At 7 a.m. the San Gabriel East Fork roadhead appeared to a flabbergasted leader more like the scene of an annual picnic than the start of one of the toughest one-day hikes in the HPS schedule. Would you believe 70? What is even more amazing, 57 signed in at the summit between 12:00 and 2:30 -- clearly a record. This group included 10 girls, 2 boys 10 and 11, and a couple of dozen or so emblem holders. The day was a bit too warm and quite hazy, but snow patches near the top and everyone's good spirits (esp. Lew Hill's) seemed to compensate. Bob Van Allen and John Linden deserve more than the usual credit for helping many of the slower ones with water, salt and encouragement. The front group was treated to a view of 3 Bighorn rams at about 100 yds. All were back at the cars by 6 p.m. having completed 15 miles and a total elevation gain of 6800'.
(How Bailey and his associates are to be commended for the beautiful cutting job they performed on the brush, cactus, etc., that would have otherwise plagued us. Careful scouting preparation usually results in outstanding long remembered climbs. Who can forget 6800'? From each of us, How, thanks for your efforts - Ed.)
