincent Gap and take us back home after the hike. We commend him for donating some of his time to make our part of the GeoTrek project a little easier. Mount San Antonio (Old Baldy, with some snow still on the north slope) is the highest mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains; Mount Baden Powell is the second highest.
The Boy Scout Baden Powell monument at the top of Mount Baden Powell (9,399 feet elevation). Sue and Gene were last here over 50 years ago. Gene hiked the Silver Moccasin Trail twice as a Boy Scout, and Sue led several Girl Scout groups to the top while serving as a Girl Scout Camp Counselor.
It's a long way down from Mount Baden Powell to Vincent Gap. We had already descended quite a ways before we could finally see down to where the bottom of the canyon was below us. It took one and a half hours of almost constant downhill walking to make it.
Although it had been our longest day of the entire GeoTrek, 14.4 miles, and the most elevation gain and loss of any single day, we were still able to stand on our feet long enough for a picture at Vincent Gap.
Photo of Old Baldy (the mountain in the background, not the guy in the green shirt). George Dunne kindly volunteered to pick us up at Vincent Gap and take us back home after the hike. We commend him for donating some of his time to make our part of the GeoTrek project a little easier. Mount San Antonio (Old Baldy, with some snow still on the north slope) is the highest mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains; Mount Baden Powell is the second highest.
It's a long way down from Mount Baden Powell to Vincent Gap. We had already descended quite a ways before we could finally see down to where the bottom of the canyon was below us. It took one and a half hours of almost constant downhill walking to make it.
Although it had been our longest day of the entire GeoTrek, 14.4 miles, and the most elevation gain and loss of any single day, we were still able to stand on our feet long enough for a picture at Vincent Gap.
Photo of Old Baldy (the mountain in the background, not the guy in the green shirt). George Dunne kindly volunteered to pick us up at Vincent Gap and take us back home after the hike. We commend him for donating some of his time to make our part of the GeoTrek project a little easier. Mount San Antonio (Old Baldy, with some snow still on the north slope) is the highest mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains; Mount Baden Powell is the second highest.
Although it had been our longest day of the entire GeoTrek, 14.4 miles, and the most elevation gain and loss of any single day, we were still able to stand on our feet long enough for a picture at Vincent Gap.
Photo of Old Baldy (the mountain in the background, not the guy in the green shirt). George Dunne kindly volunteered to pick us up at Vincent Gap and take us back home after the hike. We commend him for donating some of his time to make our part of the GeoTrek project a little easier. Mount San Antonio (Old Baldy, with some snow still on the north slope) is the highest mountain in the San Gabriel Mountains; Mount Baden Powell is the second highest.