Copter Ridge

2 November 1991

By: Bill T. Russell

Leaders: Bill T Russell, Pat Russell

Copter Ridge is named on the Crystal Lake topo map. It runs SE from Mt Hawkins (8850'). About two miles down the ridge is a distinct high point (7499') that is about 120' above the saddle to its north. We think it appropriate to call this point Copter Ridge Point or perhaps just Copter Pt. It is roughly half way between Ross Mtn to the east and South Hawkins to the west. It is 100' higher than Ross and 300' lower than S. Hawkins. The route down Copter Ridge is delightful class 1 walking through fragrant, open pine forest with moderate slopes and no brush. The view from the ridge and the summit point is excellent. To the north is the San Gabriel crest with Baden-Powell, Burnham and Throop. To the east is Ross and beyond that is Baldy and the San Antonio Ridge leading to Big Iron. To the south is Rattlesnake and to the west is the Hawkins ridge.

Our HPS exploratory trip to this point went well. We started from the Angeles Crest Highway and hiked on trail by Little Jimmy and Windy Gap to Mt Hawkins and then SW down the ridge. We had lunch on the summit and some of us had fun doing map/terrain recognition. We assembled a cairn and left a register container and book. We retraced our route, but descended down the easy gully from Windy Gap to the highway. The trip was ±3100', 8 mi and took about 7 hours.

Everyone on the trip said that Copter Ridge Pt should be added to he HPS list. The participants are hereby signatories to a recommendation to the HPS Management Committee, that is hereby made, that it be placed on the ballot for addition to the HPS Peak List. Participants were: Bill T Russell, Pat Russell, Dorothy Pallas, Diane Dunbar, Rose Stein, Del Beaudoin, Barbara Cohen, Don Croley, Jack Haddad, and Asher Waxman.