Beaumont

Looking down at the city of Beaumont from the San Bernardino Trail.

Hiking Cross Country

The snow obscured the trail completely so we turned off the trail and made our way slowly up this steep slope. Very slow going.

First Signs of Snow

It has been a really dry year in southern California but there was snow on the trail above 8,000 feet. Mostly on northern slopes where the sun does not reach. It wasn't slippery but it did have a crust from melting and freezing that would sometimes give way and leave you standing hip deep in snow. Then you crawl out, take another step and hope you don't fall through again.

Misty Mountains

Before the trail turns up again we are treated to this view.

View West from SB Trail

On the way up the San Bernardino Trail this mountain across the valley dominates the view. These are geologically young mountains and are constantly shedding rock.

Near the top of the mountain on the right you can see highway 18 cut into the mountain on the way to Big Bear Lake.

City Lights

Just before it went completely dark, the mist cleared and we got a spectacular view of the city below us.

Misty Sunset at Limber Pine Bench

We made it into camp just before sunset.

Mt. San Bernardino

We are still low enough that the snow was not a serious factor, but it was about to make life interesting. We are to spend the night about halfway up this peak.

Limber Pine Bench Camp

I guess the pines have to be limber so the wind doesn't snap them off. It was cold and windy as we pitched tents and cooked dinner. As soon as the sun set we were in our tents and asleep.

photo bomb

Here I am photo bombing Mark's record of entering the winderness area.

Cloudy in LA

The morning brought beautiful weather for us, but back down off the mountain, Los Angeles was covered in clouds.  This was during our hike to San Gorgonio in April

San Gorgonio Wilderness Boundary

About a mile up the trail we cross the boundary of the Wilderness Area. Wilderness Area is a legal designation to protect the wildness of the area.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Wilderness_Preservation_System
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._Wilderness_Areas#California
http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/wildView?WID=521

San Bernardino Trail Head

Three friend from work and I went for a four day trek across the highest ridge in southern California, culminating on Mt. San Gorgonio, the highest point in California south of the Sierra mountains. Here we are at the beginning trail head.

San Berdoo Trailhead

In April some friends from work and I went on a 4 day hike through the San Bernardino Mountains to Mt San Gorgonio. San Gorgonio is the highest mountain in Southern California (south of the Sierra Nevadas).