Thanks Eric---I was lost too--I remember crashing through the forest--saw a partially iced over pond 1 inch thick and finally shinnied up a pine in the dark and like braille-like finger traced out a Vivian Creek Trail Sign to realize I was safely back on the trail. Yikes very scary and no flashlight.
For people looking for a water bottle pouch for their pack strap -- the one in the video is a feature of Jimmy's pack, and sewn in, but if you have a different pack you can get a separate pouch that clips onto your shoulder strap. I've used the Clackit Water Bottle Strap Pack -- available on Amazon for about 20 bucks. Will NOT fit a 1L Nalgene, but it will fit a 700ml SmartWater, Fiji, or similar water bottle. (I think the 1L bottle would be too bulky and heavy for me to carry on a shoulder strap, anyway.) Same company also makes clip-on strap pouches that would fit your cell phone or other small items that you may want access to without setting down your big backpack.
Thanks for the great trail views. I plan to go back in a couple weeks. I liked the end around the pink ribbon area route that you took en route to (around) High Camp. Happy Trails my friend.
What a nice video! Thank you for sharing and thank you for taking your time recording the beautiful scenery. Nice mini demonstration of that Sierra designs tent
Glad you enjoyed it, Sean. It's a lot easier and faster for me to throw together a longer video with less edits. Thought I would experiment with this format to see whether people are willing to sit through the whole thing. And hopefully it's helpful for anyone else who is trying to do the same hike.
We just hike The San Jacinto Peak yesterday and thank you for your Video. It will help me prepare for San Gorgonio. Thank so much for the tips, the views are spectacular.
Awesome. I did the trail with a group but we only made it to Vivian Creek Camp because there was two feet of snow. I think we will try it again before it snows.
I'm pretty sure I've crossed paths with one lung Hong in the past. If I'm not mistaken, it was on the same trail. I've never camped out on the summit, rather High creek camp and that was WINDY. There were a few times I thought my tent was going to take off with me in it! Strange wind that. You can hear it coming before it gets to you.
Wow, the Vivian Creek Trail Head was where I made the first video for my RUclips Channel. I had my little dogs sit on a big stump, took a video of them and put music in the background. Nice to see what is up there! Amazing that there is no way to drive to the highest peak in So. Cal!
Cool video Hiking Nerd. Thanks. In high winds I have a rain-fly that is all flat triangles. I discovered that this shape does really well in winds. The trees were blowing like mad and in my fly it was calm, barely a ripple on the fabric. Tents are more like bubbles-- because it provides the most usable space (volume). Not sure if I would back pack with both, but if I was solo, no bugs, I'd take the fly. I always travel with my Minimalist Bivy, that also does really well in high winds. (Just turn the open mesh away from the wind). I'll cook under the fly but not in a tent. (the fly has 360 degrees of exits) On my tent, I think I might sew some more mid-panel attachments on my tent's fly (grosgrain-- very lightweight, but plenty strong.) Give it just a bit more stability. There's the issue of a tent blowing away, but the more insidious problem is all that wind weakening the fabric. Thanks.
Very nicely done! I used to camp at High Creek, then make my way to the summit and descend via Dollar Lake and Poopout Hill. What was the filming date for this?
perhaps you can do a review how to pitch your tent in windy condition. if the Sierra design tent (double wall?) is lighter than my Fly Creek HV UL2, I will consider it.
It’s a feature of the Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor (built-in). You can find some accessory pockets made by various companies if your pack strap is compatible.
I did the hike to the summit on June 17. Nice day for it and your filming reminded me of each and every turn. It says in your gear list you used a iPhone 7 and a tripod. What kind of tripod did you use? Thank you for the video!
Thank you for the reply - I have one of those for my dslr -they are very light and with the Velcro makes it handy. There is also something called a stick pic that goes on the end of your trekking pole but I have not tried that. The tent looks really functional and practical. There was still a little snow up at around 10,500 feet.
Thank you for the reply - I have one of those for my dslr -they are very light and with the Velcro makes it handy. There is also something called a stick pic that goes on the end of your trekking pole but I have not tried that. The tent looks really functional and practical. There was still a little snow up at around 10,500 feet.
hi Jimmy, love the video. we plan to hike San Gorgonio on May 6th. some folks were concerned about hiking it in early season is too risky. looks like very doable. last weekend I summit the san Bernardino peak. I'd say the condition is similar. i have some questions: did you plan to camp at the summit or high camp? what are the difference? how heavy is that tent? I know you have a review on it. I'm going to watch it later on. I bought the flex capacity after watching andrew's and your review. I just brought a big Agnest fly creen HV UL2. I have a couple spur UL1 before. I don't like single wall tent for I can't deal with the condensation and that I sleep cold. 18.4lb base weight is really good. do you have a gear list? will you be in CA a bit longer? thanks
Hi Shuping, I'll answer some of your questions here: 1) I did plan to camp on the summit. The main differences are exposure (much colder and windier up on the summit), lack of water sources on the summit (fortunately you can melt some icy snow though, which I chopped up with the ice axe), and altitude (if you're susceptible to acute mountain sickness, you'll feel it more here at 3,000 ft above high creek camp). 2) I brought the full tent which weighs 2.5lbs. I knew it was going to be windy and didn't want my groundsheet to get blown around so I opted to bring the inner tent as well. Normally I'll leave the inner tent at home and bring just the tarp/fly which weighs 1.5lbs. 3) My gear list is in the video description, you need to click "Show More". I brought a few extra items on this trip which brought my baseweight up to 18lbs, but I wanted a bit more margin of safety and knew that I could handle the weight. Granted the baseweight is not a perfect representation of effort because holding the crampons in the pack results in a higher baseweight but actually a lower effort (1lb of weight on the foot requires approximately the same exertion as 5lbs in the pack).
thanks Jimmy. i have problem shaving off weight. i had 28 lbs with me for san bernardino. I do carry a camera and tripix tripod with ball head. that's roughly about 4 lbs. i'm working on getting my back down to 20 lbs without food and water or 15 lb
Nice video!! Thinking Vivian creek would be good practice for the JMT next year. What kind of pocket are you using for your water bottle and is it hard to get the bottle in and out? Thanks!
Thanks Kelli. Yep San G is definitely good practice for the JMT. The water bottle pocket is built into the pack (Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor) and is one of my favorite features -- really easy to get a bottle in and out.
Alan Keefe The main issue I had with the Cagoule was fit. I've received conflicting information about the intended cut of the Cagoule and the UL Trench but after receiving them both I kept the UL Trench. It seems to layer better (not so tight across the chest) and is significantly easier to put on over layers than a pullover. Neither are as good as a proper wind jacket for cutting wind but since the intended purpose is a rain jacket that allows more air flow/"breathability", so it tends to perform better in that arena. I did get a lot of air movement through the pit vents and hip flaps which is why I had to put on so many layers to begin with. I've since acquired a Patagonia Houdini which is better suited for fair condition summit hikes, but I don't think the difference between them is significant enough that I would bring both on any hike.
Just a safety tip, as you seem fairly new to snow walking. If you are on ground where you might need to self-arrest, just use the axe. Having a pole in the other hand will severely compromise your ability to arrest a fall. If you are on safe ground, use both poles and stick the axe on your pack. Using a pole and an axe at the same time doesn't make much sense.
Thanks for the comment, I've heard this recommendation before so it's not coming from left field here. I'm curious on your view regarding how difficult it will be to actually let go of that pole and self arrest. My axe is short enough that I don't use it as an alpenstock / walking stick as I don't believe that's the goal there. However, it did make me feel better than having two poles in some spots. And having that one pole gave me a bit more stability with the pack that I felt it was less likely for me to take a tumble and have to self arrest or self belay. What do you think?
The big key to self-arrest on steep ground is to catch the slip as early as possible - ideally before you begin to slide at any speed. Holding a pole at the same time makes this instant response much more difficult. You can try it for yourself next time you're on a slope with a safe run-off. The downhill pole could get tangled or jam into the snow and throw you off at an unexpected angle.Or it could spike you and cause a nasty injury. If the snow is steep enough to be dangerous, an axe in your uphill hand should be enough to keep you balanced. Step - move the axe - and step again... Just be sure it's a walking axe with a long enough shaft and not a technical axe designed for steep ice.
Thanks for the reply, that makes sense. I've definitely been looking forward to some more practice on a safe slope. For me, the takeaway from your message is that the slope needs to be steep enough such that the ice axe is: a) warranted, and b) can be a third point of contact to help with balance. I think I was in a situation where the slope wasn't actually dangerous enough but I wanted the security of the ice axe (being pretty new to mountain snow travel). Unless I've got an incorrect ice axe length (50cm) for my 5'9" stature.
Snow walking with an axe is something of a neglected skill. There's a lot of information on the web, but views differ on issues such as the length of the axe - so you'll have to do your research and make up your own mind. I'm old school and err on the side of a longer axe that will provide a third point of balance on a wider range of slopes. But one thing you're doing that's definitely dangerous is walking with the pick pointing forwards. Think about it - if you fall and assume the arrest position, the pick is pointing into your face, not into the snow. Your face could smash into the pick, and the adze isn't effective for braking on ice. By the time you've turned the axe around the fall may be beyond recovery... You absolutely must get into the habit of holding the axe with the pick pointing back so it's already in position for self arrest. There's a decent article here: www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=7018
Regarding the pick facing forward, that was deliberate in every situation and was based on my assessment of whether a critical fall was likely (so a *self-arrest grip* would be better) or whether I simply needed to plant the axe into the ground and hold on (where a *self-belay grip* with the pick forward is a more comfortable grip). I admit there's a skill to flipping it around to the self-arrest position if needed during a fall and I should practice that more if I'm going to occasionally hold in self-belay style. If you think my selection of that grip for the situation was inappropriate or if you think it never makes sense to use a self-belay grip, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts. Also, which mountaineering course did you take (if you've taken one)?
Shuping Yin Good question because definitions can vary. My baseweight means everything in the backpack (including backpack) but excluding water, food, and fuel. Worn items mean clothing and shoes. Carried items include my trekking poles and items in my pockets. Pack weight is everything on my back. Obviously this changes if I wear something that was in my pack or vice versa. So I try to determine where things will be most often on the hike as the basis for these weights.
@@karlasical3641 You need a permit from the ranger station that identifies which trail you plan to hike and where you plan to camp, which is different than the annual access pass which is good for park entry and parking.
That 1000 foot gain in the first mile is a butt kicker. No warming up just go up lol!
New hero: One-lung Hong. Inspiring.
Thanks Eric---I was lost too--I remember crashing through the forest--saw a partially iced over pond 1 inch thick and finally shinnied up a pine in the dark and like braille-like finger traced out a Vivian Creek Trail Sign to realize I was safely back on the trail. Yikes very scary and no flashlight.
For people looking for a water bottle pouch for their pack strap -- the one in the video is a feature of Jimmy's pack, and sewn in, but if you have a different pack you can get a separate pouch that clips onto your shoulder strap. I've used the Clackit Water Bottle Strap Pack -- available on Amazon for about 20 bucks. Will NOT fit a 1L Nalgene, but it will fit a 700ml SmartWater, Fiji, or similar water bottle. (I think the 1L bottle would be too bulky and heavy for me to carry on a shoulder strap, anyway.) Same company also makes clip-on strap pouches that would fit your cell phone or other small items that you may want access to without setting down your big backpack.
I open my window from colton, and see that mountain every morning, thanks for the video..
Vinny Angell summit it. You have to
Or you’ll lose your IE card lol
Doom metal tortoise I second that!
How's your A&W?
7:06 Starting on 1/6/18 I spent 56 hours in my tent right there. Blizzard.
Dang! Alone? Tell us more of your story!
Wow
glad to see this tent in the wind. Makes me comfortable using it in the Rockies during crazy winter nights
Thanks for the great trail views. I plan to go back in a couple weeks. I liked the end around the pink ribbon area route that you took en route to (around) High Camp. Happy Trails my friend.
That was just a Kool adventure enjoyed the video. Thank you for sharing.
dig your humble style and great videos
That was great video man! Snow / camping and everything.
Thanks for sharing your adventures. I love how you are so humble yet it is clear you know your abilities well.
Thanks for sharing this video Jimmy! It was very enjoyable!
Great story about the 70 year old man "Hong" thanks for video
Thanks for taking us along on your adventure!
Awesome! I stayed the night a couple months ago. It was great with the same winds.
i took the South Fork trail. It starts just above Jenks Lake. Its longer but easier than Vivan Creek.
What a nice video! Thank you for sharing and thank you for taking your time recording the beautiful scenery. Nice mini demonstration of that Sierra designs tent
Glad you enjoyed it, Sean. It's a lot easier and faster for me to throw together a longer video with less edits. Thought I would experiment with this format to see whether people are willing to sit through the whole thing. And hopefully it's helpful for anyone else who is trying to do the same hike.
We just hike The San Jacinto Peak yesterday and thank you for your Video. It will help me prepare for San Gorgonio. Thank so much for the tips, the views are spectacular.
Hiking poles are a must for this hike just did it last weekend and used a stick I found but wouldn’t have been good if I didn’t find it
Awesome. I did the trail with a group but we only made it to Vivian Creek Camp because there was two feet of snow. I think we will try it again before it snows.
thanks nice views good luck
Another nice video! Glad a friend showed me your channel. That man you man you met has an awesome story. Amazing the types of folks we me on trail.
Great music, especially the piano at the end. What is it? Thanks for the terrific video.
I'm pretty sure I've crossed paths with one lung Hong in the past. If I'm not mistaken, it was on the same trail. I've never camped out on the summit, rather High creek camp and that was WINDY. There were a few times I thought my tent was going to take off with me in it! Strange wind that. You can hear it coming before it gets to you.
Awesome video... That wind looked brutal... can only imagine how cold it was with the wind factor. Thanks for sharing, take care.
Thanks! It was a lot of fun, oddly enough.
Great video..like coming along on your trips.
Exactly. Not easy to get this type of feeling across. Impressive film making. Inspiring me.
Beautiful
Wow, the Vivian Creek Trail Head was where I made the first video for my RUclips Channel. I had my little dogs sit on a big stump, took a video of them and put music in the background. Nice to see what is up there! Amazing that there is no way to drive to the highest peak in So. Cal!
Shelley Sugino I'm glad they have no roads up there can you imagine how many vatos would have launched their G rides off the cliffs??
Cool video Hiking Nerd. Thanks. In high winds I have a rain-fly that is all flat triangles. I discovered that this shape does really well in winds. The trees were blowing like mad and in my fly it was calm, barely a ripple on the fabric. Tents are more like bubbles-- because it provides the most usable space (volume). Not sure if I would back pack with both, but if I was solo, no bugs, I'd take the fly. I always travel with my Minimalist Bivy, that also does really well in high winds. (Just turn the open mesh away from the wind). I'll cook under the fly but not in a tent. (the fly has 360 degrees of exits) On my tent, I think I might sew some more mid-panel attachments on my tent's fly (grosgrain-- very lightweight, but plenty strong.) Give it just a bit more stability. There's the issue of a tent blowing away, but the more insidious problem is all that wind weakening the fabric. Thanks.
Very nicely done! I used to camp at High Creek, then make my way to the summit and descend via Dollar Lake and Poopout Hill. What was the filming date for this?
Thanks! I posted the video a day or two after the trip, so late April 2017.
Cool vid Nerd. I really enjoyed it. Thank you.
Maybe a Whippet and microspikes to lighten the load? San G is a special spot and Vivian Creek gets you there the fastest! Good video!
perhaps you can do a review how to pitch your tent in windy condition. if the Sierra design tent (double wall?) is lighter than my Fly Creek HV UL2, I will consider it.
Awesome video!
Another great video!
Back in the 60's it was 11,502.
Hi, where did you get your shoulder strap water bottle holder? Thanks.
It’s a feature of the Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor (built-in). You can find some accessory pockets made by various companies if your pack strap is compatible.
100th like.. This video was great.. I hope you post more such overnighters.. Keep it up :)
How much do you charge to take someone up the peak of San Gorgonian
What month did you go in? I’m going in three weeks, any tips?
who makes your hiking shoes?
What kind of inflatable diffuser did you use with your headlamp please? 😊
Sierra Designs Night Glow. Came with the tent but can be purchased separately.
Thank you. I subbed!.
I did the hike to the summit on June 17. Nice day for it and your filming reminded me of each and every turn. It says in your gear list you used a iPhone 7 and a tripod. What kind of tripod did you use? Thank you for the video!
Lee Anderson Awesome! I used to use a generic mini Gorillapod but I've since moved on to the Pedco Ultrapod
Thank you for the reply - I have one of those for my dslr -they are very light and with the Velcro makes it handy. There is also something called a stick pic that goes on the end of your trekking pole but I have not tried that. The tent looks really functional and practical. There was still a little snow up at around 10,500 feet.
Thank you for the reply - I have one of those for my dslr -they are very light and with the Velcro makes it handy. There is also something called a stick pic that goes on the end of your trekking pole but I have not tried that. The tent looks really functional and practical. There was still a little snow up at around 10,500 feet.
hi Jimmy, love the video. we plan to hike San Gorgonio on May 6th. some folks were concerned about hiking it in early season is too risky. looks like very doable. last weekend I summit the san Bernardino peak. I'd say the condition is similar. i have some questions: did you plan to camp at the summit or high camp? what are the difference? how heavy is that tent? I know you have a review on it. I'm going to watch it later on. I bought the flex capacity after watching andrew's and your review. I just brought a big Agnest fly creen HV UL2. I have a couple spur UL1 before. I don't like single wall tent for I can't deal with the condensation and that I sleep cold. 18.4lb base weight is really good. do you have a gear list? will you be in CA a bit longer? thanks
Hi Shuping, I'll answer some of your questions here:
1) I did plan to camp on the summit. The main differences are exposure (much colder and windier up on the summit), lack of water sources on the summit (fortunately you can melt some icy snow though, which I chopped up with the ice axe), and altitude (if you're susceptible to acute mountain sickness, you'll feel it more here at 3,000 ft above high creek camp).
2) I brought the full tent which weighs 2.5lbs. I knew it was going to be windy and didn't want my groundsheet to get blown around so I opted to bring the inner tent as well. Normally I'll leave the inner tent at home and bring just the tarp/fly which weighs 1.5lbs.
3) My gear list is in the video description, you need to click "Show More". I brought a few extra items on this trip which brought my baseweight up to 18lbs, but I wanted a bit more margin of safety and knew that I could handle the weight. Granted the baseweight is not a perfect representation of effort because holding the crampons in the pack results in a higher baseweight but actually a lower effort (1lb of weight on the foot requires approximately the same exertion as 5lbs in the pack).
thanks Jimmy. i have problem shaving off weight. i had 28 lbs with me for san bernardino. I do carry a camera and tripix tripod with ball head. that's roughly about 4 lbs. i'm working on getting my back down to 20 lbs without food and water or 15 lb
Fenix 5X car navigation
I loved the video. It looks like you could've used a pair of hiking boots.
I'm gonna have my 6th grade camp there! :D
Amazing vid! You barely sound winded. What kind of shoes are you wearing?
Thanks! It's the magic of editing hah. I'm wearing the Altra Lone Peak 3.0 trail runners.
Nice video!!
Thinking Vivian creek would be good practice for the JMT next year.
What kind of pocket are you using for your water bottle and is it hard to get the bottle in and out?
Thanks!
Thanks Kelli. Yep San G is definitely good practice for the JMT. The water bottle pocket is built into the pack (Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor) and is one of my favorite features -- really easy to get a bottle in and out.
IN & OUT Yeah boiii! The perfect post workout food. The snow melting didn't look fun with that canister stove.
peglegthered That's straight Fart food!!!
did you wish you had something other than the cagoule? I feel like it lets too much air through for summit hikes
Alan Keefe The main issue I had with the Cagoule was fit. I've received conflicting information about the intended cut of the Cagoule and the UL Trench but after receiving them both I kept the UL Trench. It seems to layer better (not so tight across the chest) and is significantly easier to put on over layers than a pullover. Neither are as good as a proper wind jacket for cutting wind but since the intended purpose is a rain jacket that allows more air flow/"breathability", so it tends to perform better in that arena. I did get a lot of air movement through the pit vents and hip flaps which is why I had to put on so many layers to begin with.
I've since acquired a Patagonia Houdini which is better suited for fair condition summit hikes, but I don't think the difference between them is significant enough that I would bring both on any hike.
15:06 >> A dead jeffrey pine? Looks similar to a bristlecone pine
15:26 >> Dirtygirl gaiters
we took 55lbs packs , including army sack to High Creek .
Just a safety tip, as you seem fairly new to snow walking. If you are on ground where you might need to self-arrest, just use the axe. Having a pole in the other hand will severely compromise your ability to arrest a fall. If you are on safe ground, use both poles and stick the axe on your pack. Using a pole and an axe at the same time doesn't make much sense.
Thanks for the comment, I've heard this recommendation before so it's not coming from left field here. I'm curious on your view regarding how difficult it will be to actually let go of that pole and self arrest. My axe is short enough that I don't use it as an alpenstock / walking stick as I don't believe that's the goal there. However, it did make me feel better than having two poles in some spots. And having that one pole gave me a bit more stability with the pack that I felt it was less likely for me to take a tumble and have to self arrest or self belay. What do you think?
The big key to self-arrest on steep ground is to catch the slip as early as possible - ideally before you begin to slide at any speed. Holding a pole at the same time makes this instant response much more difficult. You can try it for yourself next time you're on a slope with a safe run-off. The downhill pole could get tangled or jam into the snow and throw you off at an unexpected angle.Or it could spike you and cause a nasty injury. If the snow is steep enough to be dangerous, an axe in your uphill hand should be enough to keep you balanced. Step - move the axe - and step again... Just be sure it's a walking axe with a long enough shaft and not a technical axe designed for steep ice.
Thanks for the reply, that makes sense. I've definitely been looking forward to some more practice on a safe slope. For me, the takeaway from your message is that the slope needs to be steep enough such that the ice axe is: a) warranted, and b) can be a third point of contact to help with balance. I think I was in a situation where the slope wasn't actually dangerous enough but I wanted the security of the ice axe (being pretty new to mountain snow travel). Unless I've got an incorrect ice axe length (50cm) for my 5'9" stature.
Snow walking with an axe is something of a neglected skill. There's a lot of information on the web, but views differ on issues such as the length of the axe - so you'll have to do your research and make up your own mind. I'm old school and err on the side of a longer axe that will provide a third point of balance on a wider range of slopes. But one thing you're doing that's definitely dangerous is walking with the pick pointing forwards. Think about it - if you fall and assume the arrest position, the pick is pointing into your face, not into the snow. Your face could smash into the pick, and the adze isn't effective for braking on ice. By the time you've turned the axe around the fall may be beyond recovery... You absolutely must get into the habit of holding the axe with the pick pointing back so it's already in position for self arrest. There's a decent article here: www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=7018
Regarding the pick facing forward, that was deliberate in every situation and was based on my assessment of whether a critical fall was likely (so a *self-arrest grip* would be better) or whether I simply needed to plant the axe into the ground and hold on (where a *self-belay grip* with the pick forward is a more comfortable grip). I admit there's a skill to flipping it around to the self-arrest position if needed during a fall and I should practice that more if I'm going to occasionally hold in self-belay style.
If you think my selection of that grip for the situation was inappropriate or if you think it never makes sense to use a self-belay grip, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts. Also, which mountaineering course did you take (if you've taken one)?
not a chance this was happening in April of this year
are wore items include backpack?
Shuping Yin Good question because definitions can vary. My baseweight means everything in the backpack (including backpack) but excluding water, food, and fuel. Worn items mean clothing and shoes. Carried items include my trekking poles and items in my pockets. Pack weight is everything on my back.
Obviously this changes if I wear something that was in my pack or vice versa. So I try to determine where things will be most often on the hike as the basis for these weights.
thats why you don't bother with the tent and sleep under the stars while your face freezes over lol
Nice video!!
Do we need permission for camping?
Permits are needed for day hikes and overnight camping. You can find out more from the Mill Creek ranger station.
Hiking Nerd
We have plans to go camping for 2 nights
We have the national forest anual permite ,
Or we need a different permit?
Thank you!
@@karlasical3641 You need a permit from the ranger station that identifies which trail you plan to hike and where you plan to camp, which is different than the annual access pass which is good for park entry and parking.
nice
I find myself enjoying videos more the less I am watching selfies.
Slow down the playback and see whats standing behind you at 1604 -1605 !!! YIKES !!! I guess I didnt LOOK . Are you kidding me ?
nerd alert! good video
Good job squirrel lookin Asian dude 🤣🤣