12 of us met by 8 am at the intersection of Lockwood Valley Rd and Mutau Rd. It was advertised as a trip suitable for beginners and we had one.
After introductions, we were heading off the few miles to the Pine Springs Campground for the starting point for San Guillermo. The temperature was now warming up and remained delightful the entire day. We all were on top in 1 1/4 hours as the guide suggests. Route finding was not at all difficult, and there were use trails the entire way excluding in the wash at the beginning.
It was the beginning of quail hunting season, and thankfully, the birds were hiding. With a slight breeze, the view was a bright, clear 360° panorama of the area. We were back in an hour and moved on to Piano Box road for the start of our hike to Lockwood.
Within 10 minutes, most participants had prepared their culinary delights and we were enjoying a delicious Saturday midday meal good enough to serve a king.
The afternoon was starting to approach, so we took off for Lockwood Peak, passing several motorcycles on the trail, which is designated for dirt bikes. The trail passed through wooded areas, meadows, and at a well marked duck, became the point to start our climb. Everyone except Leora made the summit, and by 4:45, we were all back at the cars. The air was brisk and dusk was approaching quickly.
Several stopped at the Okie Girl for dinner. We highly recommend this restaurant/tavern for a good meal and value. Their hours through March are 9am-9pm Fri-Sun only.
Thanks to everyone for a fun day in the mountains. Participants included: Susan Chamberlin, Joy McKinney, Annick Wolf, Greg Gerlach, Jone Levis, Carol Burns, Jordan Torgerson, James Barbour, Greg Jones, and Tom Neely.
