CMC OUTINGS SCHEDULE
February 16th – 18th Saturday – Monday President’s Day in Zion
No plans for President’s Day? Why not come out to Zion for a little adventure?
What will we do? Well, you tell me. Options include peak bagging, hiking, and canyoneering.
No particular experience is required and this trip is open to everyone. If you would like to do some canyoneering but don’t have the necessary gear, don’t worry. All gear can be rented, if needed, in Springdale, just outside Zion.
If interested contact Tim Hoover: frisbeedog02@yahoo.com
LEADER/ORGANIZER: Tim Hoover
February 16th Saturday Glacier Travel/Snow Skills Practice
Join me for a fun day on the snow practicing glacier travel skills. We will practice snow anchors, “Z” and “C” crevasse rescue systems, roped team travel, and fixed line travel. The practice day will be held on the north side of San Gorgonio Mountain, near the Southfork Trailhead. If interested, email Joe at joewhite328@gmail.com.
LEADER/ORGANIZER: Joe White
February 17th Sunday Winter Hike of San Gorgonio Mountain
After Joe White's Glacier Travel/Snow Skills Practice, we will take what we learned and put it to use. We will attempt snowshoeing to the top of the tallest peak in Southern California. We will probably take Vivian Creek Trail, although I am open to alternate suggestions. Snow levels will be much higher this year, so be prepared for early and deep snow. In addition to snowshoes, ice ax, crampons, trekking poles, gaiters and of course warm/dry gear will be needed. Be prepared for 16 mile round trip with 5,500 ft of gain. I am open to co-leading. Email Sean for additional information at: casserly79@gmail.com
LEADER/ORGANIZER: Sean Casserly
February 23rd – 24th Saturday – Sunday Eastern Sierra - Backcountry skiing
Join me for some backcountry skiing/boarding in the Mammoth area. There many options here within just a few miles of driving: various lines up Mammoth Crest, the Convict Lake area, Solitude Canyon and McGee Creek just to name a few. The actual itinerary will depend on snow/weather conditions as well as group experience level and consensus. In addition to winter backcountry travel essentials, necessary gear includes avalanche beacon, backcountry skis/split boards and ski or mountaineering crampons. Send an email with experience/conditioning to mailto:vladbazarsky@gmail.com.
LEADER/ORGANIZER: Vlad Bazarsky
February 23th – 24th Saturday - Sunday Joshua Tree
Join me for two days of rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park - I’ve reserved two family campsites for Saturday night in Black Rock Campground (only spots available and the max I could reserve). Each site has space for 6 people and 2 vehicles. Friends and family are welcome, but MUST be accompanied by a CMC member. We’ll have a campfire on Saturday night, with an option to eat dinner at Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant (Yucca Valley) Saturday night. Parking will be limited on this trip, so carpooling is a must. Email John for additional information at: jgrisbach@gmail.com
LEADER/ORGANIZER: John Grisbach
March 16th Saturday Galena Peak (9,330’)
Galena Peak (9,330) is in the San Bernardino National Forest southwest of San Gorgonio peak. This is a great conditioning day hike/snow climb - 6 miles with 3,200 feet of gain. Ice axe and crampons required. If interested, email Joe at joewhite328@gmail.com.
LEADER/ORGANIZER: Joe White
May 10th - 12th Friday - Sunday Eastern Sierra Backcountry Turns
We are looking for some backcountry skiers or boarders who would be interested in joining us for some backcountry turns in the Eastern Sierra. Prefer day trips only, so our packs will be light and we can car camp with amenities. Conditions will determine the final location. Ideally targeting a single base camp location between Independence and Mammoth Lakes. Send an email to Chris ( jakecattleco@yahoo.com) or Joe ( joewhite328@gmail.com) if interested, with your experience and conditioning.
LEADERS/ORGANIZERS: Chris Jakober and Joe White
June 1st - June 2nd Saturday - Sunday Red Slate Mtn North Couloir
Looking for a fun (hopefully), challenging and satisfying climb? Join me for an ascent of the north couloir. This route features about 1200 feet of 40-degree slope. At this time of year, conditions may be firm snow with decent weather. Saturday: Meet at Convict Lake trailhead (7600’) at 6:30. Backpack in to Lake Constance (10,830’). Sunday: early start for the climb; descend the west side to camp and return to cars. The usual requirements: experience, conditioning, ice axe, crampons, personal harness and tie-in equipment. Send email with interest/experience/conditioning to ronwebber33@gmail.com.
LEADER/ORGANIZER: Ron Webber
July 4th - 7th Thursday - Sunday Barnard East, Mt Barnard, Trojan Peak, Mt Versteeg
For the extended weekend, the plan is to climb 4 of the highest peaks in California. We will meet Wednesday evening in Lone Pine and shuttle together via the rough 4WD road to the trailhead. At sunrise, we will leave camp in an effort to beat the heat. We will follow George Creek which has no maintained trail and involves a lot of bushwhacking and several difficult creek crossings. We will hike all day and camp where we can. On the second day, we will ascend the neglected Barnard East which stands at 13,746 ft. Afterwards we will traverse to Barnard Peak, a possible 14er. Then we will descend to camp. On day 3 we will climb Trojan Peak and hopefully have enough energy to traverse to Mt Versteeg via a class 2-3 ridge. Day 4 we will hike out. Unfortunately, I only have 3 spots, and since the trip is very strenuous, members will be chosen based on fitness level. Email Sean at casserly79@gmail.com with your experience and conditioning.
LEADER/ORGANIZER: Sean Casserly
July 19th - 21st Friday - Sunday McGee Creek Canyon
Have you ever explored the McGee Creek Canyon? If not, this may be your opportunity. Looking for folks seeking some High Sierra scrambling, while hopefully avoiding summer thunderstorms. Day 1 will start early and approach Little McGee Lake for camp. If we arrive early enough and there’s no inclement weather an afternoon scramble of Red and White Mountain (Northeast Ridge) will be considered. Day 2 will be an ascent of Red Slate Mountain by the Southeast Slope. Day 3 may include an early morning ascent of Red and White Mountain (if it wasn’t completed on Day 1) and the hike out and drive home. This trip will include Class 2-3 scrambling. Send an email to Chris (jakecattleco@yahoo.com) with your experience and conditioning.
LEADER/ORGANIZER: Chris Jakober
July 20th - 28th Saturday - Sunday (9 days) Mineral King, Kaweah’s, and more
I’m looking for others to join me for any or all of the week’s adventures. The objectives will include Mount Kaweah, Black Kaweah, Red Kaweah and others. The basic plan will be to go from Mineral King, to Nine Lakes Basin via Glacier Pass. Climb Mt Kaweah on day 2. Black & Red Kaweah on day 3; other objectives may include Lion Rock, Triple Divide, Mt Stewart, Eagle Scout, Eisen.
Participants must be in good physical condition and comfortable with 3rd class climbing and traveling off-trail with a backpack. We’ll see some semi remote areas and cover a lot of ground. Send email with interest/ideas/experience/conditioning to ronwebber33@gmail.com.
LEADER/ORGANIZER: Ron Webber
August 15th - 18th Thursday - Sunday Arrow Peak and Mount Ruskin
Do you enjoy scrambling and solitude? If so join me for a summer attempt on two California SPS Mountaineers Peaks. I’ve been trying for two years to get this trip completed. 2017 saw an early season Fall storm put the damper on things. 2018 found me nearly cutting off the tip of my index finger, which forced me to cancel many things backcountry in origin. Here’s hoping the third time is indeed the charm.
On Thursday we'll hike up and over Taboose Pass to Bench Lake, approximately 11.5 miles with 6000 feet of gain (early ~06:00 start to avoid the Owens Valley heat). Friday we'll ascend Arrow Peak, likely by the Northeast Spur. Saturday we'll ascend Mount Ruskin by the Southwest slope, South Ridge, or East Ridge. Sunday will be the hike out and drive home. This trip will include Class 2-3+ scrambling. Send an email with experience/conditioning to Chris ( jakecattleco@yahoo.com).
LEADER/ORGANIZER: Chris Jakober
August 20th- 23rd Tuesday - Friday Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne
This is a four-day backpack through the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne in Yosemite NP. We will take four days to hike roughly 30 miles through the GCT. I have never done this hike, so I can’t say for sure how difficult it will be. However, the beta sounds pretty straightforward and the difficulty about what one might expect of a hike of this length in Yosemite. The worst part of the standard hike is the ascent required to exit on the final day which is long and steep, though not technical.
Depending on water and weather conditions, qualified participants may elect to descend the Muir Gorge on day 2. The Muir Gorge is a one-day canyon descent that is bypassed by the normal GCT hike (though the two routes rejoin after the gorge). Anyone interested in descending the Muir Gorge needs to be competent in unprotected downclimbing with significant consequences for errors or accidents around moving water.
Quote from the beta: “… the canyon should be given respect as the location is very remote, the downclimbing stiff and the penalties quite high for errors. Don’t let the rating fool you, do not enter this canyon without previous class C technical canyoneering experience.”
Those not wishing to descend the gorge will take the usual bypass hike. Actually, depending on conditions, we may all be taking the bypass route.
Anyone wishing to attend will obviously need to be in condition to do the hike. Anyone wishing to attempt the gorge will need the trip leader’s approval.
If interested contact Tim Hoover: frisbeedog02@yahoo.com
LEADER/ORGANIZER: Tim Hoover
August 30th - September 1st Friday - Sunday Bristlecone Pine/Milky Way Backpack, Mt Washington Nevada
I love Bristlecone Pines. I also love to photograph the Milky Way. I’m planning to combine these two on an overnight at the end of August. There are two groves of Bristlecone Pines on the flanks of Mt Washington in Great Basin National Park, Nevada. The remote location and the fact that there will be a new moon at the end of August means that there should be a chance for some really terrific photography (weather permitting, of course).
If anyone is interested in joining me, the company would be welcomed. There are no special skills required and the trip is open to all members, but the hike to the nearest grove is about 6.5 miles and 2000 ft of gain from the trailhead to 10,600 ft. so a decent level of conditioning would be useful. Also, if anyone is extra motivated, we could add another 1000 ft of gain and summit Mt Washington on day 2.
This is a fairly long drive from SoCal, but if you haven’t been to Great Basin, there are plenty of things to do to make an extended stay worthwhile.
If interested contact Tim Hoover: frisbeedog02@yahoo.com
LEADER/ORGANIZER: Tim Hoover
September 21st Sunday Mount San Jacinto (10,834')
Start at Marion Mountain trailhead parking area above the town of Alandale (directions will be provided if needed). Hike the well-used, but steep Marion trail through the forest of Jeffrey pine, California oak and manzanita. The trail passes by small waterfalls and the junction with Deer Springs trail before it arrives to Little Round Valley in about 4.1 miles from the trailhead. From here the trail follows long switchbacks to the junction with the PCT, past the stone shelter and on to the summit of Mt San Jacinto. The views from the summit include San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains as well as the surrounding desert. Descend the same way.
The hike is about 5.5 miles long (one way) with 4600' of elevation gain. Bring hiking boots/trail runners along with sunscreen and water/energy snacks. Hiking poles may help.
Send an email with experience/conditioning to vladbazarsky@gmail.com.
LEADER/ORGANIZER: Vlad Bazarsky
November 23rd-24th Saturday - Sunday Joshua Tree
Join me for two days of rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park - I’ve reserved two campsites for Saturday night in Black Rock Campground (only spots available and the max. I could reserve). Each site has space for 6 people and 2 vehicles. Friends and family are welcome but MUST be accompanied by a CMC member. We’ll have a campfire on Saturday night, with an option to eat dinner in town (Yucca Valley) Saturday night. Parking will be limited on this trip, so carpooling is a must. Email John for additional information at: jgrisbach@gmail.com
LEADER/ORGANIZER: John Grisbach
January 11th-12th Saturday - Sunday Joshua Tree
Join me for two days of rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park - I’ve reserved two campsites for Saturday night in Indian Cove Campground. Each site has space for 6 people and 2 vehicles. Friends and family are welcome but MUST be accompanied by a CMC member. We’ll have a campfire on Saturday night, with an option to eat dinner in town Saturday night. Parking will be limited on this trip, so carpooling is a must. Email John for additional information at: jgrisbach@gmail.com
LEADER/ORGANIZER: John Grisbach