Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Fobes Saddle to Saddle Junction (Mile 166 to Mile 178)



Botttom of Fobes Trail

Looking up to Fobes Saddle


Just below the Saddle

Fobes Saddle


Trail Ratz Chairs and Water Cache


PCT looking north toward Spitler Peak

Pano looking south down onto Fobes Saddle


Spitler Peak


San Jacinto Wilderness Boundary

Palm Springs and Coachella Valley to the east


New trail re-route up Spitler Peak

Palm Springs below



I wonder what this sign once was...

East side snow

Apache Peak

Lake Hemet below and the Santa Ana Mountains beyond


Ranch below and just west of The Trail

Run out trail to the west (not on any map I've seen)

This is NOT the trail to Apache Spring!

Apache Saddle

THIS is the trail to Apache Spring



The tail down to Apache Spring

Walkin' the edge!

Looking south back along the Desert Divide


Antsel Rock


Murray Canyon

The Trail always seems to keep to the east side of the ridge. Snow stays longer here.

South Peak in the distance


I was following these footprints all the way to Saddle Junction. They looked maybe a few days old at the most.

Antsel Rock

STEEP chutes!

Andre Canyon and Long Valley in the distance.


Waterfall FAR below


Antsel Rock (looking south)


You'll hear a lot about this little piece of The Trail...

I was warned that it required crampons/axe and three-man roped technique to cross when ice and snow is present. The chutes just off the trail are crazy-steep. A fall would result in a sliding free fall through rocks, stumps and trees. I was prepared to turn around if it was icy since I was doing this solo, but this is all the snow that was on the trail. I carefully stepped across and continued on my way.






The "Trail through the rock" from just a little ways north