10K Ridge Exploratory

10 August 1968

By: How Bailey

Leader: How Bailey
Asst.: Larry Machleder

Thirteen non-peakbaggers turned out for a delightful exploration of the Ten Thousand Foot Ridge in the San Gorgonio area. From Poopout Hill we went up the normal trail to Dry Lake and thence to the saddle between Lake and Grinnell. Some of the eager ones, who didn't know how far we had to go, did Grinnell as an extra. From the saddle, we headed out a little south of due east, along a 3-mile open ridge with about 5 bumps on it, out to X-9921. This is one of the last of the untouched high ridges (certainly the highest) left in Southern California, with many fallen trees, some Sierra-like boulder hopping, and vistas in all directions. At 9921 we found a small cairn. We built up the cairn and left a register. (Webmaster note: see the Peak Guide for an extraction of some of the original signatures in that register.)

Instead of going back, we headed north along a spur to X-9568 (steep, rather rough and a bit brushy -- the only stretch of hard going all day), then down the steep but unobstructed ridge to Fish Creek Meadows. Trails were followed out to where we had left cars near the new Heart Bar Campground on F.S. road IN02. (N.B. The cars could have been driven to a saddle at 7400' in the NE corner of Section 29 at the junction of IN30Y and 2E05 , or all the way to Fish Creek Meadows via IN93.) The whole day was about 15 miles and 3800'.

The participants all felt that this had been an extremely enjoyable outing and recommend that the Ten Thousand Foot Ridge be added to the HPS list.