Distance: 9.5 miles round trip on dirt road, use trail, and cross country
Summit Elevation: 9133' (Little San Gorgonio), 8832' (Wilshire)
Elevation Gain: 4461'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 3.5
Round trip time: 8 hours 40 minutes
Recommended water: 132 oz.
Parking/Fees: $5 Adventure Pass or Annual Pass
Difficulty: Strenuous
Little San Gorgonio (HPS #28) is one of many peaks on Yucaipa Ridge. It's also one of two peaks I failed last year (the other was Palo Verde and that wrong was righted). Wilshire Mountain (HPS #36) was my bonus goal, based on time and resources. Temps were warm, and I doubted any lingering show was hiding in the shadows of the northern slopes, but I took microspikes just in case. I got my online day hike permit and set out from the Vivian Creek trailhead around 6:30 AM. There were only two parking spots open when I arrived. I took the same gully shortcut as my first trip and transitioned to the major drainage feeding Mill Creek. Instead of frozen puddles, a trickle of water was flowing. I left the drainage and faced the steep (45-50%), loose dirt gully. I stayed right as I ascended, using trees and brush to assist. Even large rocks on the slope were mostly unstable and I didn't trust them. Above the first gully, the route to the ridge over a boulder field was well marked with cairns. Once on the ridge, there was a use trail that ran mostly along the south side toward Wanat Peak.
During the side hill traverse under Wanat Peak, I lost the use trail. There were three gullies to cross to reach the saddle below Little San Gorgonio. I went too high on the traverse which made it more difficult and dangerous with no upside. I did a little better on the way back, but was never sure I was on the use trail. The final march up the burned ridge was on a well defined use trail and a relief. Views were splendid. Both San Gorgonio and San Jacinto loomed large. There were no marks. I found a pair of register cans, but no register inside. It needs a new register. After some photos, I felt like I had enough motivation and provisions to go for Wilshire Mountain.
I started along the ridge, reaching an unnamed bump filled with radio towers and scientific equipment. There was a sign noting the land and equipment were private property to discourage vandalism. The unnamed bump was the terminus of a rough bulldozed road. Since Wilshire was the next big bump, I stayed on top of the ridge, crossing the road a few times. I didn't have a precise GPS location for Wilshire, but eventually, I stumbled on a clearing with a couple of registers. The original nested cans had been smashed and were hard to open. It held a couple of old registers. A newer can had a fresh register going back to 2023. An 8' class 2 boulder was the high point and was dutifully climbed. I took a longer break on Wilshire, emptied my boots of debris, and prepared to return. It was about 400' up getting back to Little San Gorgonio. The descent toward Wanat went quickly, the traverse went slowly, and my pace remained slow dropping down the final slope. I took a couple of unplanned butt slides on the slope, triggering impressive rock slides below. When I got back to the stream, I took off my boots and cooled my feet in the water. It was a welcome respite from the warm afternoon sun. I cruised back on the same route, feeling worked. I wanted a difficult hike and Little San G scratched that itch and then some.
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