October 2007 Archives

This is a solid hike up in the Mount Baldy area. Ontario Peak looms over Claremont, and from that town looks like the tallest peak in a circle of very large mountains. It isn't. It just looks that way because it is closer. However, it is a fairly burly hike: 13 miles roundtrip, 4100 feet elevation gain.

Despite the beautiful views, however, Ontario Peak doesn't have the wilderness feel that some of its surrounding sister peaks do (like Thunder Mountain, Cucamonga Peak, Timber Mountain). Ontario Peak rises directly above the road leading above Claremont and through Mount Baldy Village to the bottom of the hike in Icehouse Canyon. While on top of the peak I could hear motorcycles and police sirens 4000 feet below.

Those sounds proved to be prophetic. When I neared the bottom of the hike I came across about 10 firefighters standing under a tree next to the body of an older hiker who had apparently expired from a heart attack. I can only hope he died doing what he loved, and not being dragged on a hike he didn't want to go on. I instantly recalled an article I once read (but regretfully cannot locate on the web) of a hiking club for senior hikers who scale some of the highest peaks in Montana and Wyoming. They lose members of their club during hikes, but are of the philosophy that it is better to die in the outdoors than home in bed. I don't want to be presumptuous about the philosophy of the hiker who died that day, however, nor to ignore the grief that his family is likely suffering.

That was not the only police action on the mountain that weekend. The next day, in a bizarre turn of events, two hikers attacked a local man at his cabin with a sword, nearly severing his arm from his shoulder. The day after that, a man wiped out on his motorcycle and died.

Throw in a couple of power tool accidents, and possibly a meth lab and you have a typical rural police blotter.

The tilt of this photo tells the story of the return trip from Catalina: bumpy, impossible to get a level photo. Given the conditions, the island looks almost normal... I have about 10 other similar shots that show either side of the island inclined at least 20 degrees uphill. We left at almost sundown when the wind and waves are at their peak... coming back from the island you can either run west out to sea and take the waves head on until you get far enough away from the sharp western point of the island that is pushing the waves at you, or you can head north towards home and get smacked on the side by waves all night.

It was only my second overnight trip on a small boat, but that didn't stop my easy going friend from letting me steer the thing most of the weekend, even after dark with high waves. With everyone down below in the cabin, and just me and the sea and the stars with no other boat in sight (it was about 10 p.m. on a Sunday night) it was about the most lonely feeling I have ever had.

The ferries to Catalina take a little over an hour, but in our trawler, an old fishing boat designed for long distance and stability, it took about four hours to get to the island, and almost six on the way back, about the speed of a sail boat. But, as my friend pointed out, they have to work their rear ends off to maintain that speed, but to drive the trawler, you really just need to point the front of the boat at the island, hold a hand on the wheel (leaving a hand free for the beverage of your choice), and not run into another boat.

This is really the only way to go as far as I am concerned. We anchored off shore, where my friends scuba dived. Since I have no idea how to scuba, I rowed in to shore and hiked up the steep slopes of the island. The entire west end of the place is totally deserted, and full of remote beaches.

So find a friend who lives on a boat as soon as possible... there is no way I would ever live in a 20 by 10 space that bobs back and forth 24 hours a day, but I am sure glad I know someone who does.

An otherwise beautiful Saturday hike to Ontario Peak up Icehouse Canyon took a sad turn when rounding one of the last turns down the 13 mile roundtrip I came upon a circle of firefighters surrounding a corpse covered up with a sheet. Apparently, someone had died on the trail, likely because of a heart attack (the coroner had not yet arrived when I passed by). Not sure how old he was. I guess if I was in my 80s and could still hike, there could be worse ways to go.

I missed Sunday's police event though, a sword attack that took place somewhere on Mt. Baldy Road. I used to know quite a few people (some of whom were slightly crazy) who lived up there, but I don't think I know anyone up there anymore. Should be interesting to see how this case plays out.

Picture from the summit of Ontario Peak to come tomorrow