-San Bernardino Peak-

HPS: #17

Elevation: 10,649 ft.

Date Hiked: 8-29-2010

Trip Report:
San Bernardino Peak is on the western edge of a high ridge in the San Bernardino Mountains. It is 5 miles from San Gorgonio, the highest mountain in southern California. It is also one of the 22 mountains in southern California over 10,000 feet. I hiked this peak from the Angelus Oaks trailhead with my friend Mark who I had hiked Mt. Whitney with last month.

Mt. Baldy Above the Clouds

I left San Diego at 3:30 AM and made my way to the Angelus Oaks trailhead. It took exactly 2 hours to get there. When I arrived I found Mark waiting me. We quickly got ready and began the hike. The starting temperature was in the high 40s with no wind. I knew the forecast called for windy conditions up high so I was prepaired for a cold windy day. We ahd to use our headlamps for the first 45 minutes before it became light enough. As the sun was begining to rise we could see the Inland Empire covered in a blanket of clouds.

Above the Clouds

The Trail

As the sun was rising it began to get windy. Not very strong wind but a constant wind. I wondered if it was stronger higher on the mountain. We stopped occaisonally to eat and hydrate. The higher we hiked the better the view to the north became.

Ridge to the North

Mt. Baldy

Mark Taking a Picture of an Interesting Rock

As we hiked higher and the sun rose the clouds over the Inland Empire began to burn off. There was still a strong inversion below 5,000 feet which killed visibility.

My Shadow, The Inland Empire and Mt. Baldy

Mt. Baldy Close Up

Pines and Mt. Baldy

The wind picked up the higher we got. The temperature was perfect, hovering around the low 50s high 40s. The trail was easy to follow and marked well. Eventually after about 3 hours we made it to the monument.

Monument

From this point we left the trail and made our way up a use trail to the summit of San Bernardino Peak. It took about 3 hours and 45 minutes to summit. Along the way we had met two other hikers who were doing the entire 9 peak traverse. They had asked if we wanted to follow them. Mark said yes and although I wanted to I did not feel up to the task. he left with them and I stayed on top for a while longer.

The view from the summit was decent, it reminded me of Jean Peak from earlier in the year. Trees blocked the view in most directions. I could make out most of the mountains to the south but not many to the north. I was able to see part of Big Bear Lake. It took a panorama of pictures and started to descend.

Palomar Mountain and Cuyamaca Peak in the Distance

Me on the Summit

The Summit Rocks and Register

Palomar Mountain Framed

San Bernardino East Peak and Anderson Peak

San Gorgonio in the Distance

San Gorgonio Close Up

Santiago and Modjeska Peaks

Mt. Baldy

On the way down I passed many people on their way up. It got much warmer the lower I went and the wind died down.

The Flat Part of the Trail

Well Maintained Trail

Eventually I made my way down to the wildnernedd boundary and I knew it was only a short distance to the car.

San Gorgonio Wilderness

The total round trip time was 6 and a half hours not to bad for a 16 mile hike. This was a great area one I would like to explore in the winter.

San Bernardino Peak Summit Panorama

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