Last weekend was our return to San Gorgonio. We’ve been up twice before, but on the route known as South Fork. This time we were heading up the famed Vivian Creek. Why famed? George, Rich and I took that route in mid October 2005 and got dealt a reality check. We didn’t know the area and we’d never climbed that much elevation in a single day. And storm was approaching. Oh, and we put back some Arrogant Bastard the night before at camp. We summited, but the rest is legend.

Vivian Creek is the shortest (and steepest) way to the top of San Gorgonio (11,499’). 18 miles round trip over which you gain over a mile (5600’) of vertical on the way up. Definitely a beast, and because of this everyone in southern California uses the trail as training for Mt Whitney.

Not thinking of crowds, we put in a permit for our date less than a week in advance (you need permit to enter the wilderness area and they limit it to 13 or so permits for many of the trails). Two days before our Saturday morning hike we got a call from the ranger station saying that our permit was denied. Turned out the trail had been booked for several weeks. Our only chance of getting a permit was waiting outside the ranger station the morning of our hike and trying to snag one of the 3 walkup permits they issued. That was tough news to hear. But, since we were staying in nearby Redlands the night before (thanks Jodi!), the early drive to the ranger station wasn’t the end of the world. We just needed to be there before everyone else to get that permit.

We arrived in Redlands around 8:30PM Friday night, an easy drive from San Diego after the traffic had settled down. The air was warm and the sun had just set. After unpacking and talking with Jodi & E, we crashed with our alarms set for 5AM. The night passed quickly and we awoke to our alarms on our now half-empty air mattress. After a quick brush of the teeth, we hopped into the car and sped off to the ranger station. It was already light out, and we had visions of starting the hike now while the air was damp and cool. I mean what are the chances a ranger is going to catch us without a permit? Hmmm. Well, it is a weekend, and everyone is training for Whitney… Our minds raced as we approached the ranger station.

The ranger station didn’t open until 7AM and there were already a half dozen cars in the lot. A few people were standing around. Were they waiting for permits too? Oh no, there wouldn’t be enough. We parked and I jumped out of the car, running over to each person to ask if they already had their permits. They all did – and were just waiting for the rest of their group. Whew. We were now the first in line for a permit. We were safe. With that, we broke out the beach chairs and stove and started to boil water for oatmeal and coffee. While we ate, more people pulled up looking for permits.

By the time the ranger arrived a line had formed and we were up front. We wasted no time getting what we needed, and we were on the way to the trailhead by 7:15AM. By 7:45 we strapped and ready to go. The first quarter mile is flat, though you’re just short of breath a bit because it’s over 6000’. Everything starts to come back to me. We cross the creek, and make our way past the wilderness boundry. We’re in the trees now. I remember this. The trail zig-zags a bit and starts to climb. I’m feeling strong and want to fly up the first section. Not this time though, I pace myself. And just like that the trail gets steep as you climb a 1000′ in less than a mile.

As we reach the first camp, still winded from the last steep section we spot a ranger. He approaches us and asks, “Do you two have your permits?”. I smile. “Yeah, we do”, I say. He checks us off, and we continue on. Dana and I look at each other – “Good thing went and got that permit.”

Man down

Blue skies as the trees thin out

Near windless on the summit.

The last of our three training hikes is this coming weekend.