Day 2- San Gorgonio via Moymer

Most of the Gorgonio routes were still closed due to the fire. Momyer was the only route I had never taken, and the only alternative to Vivian Creek. So I decided to give it a try. Long but beautiful. 28 miles and 7,200' of gain. And an encounter with a mama bear and her cub.
DSC05532 Sunrise over Gorgonio as I head up the mountain. My heels ended-up feeling suprisingly good this morning, so I decided to give Momyer a go. The 28 mile distance...
Sunrise over Gorgonio as I head up the mountain. My heels ended-up feeling suprisingly good this morning, so I decided to give Momyer a go. The 28 mile distance…
DSC05537 Heavy water flow in Mill Creek. That was a good sign for the day.
Heavy water flow in Mill Creek. That was a good sign for the day.
DSC05539 Early morning rays casting across Mill Creek canyon.
Early morning rays casting across Mill Creek canyon.
DSC05540 The trail was awesome, tight, singletrack the whole way. But never hard to follow, which was a relief because Momyer is known to get very overgrown and tough to...
The trail was awesome, tight, singletrack the whole way. But never hard to follow, which was a relief because Momyer is known to get very overgrown and tough to…
DSC05543 Into the San Goronio Wilderness. I would only see 2 people on 28 miles of trail today (excluding folks on the summit arriving via Vivian Creek).
Into the San Goronio Wilderness. I would only see 2 people on 28 miles of trail today (excluding folks on the summit arriving via Vivian Creek).
DSC05548 The chapparral gives way to pine forests around 7,000' and there is good shade almost the entire rest of the way up to the tree line.
The chapparral gives way to pine forests around 7,000' and there is good shade almost the entire rest of the way up to the tree line.
DSC05549 An occasional Sequoia mixed-in amongst the pines.
An occasional Sequoia mixed-in amongst the pines.
DSC05550 Made it to the Alger Creek backpacking camp, the first of several along the trail.
Made it to the Alger Creek backpacking camp, the first of several along the trail.
DSC05556 Alger Creek is gorgeous and still flowing well.
Alger Creek is gorgeous and still flowing well.
DSC05559 I want one of these in the backyard.
I want one of these in the backyard.
MAH05560 Adding in a little motion.
Adding in a little motion.
DSC05562 Looking up Alger Creek.
Looking up Alger Creek.
DSC05568 Climbing out of Alger Creek, the views are starting to open up, and you can see some of the fire damaged areas in the distance.
Climbing out of Alger Creek, the views are starting to open up, and you can see some of the fire damaged areas in the distance.
DSC05574 Every little creek was surrounded by a lush area of green as well as some wildflower color.
Every little creek was surrounded by a lush area of green as well as some wildflower color.
DSC05578 More color along the trail.
More color along the trail.
DSC05581 Not a bad assortment of flowers for mid-July in SoCal!
Not a bad assortment of flowers for mid-July in SoCal!
DSC05584 Heading across Plummer Meadows.
Heading across Plummer Meadows.
DSC05589 Made it to Dollar Lake Saddle where a number of trails intersect at almost exactly 10,000'. All the trails to the North are still closed from the fire.
Made it to Dollar Lake Saddle where a number of trails intersect at almost exactly 10,000'. All the trails to the North are still closed from the fire.
DSC05590 The Dollar Saddle junction. There's not many of these old trail signs left. I love them. I wonder what happens to them when they get replaced. The park service...
The Dollar Saddle junction. There's not many of these old trail signs left. I love them. I wonder what happens to them when they get replaced. The park service…
DSC05591 First view of the summit.
First view of the summit.