SoCal Trail Running3 Peak Challenge3 Day- 2017

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.
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 worried me, but the ranger station was closed today, so there was no way to change my permit at this point.
1 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 worried me, but the ranger station was closed today, so there was no way to change my permit at this point.
 Heavy water flow in Mill Creek. That was a good sign for the day.
2 Heavy water flow in Mill Creek. That was a good sign for the day.
 Early morning rays casting across Mill Creek canyon.
3 Early morning rays casting across Mill Creek canyon.
 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 navigate. But the limited trail options due to the fire closure have meant more traffic on Momyer.
4 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 navigate. But the limited trail options due to the fire closure have meant more traffic on Momyer.
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).
5 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).
 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.
6 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.
 An occasional Sequoia mixed-in amongst the pines.
7 An occasional Sequoia mixed-in amongst the pines.
 Made it to the Alger Creek backpacking camp, the first of several along the trail.
8 Made it to the Alger Creek backpacking camp, the first of several along the trail.
Alger Creek is gorgeous and still flowing well.
9 Alger Creek is gorgeous and still flowing well.
 I want one of these in the backyard.
10 I want one of these in the backyard.
 Adding in a little motion.
11 Adding in a little motion.
 Looking up Alger Creek.
12 Looking up Alger Creek.
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.
13 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.
 Every little creek was surrounded by a lush area of green as well as some wildflower color.
14 Every little creek was surrounded by a lush area of green as well as some wildflower color.
 More color along the trail.
15 More color along the trail.
 Not a bad assortment of flowers for mid-July in SoCal!
16 Not a bad assortment of flowers for mid-July in SoCal!
Heading across Plummer Meadows.
17 Heading across Plummer Meadows.
 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.
18 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.
 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 could probably make good money selling them.
19 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 could probably make good money selling them.
 First view of the summit.
20 First view of the summit.
Dry Lake View and the large bowl just below Jepson Peak.
21 Dry Lake View and the large bowl just below Jepson Peak.
 Above the treeline now, and it's pretty much a moonscape the rest of the way.
22 Above the treeline now, and it's pretty much a moonscape the rest of the way.
 A look down to Mill Creek canyon far down below where I started the morning.
23 A look down to Mill Creek canyon far down below where I started the morning.
 Now at the top of the bowl, there's a couple last little patches of snow. There had been som rain predicted for today, and it looks like the storm is just starting to roll-in.
24 Now at the top of the bowl, there's a couple last little patches of snow. There had been som rain predicted for today, and it looks like the storm is just starting to roll-in.
A look back at Jepson Peak and the bowl.
25 A look back at Jepson Peak and the bowl.
 Made it to the junction with the Vivian Creek trail. There will be a little more traffic now given that Vivian Creek is much, much more popular. Momyer is actually a nicer trail, but people avoid it since it's so much longer. Hopefully it stays that way!
26 Made it to the junction with the Vivian Creek trail. There will be a little more traffic now given that Vivian Creek is much, much more popular. Momyer is actually a nicer trail, but people avoid it since it's so much longer. Hopefully it stays that way!
 The frustrating false summit just below the real summit in the background.
27 The frustrating false summit just below the real summit in the background.
 Made it to the top! The body is feeling pretty good all considering, but I still have the long trip down.
28 Made it to the top! The body is feeling pretty good all considering, but I still have the long trip down.
The summit photo. The only time I would need a jacket during the three days. It was windy and probably in the 40s on top.
29 The summit photo. The only time I would need a jacket during the three days. It was windy and probably in the 40s on top.
 Summit view.
30 Summit view.
 The sliver of Big Bear Lake visible from the summit. You can see the huge burn area to the North where there are very few unaffected trees. But it looks like there is plenty of green undergrowth starting to come back.
31 The sliver of Big Bear Lake visible from the summit. You can see the huge burn area to the North where there are very few unaffected trees. But it looks like there is plenty of green undergrowth starting to come back.
 The chipmunks were out in force and seemed fascinated by my poles.
32 The chipmunks were out in force and seemed fascinated by my poles.
Summit video. I spent about 40 minutes on top chatting with the two guys seen here. They were talkers! Not the most relaxing time, but it was a fun conversation.
33 Summit video. I spent about 40 minutes on top chatting with the two guys seen here. They were talkers! Not the most relaxing time, but it was a fun conversation.
 I head down just as the storm is starting to roll-in. I did not want to be on the summit if any lightning started!
34 I head down just as the storm is starting to roll-in. I did not want to be on the summit if any lightning started!
 Back down and around Jepson Peak. Pretty cool how the storm slams up against the ridge.
35 Back down and around Jepson Peak. Pretty cool how the storm slams up against the ridge.
 Visibility starts to drop on the trail and there's rain and hail for a while.
36 Visibility starts to drop on the trail and there's rain and hail for a while.
The storm slowly creeping down the bowl from Jepson Peak.
37 The storm slowly creeping down the bowl from Jepson Peak.
 As soon as the trail drops down the other side of the ridge, the skies are clear again.
38 As soon as the trail drops down the other side of the ridge, the skies are clear again.
 A nice late afternoon view out from Plummer Meadows.
39 A nice late afternoon view out from Plummer Meadows.
 I love the bright green stripe of foliage where the creek is flowing.
40 I love the bright green stripe of foliage where the creek is flowing.
A look back at the meadows as the sun is starting to get low.
41 A look back at the meadows as the sun is starting to get low.
 Enjoying the colors on the way back.
42 Enjoying the colors on the way back.
 I had skipped the offshoot to Dobbs Creek camp on the way up. But a guy I talked to on the trail said it was really nice. I was doing OK on time, so I decided to give it a try. It added about 1 mile and almost 700' of gain to the day, but it was a nice side trip.
43 I had skipped the offshoot to Dobbs Creek camp on the way up. But a guy I talked to on the trail said it was really nice. I was doing OK on time, so I decided to give it a try. It added about 1 mile and almost 700' of gain to the day, but it was a nice side trip.
 Dobbs Creek flowing at the bottom of the canyon. Almost a Sierra-esque cascade. Definitely a beautiful spot and well worth the sidetrip.
44 Dobbs Creek flowing at the bottom of the canyon. Almost a Sierra-esque cascade. Definitely a beautiful spot and well worth the sidetrip.
Adding a little sound and motion to Dobbs Creek.
45 Adding a little sound and motion to Dobbs Creek.
 Almost back to Alger Creek now and the great creek views there.
46 Almost back to Alger Creek now and the great creek views there.
 Gorgeous lighting on Mill Creek canyon for the last of the descent.
47 Gorgeous lighting on Mill Creek canyon for the last of the descent.
 A deer sighting, my first for the week. I would see another one a little while later.
48 A deer sighting, my first for the week. I would see another one a little while later.
The evening lighting down the other end of Mill Creek canyon.
49 The evening lighting down the other end of Mill Creek canyon.
 Almost sunset. I was hoping to avoid having to stop to put the headlight on, but it was getting hard to see when the trail went under heavy tree cover.
50 Almost sunset. I was hoping to avoid having to stop to put the headlight on, but it was getting hard to see when the trail went under heavy tree cover.
 I saw what I thought was another deer poke its head out from behind a tree. But then I realized it was a bear! We stared at each other for a while in a standoff. As soon as I backed-up a few steps, it started to mosey on along.
51 I saw what I thought was another deer poke its head out from behind a tree. But then I realized it was a bear! We stared at each other for a while in a standoff. As soon as I backed-up a few steps, it started to mosey on along.
 I was never alarmed at all except when I saw it had a cub following along behind it. Blurry here because of the dim light in the woods. I decided not to press my luck, and moved on. Figures that I end-up seeing a bear after someone on the summit asked me if I ever saw bears around here, and I said "Nah".
52 I was never alarmed at all except when I saw it had a cub following along behind it. Blurry here because of the dim light in the woods. I decided not to press my luck, and moved on. Figures that I end-up seeing a bear after someone on the summit asked me if I ever saw bears around here, and I said "Nah".
Back down to Mill Creek in the last of the light. Almost down to the last minute of light before needing to put on the headlamp. Naturally, after making it the entire day without dunking my shoe in a creek crossing, I soaked it here. But it was a fitting end to a long and beautiful day on Momyer.
53 Back down to Mill Creek in the last of the light. Almost down to the last minute of light before needing to put on the headlamp. Naturally, after making it the entire day without dunking my shoe in a creek crossing, I soaked it here. But it was a fitting end to a long and beautiful day on Momyer.
    
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