San Gorgonio via South Fork hike

Overnight hike to San Gorgonio was a perfect opportunity to learn winter mountaineering skills for some of us. We camped at "not so" Dry Lake and tackle one of the snow couloirs, probably around 30 degrees.

Sunset

Our bivy spot

Dry lake

Snow started

San Gorgonio via Vivian creek hike

San Gorgonio was the last test for Fedor to qualify for Skyline hike. In fact, I think San Gorgonio is even harder despite less elevation gain. We did it via shortest and steepest Vivian creek trail.

San Jacinto across the Banning pass

Near the top

San Gorgonio summit

Marshall to Keller to San B. and back flight, 57 miles

CSS-750 Launch

Forecast was for 7-8K day with fast north to SW switch, not epic, plus I had a time constraints and have to be home by 6ish, so was not even sure I was going to fly until last minute. Aaron was running XC League with task Marshall->Cajon->Barstow and open distance along I-15 after. I was not very inspired to join because:

1. North wind in afternoon could put you on the ground early. West supposed to kick-in much later in the day.
2. 9K cloud base was way too low for desert, I prefer to have at least 12K+.
3. Blue day (no clouds), harder to find thermals and as result slower speed.
4. Potentially long retrieve.

Have to drop my son to school in AM and only made it to LZ by 11:00. XC League already left and next shuttle was scheduled at 12:30, so I just hiked to 750 launch. Task start was at 12:10 and I wanted to join them at least for the first leg to Cajon. Almost made it in time, launched at 12:16 and found a climb right away, was maybe 10 min behind main gaggle. Climbed to 8K behind Pine Mt and flew to next peak after Sugar Pine. Watched pilots leaving OTB with OK altitude, but decided not to go myself (as planned), turned around and was hoping to fly at least to Keller and back.

Lake Arrowhead

I was at Keller by 2:35, so enough time to cross toward San Gorgonio. It's very spectacular and intimidating line, which I flew before. There are landings in the canyon, but hike out is at least 2-3 hours, not an option considering my time constrains, so I was a bit nervous even though start crossing from 10.7K.

Keller Peak (left) San Gorgonio (right)

Got a broken thermal at Constance Peak, but did not spend long time there and pushed to main ridge, worked my way up and eventually topped out at 10.9K at 3:25 and turned around. Since forecast was calling for relatively strong west later in the day, I did not have much expectations about return flight, but still want to push at least to Harrison to minimize Uber time and cost. Climbed back to 7K at Harrison and keep pushing back, mostly on 2/3 of speed bar. There was only 1 or 2 HG over Marshall, typically sign of strong wind, which in fact was quite strong. Took me awhile to land, could not find any sink near LZ. Finally landed at Andy Jackson at 4:58.

Andy Jackson LZ

My track: http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/1928952

Russ landed in Hesperia, most of the other pilots in Victorville, Aaron managed to fly 100 km past Barstow.

Mt. San Gorgonio via Vivian Creek hike

Left home at 4:30 am and on trail at 6:30 am. After initial steep climb to Vivian Creek trail follow creek in forest. There was a lot of snow patches after High Creek Camp, so it was easier to just go up hill instead of figuring out where the actual trail is. Meet a bobcat:

he was sitting on the trail and don't want to get out of my way, so I walk around and he keep watching me from behind the tree:

Another interesting observation was cloud development over the mountain. It was high wind day (40+ mph on summit) with a lot of lenticular clouds.

Cloud over San Gorgonio peak from Alex Gagarin on Vimeo.

Top of the mountain mostly covered with snow, but trail is well defined and there is no need for crampons or other special equipment:

According to my GPS round trip was around 19 miles (30 km) with elevation gain 5250 ft (1600 m) and it took me 6 hours to make it to the top and 4 hour to come back. 2.5 liters of water was just enough for the hike. Back home at 7:30 pm.