Welcome to this edition of
California Mountain Adventures!!
In this adventure I climb through the snow to the summit of
Galena Peak!
Galena Peak(9,324') is the highest peak on the Yucaipa Ridge and it lies just south of the San Gorgonio Wildernessand the highest peak in southern California Mt. San Gorgonio. This was going to be a long (12-13 miles in the snow) hike and the days are short so I got going pretty early and drove up highway 38 to the Vivian creek trailhead in the town of Forest Falls. But instead of taking the Vivian creek trail I headed cross country up Mill Creek canyon. Mill Creek canyon is a massive canyon filled with big trees and waterfalls and surrounded by huge cliffs and peaks. And with the fresh snow sitting on all the cliff ledges and tree branches I was in a "winter wonderland"!
Hiking up the canyon
Looking up at some of the wild cliffs
Approaching the Mill Creek Jumpoff
After a few miles I reached the headwall at the upper end of the canyon. I strapped on my crampons and made the climb up the steep slope. At the top I reached the saddle known as the "Mill Creek Jumpoff" which divides Mill creek and the South Fork Whitewater river. From there it was a long steep climb up the northeast ridge to the summit. As I climbed the views got better and better.
Looking back across Mill Creek canyon from the Jumpoff
Zoom in on Mt. Baldy and the eastern San Gabriel mountains
Looking off the east side of the Jumpoff
Galena Peak from the Jumpoff
The day was just absolutely beautiful and the snow conditions were great. I arrived at the summit and signed the summit register. Then I continued along the summit ridge to the "west summit" of Galena where the best views are! I ate my lunch there and then just kicked back and enjoyed the stunning views for quite awhile. Personally I think Galena peak just might be one of the most scenic peaks in Southern California. After thoroughly enjoying my time on the summit I headed back down the way I came. Down the northeast ridge to the Jumpoff and then back down Mill creek to the trailhead at Forest Falls.
Mt. San Jacinto from Galena peak
The ridge to the west summit of Galena
Overlooking Mill Creek canyon from the west summit
The Yucaipa Ridge and the valley below
Sunset on my way back down Mill creek
And that's it for this California mountain adventure!
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As always, you have done a fabulous job taking us places we cannot go ourselves. Your photographs show us places which otherwise were mere names.
Trust me, I'm a doctor.
Thanks @catweasel!
Whoa! Gradations of colors that are fun to look at, especially the white of the snow and the bright blue sky.
Thank you for sharing on Steemit.
My pleasure @anggreklestari. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
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WoW this is an advertisement for a travel magazine great !!
Thank you @brittandjosie! I'm honored by your compliment.
I am not a hiker but Reading your blog with the breathtaking pictures I say its a travelfeed piece maybe @guchtere another #powerhousecreatives member .... so join in ! @derekrichardson love your diversity in your library of blogs. Have a great wednesday
I'm not scheduled for a TF task today, but if @derekrichardson use the #travelfeed tag with posts like this he would for sure be a great addition to the tag. Maybe you can use the 6 tag trick😇 Than the curator who has the curation task today will find this post for sure!👍 I've added the rules at the end of my reply.
Regarding your story @derekrichardson, what a great views you got there! Was it a though hike with the snow?
Your external blog is also a nice read! Will show it to my girlfriend she is the hiking lover. I hate walking but I have a love for the views you get in the end as a reward😍 But please keep up this good work! Would love to see your next posts on the #travelfeed tag.
Learn more about our travel project on Steemit by clicking on the banner above and join our community on Discord. How does travelfeed work? Simple just use the tag #travelfeed in your travel posts (min. 250 words) for a chance to be curated!
@guchtere what's the 6 tag trick?
The snow does make it tougher, but the conditions were pretty good. No ice, no slush, just nice semi firm powder.
You can use 6 tags if you replace the first one because that tag is written forever in the chain.
No ice that does sound like a pretty good walk!
Ahhh ok. Thanks for that info! I'll go try that right now.
Love you sharing with us the beautiful natural scenes there
Have a great day
Thanks @tatoodjay I'm glad you like it. You have a great day as well!
Thanks KIndly cheers
Amazing your adventure
It was pretty awesome!
Wow! This really awesome. Those are some amazing views and shots. I can't imagine how awesome it must be to be up there like that. I have only ever been to Estey park in the Rockies and that is a bit more touristy than this. I like the whole off the beaten path type thing. Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks @bozz! Being on top of the peak is such an awesome feeling. Especially on such a perfectly beautiful day. It's almost surreal.
I bet! Thanks again for sharing!
Hi derekrichardson,
Visit curiesteem.com or join the Curie Discord community to learn more.
Yay! Thank you so much @curie!!
How beautiful it is there! I would like to go there myself.
If you ever come to California just hit me up and I'll gladly take you out into our beautiful mountains!
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Really majestic scenery. Great pictures.
How long did it take you to do all the journey.
Are there sort of stations or emergency post to help climbers in case of emergency?
It's all so beautiful, but at the same time it looks so remote and far from any assistance in case of emergencies.
Any wild animals on the way?
Fast Find GPS locator so I can notify search and rescue in case of an emergency.Thanks @hlezama! This climb took about 10 hours or so. There are no emergency stations, it is really remote. I did not see a single person all day. I carry a
Seeing this region through your lens, what a pleasure @derekrichardson powder fresh snow looks so inviting.
Stunning views and photography, thanks for descriptive detail on the region.
#powerhousecreatives
Thanks @joanstewart!
The view reminded me one of the James Bond movie... ;)
Haha! That's funny. I'm not really familiar with all the James Bond movies, but this would definitely be a cool scene for one!
I'll bet it would!
I didn't know that California has such amazing mountains! For some reason I thought it was just beaches and cocktails ;)
Your photos are stunning! I love that blue sky! We haven't seen it in Switzerland for ages! It must have been tough to walk such a long distance in snow but the views are rewarding. I think that you enjoyed your lunch after such effort ;)
Thank you for sharing and congratulations on your curie vote!
Thank you @delishtreats! It is a very common misconception that all of California is like Hollywood and Los Angeles. Everybody thinks beaches and palm trees. But here in California we have tons of incredible mountains!! Not quite as incredible as the mountains there in Switzerland but our High Sierra comes pretty close! Walking in the snow does get tiring, but the snow makes everything super pretty! So it's totally worth it. lol.
Every day is a school day ;) I agree that there is a misconception then. But it's the same like when people think that Switzerland is just mountains and lakes. Well, we live in a valley and we barely ever have snow ;)
I like that you're showing the other side of California so that I can correct my opinion about this state :)
I love walking in the snow too! Snowy landscapes are so beautiful. It feels like a fairy-tale :)
That's so funny because I did kinda think Switzerland was all snowy mountains and lakes. lol!! I'd really love to visit Switzerland someday. When I see pictures from there I am always amazed by the huge mountains.
Many people think the same ;)
You should come! I'm sure you would love it here and I could show you some places too! ;)
Gracias por compartir este paisaje bellísimo realmente impresionante. Las fotos están de revistas, es un trabajo fabuloso que has hecho trasportándonos a esos lugares a los que nunca podré ir, te felicito por tu voto curie, cariños y besos.
Muchas gracias @celinavisaez!
great landscapes! the widerness with the snow is fascinating but should be challenging to hike, enjoy like we did reading and looking at you pictures
Thank you! Wilderness, snow, challenges... that is my kinda stuff! lol.
Howdy derekrichardson! wow the views up there are stunning! but it looks cold, what's the temperature up at the top? Do you have someone with you in case you get a sprung ankle or something? Great job sir, loved it!
Howdy Janton! Thanks! I love that you say 'howdy' btw. I like saying howdy too, but here in SoCal I'm like the only person that does. lol.
I was well prepared with snow gear and it was a bright sunny day so I wasn't all that cold. I'm not sure the exact temps but I'd guess it was 30-40F. And I was solo on this trip so I had no help if I hurt myself. I do carry a Fast Find GPS locator so I can notify the search and rescue in case of an emergency.
Howdy sir derekrichardson! lol..you would fit right in here with your greeting! I'm so glad to hear that you carry a GPS locator, I'm sure you'll never need it but it good to know you have it. You must be in tremendous shape to be able to do all that hiking and climbing!
I was up in Idyllwild a few times and and I think I saw a somewhat similar view especially the San Gabriel mountain view and the Mt. San Jacinto one. It is so amazing to see mountains come out of the flats like this.
I think I could have enjoyed the first 500 meters of this hike and then had lunch, return, and go to bed after that. But I sure am happy to see it through you.
And I'm so excited to see you get curied @derekrichardson. I do their comment contest and here you are! All your posts deserve big votes, but this one is great. Way to go for bringing recognition to @socalsteemit :)
Thanks @fitinfun! Idylwild is awesome. There's a ton of cool hikes up there. It's probably my favorite SoCal mountain town.