Galena Peak

Many of you have hiked up the south side of San Gorgonio from the Vivian Creek Trailhead. Drive through the village of Forest Falls to the trailhead, cross Mill Creek Canyon and head on up. Have you ever thought to hike up Mill Creek Canyon and see what is up this drainage? It's worth it.

I arrived at the Vivian Creek trailhead one Saturday morning. Snow remained from the previous week as low as Forest Falls. It was a beautiful sunny day. It looked to be a perfect snowshoe and ski pole hike. I began walking up canyon following very worn tracks in the several foot snow cover carrying my snowshoes.

Soon I found the makers of the tracks I was following. The San Diego Mountain Rescue Team had their snow weekend a short way up the canyon. There seemed to be about 50 people camped out in the snow on the north side of the canyon. After this group, there were barely any tracks and the snow got much softer. I began to follow the streambed and the flowing Mill Creek. Some time later the snow covered over the stream and I began to posthole in the soft snow. Time for the snowshoes. The canyon began to narrow and become a very peaceful setting. Now walking in the lowest part of the canyon I was making rapid progress.

Further up the canyon the wall to the north become very steep and intimidating. Rockfall was seen and heard from the sun-heated slopes. As I approached the head of the canyon, the Mill Creek Jumpoff came into full view. This is a very steep saddle at the head of the canyon that separates the western flowing Mill Creek from the South Fork of the Whitewater River. There is a majestic view from the foot of the jumpoff. To the north is the steep rocky face with continual rockfall. To the south, there are very steep snow chutes separated by rocky ridges. I looked at the chutes and thought they would be great for a return snow-climbing trip with a little bit of gear and a rope.

I headed straight up the jumpoff heading a little to the southeast. The snowshoes and poles worked well. At the top, weather had done its work. There I stood on top of a ten-foot cornice. It had an excellent view into the other side of the jumpoff.

I headed south toward Galena Peak, which didn't appear too far away. I passed along the corniced ridge and looked down into the snowchutes that lined the way. Yes, a return climbing trip is in order. I continued along the steep ridge and occasionally postholed. Quite a bit of snow had fallen on these northern slopes.

The summit of Galena Peak (9,324 ft.) was a nice little hump that gives incredible views in all directions. San Gorgonio was a big snow-covered heap. The western ridgeline showed as the wonderful traverse it is. San Jacinto's north face, Snow Creek, showed its spidery white arms. To the far west were the peaks in the Baldy region. Everywhere there was lots of snow and I was in the middle of it.

The descent down to the jumpoff was a fast trip. I kept the snowshoes on the whole way and had to work a little keeping my feet as I descended from the jumpoff. Below, the sun had softened the snow and made travel a little less pleasant than it was in the morning. The early start was worth it.

It was a wonderful hike and at 6 hours long, not all that trying.

n.b. I returned on April 8 to climb one of the chutes I had seen on the south side of the canyon. The chute was about the third one to the right of the jumpoff. It started out consistently at 30 deg. and continued to get steeper and narrower. Near the top it was about 3 ft. wide with a short 60 deg. section. It was wonder Styrofoam snow at this time and a joy to ascend.

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