Gimpilator and I are going to be heading to Southern California to doing San Gorgonio and many of the other peaks in the San Bernadino's. The trip is going to be the last week in January to the first week in February. We will be bring all the winter trimmings including the snowshoes, ice axe, crampons and helmets and expect full winter conditions similiar to up here in Washington. The first question is what is the local hiking websites and forums in the area?The second item we also would like to combine with someone down in the area who is truely experienced in winter snowclimbing and mountaineering? Any feedback would help us out greatly.

Ahh this sounds like it would be blast. Sadly I do not have the gear to head up San G quite yet. Although with recent storms it looks beautiful up there.

As far as it goes for message boards I would definitely recommend:

1. http://members.boardhost.com/sgva/

2. http://www.mtsanjacinto.info/ (I just climbed San J and used this site. There are some people there that are gun hoe! and I received great feedback.)

3. http://sangabrielmnts.myfreeforum.org/index.php

These are the three that I troll around and about. All three are basically the same area and thus the same community of climbers.

Hope this helps and maybe if I get lucky and Santa brings me something really nice *BD Crampons and Ice Axe* I'll catch you up there. Have a good time!

Happy Trails and Happy Holidays,
Stockwell

Thank you Stockwell for the links. The trip might be moved earlier or later depending on who is interested.

San G Wilderness is my BC skiing playground! I'd be happy to skip out there with you guys anytime. I've been on every peak worth a shit with snow on it in SoCal, so I'd like to think I know my way around. Baldy, San Jacinto and San Gorgonio are the big 3, but there's certainly lots more down any trail over 7500' that will offer you a great winter mountaineering experience. There's even ice climbing in San B's when the conditions are just right. Come on down!

Deb wrote:There's even ice climbing in San B's when the conditions are just right.

Wha...? Do tell. I figured there had to be something given enough of a cold snap. Still, we're not talking 20' of low angle gully are we?

fat-yes we need a big cold snap. the formation being discussed has only been 'in' once in the last four seasons...

And its a terraced gig, three separate 20-30ft tall walls ranging from 60-80 degrees. Thats all I can tell you Deb is sworn in

It was in this past season......unfortunately I had a knee injury and couldn't get on it.

Here's a good webcam to check conditons on the north side of the SGW:

http://www.bensweather.com/webcams/cam_2.jpg

Over on the other side of the wilderness: The Forest Service issued a statement that the Vivian Creek Trail Parking area will be closed most of the time until Memorial Day Weekend 2012; so if you want to access the wilderness from that trailhead check with the folks at the Mill Creek Ranger Station to see if the parking lot is open.

Blair and Deb, your secret is safe. Sadly too busy these days to hit the ice. Enjoy though.

KathyW wrote:Here's a good webcam to check conditons on the north side of the SGW:

http://www.bensweather.com/webcams/cam_2.jpg

Over on the other side of the wilderness: The Forest Service issued a statement that the Vivian Creek Trail Parking area will be closed most of the time until Memorial Day Weekend 2012; so if you want to access the wilderness from that trailhead check with the folks at the Mill Creek Ranger Station to see if the parking lot is open.

I parked at the Falls parking lot on Wed to climb Dobbs Peak. The gate to end of road was closed so that was an extra 1/2 mile thru the park. Not sure where the forest service is going to lock off all access.

I snapped this on the way up San G. a few years ago...

one more......proximity to populous locales = graffiti.....found this ranger battling the problem

desertdesigns wrote:I snapped this on the way up San G. a few years ago...

Beautiful photo. Which trail was it taken from?

vivian creek trail just below high creek camp.

this one is on vivian too, just below the summit

desertdesigns wrote:vivian creek trail just below high creek camp.

this one is on vivian too, just below the summit

If that's where I remember it (a small saddle 1/4-1/2mi. below the summit?), I camped there in the 70s a couple of times while doing the '9 Peaks' hike with the Boy Scouts.

I'm planning to do a Winter ascent of San Gorgonio soon. So much fun in the snow.