New & improved Swamp

[nycnpbbkr]

Three feet of snow plus another foot Saturday night in Southern California.

So there I was Friday at my buddy's boat when the topic of hiking and climbing came up. My surfer/scuba diver buddy and our friend/colleague from Michigan decided it's a good idea to hike and camp on the North Face of San Gorgonio. On a whim these young fellers got all excited saying they are going to the mountains Saturday morning and spending the night in tents on the mountain. They asked me if I want to go. Being the only one who is actually experienced in Gorgonio, or climbing for that matter, I immediately considered the storm that was supposed to hit that night. I considered the cold air, the wet rain/snow/hail, the thin air, the hard work of carrying a pack uphill in the multiple feet of snow which was already on the ground, the frigidity of setting a tent on snow and the general pain in the ass trip which is inherent to any tent on snow winter hiking/camping trip. So in under a second I responded with a "Sure, I'm in." Now all I need was clearance from the boss, so I came home, gave honey a big kiss, told her I'll watch the kids Sunday and begged. Bam, free mountain pass.

Still, I didn't really think they would show up the next morning so I just threw my North Face base camp pack on the floor in the garage so I looked packed and ready to go just in case they actually followed through on their mountaineer quest. Seven O'clock Saturday morning and these knuckleheads are knocking at my door.

Saturday morning and I find my stupid friends and my stupid self climbing up the North face of the largest (11,500) mountain in Southern California. At 9000 feet we stopped to break camp as it started getting dark. Boy it's such a fun time setting camp at 9000 feet in three feet of snow as the sun sets. So there we where, pitch dark, listening to the frighting sound of the wind sweaping towards us from across the mountain. We cracked open the whisper stove and heated up a can of beans, tamales (wrapped in paper in the can), raviolis and spending the night all wiskeyed up in a California storm which nearly ripped our tents apart while dumping another foot of snow on top of us. It was absolutely miserable and breathtaking at the same time. Sure I'm old, I was the first one in my biscuit that Saturday night, however I can't wait to do it again. B-)

The mountain
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/1985/sgg.html#report