It would be cool if we could organise an assault, of sorts, on that ridge.
On Google Erf, the ridgeline itself looks easy going as far as brush from about 6,000ft up. The ridgeline ascending from Widman Ranch looks easy. I can clearly see a trail, a good looking one from what can be seen, coming from Heaton Saddle down to the ranch.
It would be cool if we could organise an assault, of sorts, on that ridge.
My mind does keep going there.
TacoDelRio wrote:
On Google Erf, the ridgeline itself looks easy going as far as brush from about 6,000ft up. The ridgeline ascending from Widman Ranch looks easy. I can clearly see a trail, a good looking one from what can be seen, coming from Heaton Saddle down to the ranch.
I've been down from Heaton Saddle to Coldwater on that trail a couple of times. It's actually the remains of an old road. It's been in good shape the times I've used it. They reworked it some about 10 (?) years ago making a nice loop available via Coldwater, but the landowners complained, so it's been let go again. I wish the FS would stand up more for access. Legally, a public right of way exists. The FS has wimped on this issue way more than once closing off access to good areas. Personal pet peeve in case you hadn't noticed by now.
TacoDelRio wrote:
This would be a ton of fun. Early winter would be nice.
Definitely early winter -- before the rain but after the heat.
I'm going to try to plot that trail to the top of BHR using UTM. It's probably nearly worthless now as a trail given that it's been years since anyone has "brushed" it, but I'm always curious about such things. Maybe my loppers and I need to scout it up to the ridge line.
Regarding an assault on Baldy itself, this would probably be the first assault in quite some time on what used to be the primary route. Practically a "first ascent." _________________ Backpacking stove reviews and information: Adventures In Stoving
I noticed on the topozone maps that there is a trail from Coldwater Canyon up to Eagle Mine and then on up to the San Antonio Ridge (about half way between Iron and Baldy). That also looks very very interesting. Any info on whether that trail is real or not?
Why not just descend the ridge first? That way you know exactly what your challenge is...or is that considered cheating for this idea?
I personally wouldn't want to cliff out and have to hike/bushwhack back up. Not sure that would be too big of a worry on this ridge though. Hmm...maybe send out 2 parties and meet halfway!
I noticed on the topozone maps that there is a trail from Coldwater Canyon up to Eagle Mine and then on up to the San Antonio Ridge (about half way between Iron and Baldy). That also looks very very interesting. Any info on whether that trail is real or not?
Define "real." There really was a trail there at one time, enough of which was intact that the USGS listed it back in the post WWII era when most of the "current" survey work was done -- although keep in mind that the USGS has historically had a particular interest in mining.
Can you find a trail now? Probably not. You may see patches of it, but it won't be easy to follow. Most of those old trails are so obliterated that getting to the sites on the map are more XC bushwhacks than hikes on trail.
I've been to the Allison Mine a couple of times. The Allison is comparatively popular to visit because a) it's closer to a road than some of the other mines in that area, and b) because John Robinson lists it in his popular Trails of the Angeles, but even with that popularity, the Allison Mine is no slouch to get to. There's a huge amount of brush, one easily loses the trail, and I hope you like getting stabbed by yucca because that's how that trail plays out.
So if the popular, close mine's trail is a difficult to find/follow bushwhack, consider these more remote mines a major expedition (except for the Baldora which is actually about as easy as the Allison). I've been to the Allison, Baldora (marked as Widco on the map), and Stanley-Miller mines but have never tried the Eagle or the Gold Dollar due to their inaccessibility. They're way up on the side of Iron Mtn. If you think Big Iron is a tough hike, try doing a hike on the flanks of Big Iron with no ridge to follow in thick brush to a destination you may or may not be able to find. Like I say, I never even tried to find the Eagle or Gold Dollar. _________________ Backpacking stove reviews and information: Adventures In Stoving
My machete hasn't been used in a few years. I think that the "trail" errr route, should suck only up until we hit the ridge proper. From the air, it looks similar to Copter Ridge, which was nice. _________________ For sale blog: http://tacoparts.blogspot.com/
My machete hasn't been used in a few years. I think that the "trail" errr route, should suck only up until we hit the ridge proper. From the air, it looks similar to Copter Ridge, which was nice.
I'm thinking you're right -- once on the ridge, things should ease up in terms of brush. It's just getting on that ridge that is the trick. Um, chaps, anyone?
Maybe we could convince CDF that a hand crew needs to cut a break along the ridge above Fossil Canyon "just in case." (Actually, maybe I shouldn't joke about stuff like that right now, but a CDF type hand crew would be perfect for something like this.) _________________ Backpacking stove reviews and information: Adventures In Stoving
Just for fun, I hand calculated a few UTM's for points along the old trail from Coldwater Canyon to the crest of BHR.
The old trail runs from just above the U turn in the dirt road marked on the USGS 1:24K topo (MOUNT SAN ANTONIO Quad) map above the Widman Ranch (where the Heaton Flat Trail comes into Coldwater Canyon in other words) to the small saddle on BHR above Blind Canyon which is marked as point 4652. The trail pretty much contours very gradually SSE (more or less) from Coldwater Canyon to the top of BHR. I'm going to give 8 digit UTM's since that's about all that's reasonable with a hand calculation. For example, my hand calculated 8 digit UTM for where the trail hits BHR near point 4652 is about 3535 9005; for comparative purposes, the full UTM for that point would be 11 435350E 3790050N (NAD27). (Actually the zone is "11S," but topozone.com just lists it as "11.")
So here goes with my "trace" (such as it is):
The trail to BHR leaves Coldwater Canyon at 3517 9165.
Trail then contours along to 3478 9125.
Trail then switchbacks into a bowl shaped side canyon. The back of the bowl is at 3510 9135.
Trail then heads to ridge above Fossil Canyon, cresting at 3490 9100.
Trail then crosses creek in Fossil Canyon at 3545 9080.
Trail then crosses ridge above Blind Canyon at 3541 9020.
Trail crosses creek in Blind Canyon at 3541 9020.
Trail then hits top of BHR at 3535 9005 (near saddle, point 4652).
It surprises me in a way that the trail is so gradual in its ascent of BHR. Mining trails of that day were pretty "stick to business" although this trail may have been constructed for the guests at the Weber Camp Trail Resort back in the "Great Hiking Era" (the teen years of the 20th century). A more gradual trail would make sense for such as would stay at a trail resort.
Speaking of Weber Camp, take a closer look at the topozone map http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?l...u=4&datum=nad27&layer=DRG. Notice that there is a purple photo revised trail from the Heaton Flat Trail running down the ridge above Weber Camp. The trail hits Coldwater Canyon just above Weber Camp -- right near the ridge above Fossil Canyon that we've identified as a possible route to the crest of BHR. There you have it, a route bypassing all the private property (assuming it's still navigable).
When one of you animals (I'm pretty slow these days) does this as a day hike, I expect an "honorable mention" in the summit register.
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