TR: So Cal - Jepson Peak 04/30 - 05-01 2005

[SmokinFatBob]

After a 3 day trip up to San Gorgonio two weekends ago, I decided to jump in on Bodhi's permit this weekend and head back to area with him, wtp, Dutch MArcOS, KB, my dog Bailey and Bodhi's dog Dude for some turns off San G's neighbor, Jepson Peak. What Jepson lacks in elevation (it rises to 11,205' while San G rises to 11,490'), it more than makes up for in sweet lines. All along Jepson's ridge are sweet line after line after line...

Anyhow, pictures speak more than words so here ya go:

Saturday: standard "scenic view" shot except you can't really see San G back there.


Saturday: The first avy path that crosses the trail.


Saturday: Crossing the avy debris off Charlton Peak.


Saturday: Dutch Marc skinning up


Saturday: Another avy path off Charlton Peak


Saturday: After setting up camp, we headed out for a late afternoon run on the North face of Jepson. Our original plan was ot hit one of the bowls lookers left in the photo but it started getting late and we ended up descending the face straight ahead (just above us in the picture). This ended up being the nightmare descent of the trip. One by one, we descended, made 1 or two turns at the top, then proceeded to lose an edge and butt slide on this icy 40 degree slope. I think wtp and I butt slid the furtherst, sliding at least 400 feet, if not further, on our asses. It was sketchy too because after sliding 30' or so, there was so much ice being kicked up that our goggles were covered and we were basically sliding w/o visibility. After that little adventure, we regrouped at the bottom and had a fun run down the avy path back to camp. It was also on this face that Dude cut up the pads on his feet pretty bad. Bad enough for Bodhi to take him out first thing the next morning.


Saturday: Dutch Marc shows his skinning steeze. While the rest of us opted to put the crampons on and boot, Marc skinned up as far as he could, but finally put his crampons on about 3/4 of the way up.


Saturday: Pack at camp and checking out Sunday's destination: the east face of Jepson Peak.


Sunday: Kelly (booting), Marc and Joe, heading up out of the trees and up to the heart of Jepson.


Sunday: My dog Bailey with the west ridge of San G on the left.

[SmokinFatBob]

Sunday: Eyeing our line. We wanted to drop the gully just under the cornice.


Sunday: After skinning as far as we could, we booted the last 400 or so feet to the ridge. Marc (top), wtp, Bailey.


Sunday: wtp and Kelly booting up the ridge to the summit


Sunday: Looking toward the west ridge of San Gorgonio


Sunday: Looking toward the North face of Jepson


Sunday: Kelly, Marc, and Bailey nearing the summit.


Sunday: Looking down our line (pictures don't do it justice)



Sunday: Kelly, stoked to be on the summit (and with more sick lines off in the distance as well).


Sunday: The north ridge of Jepson. I think that's Mt. Baldy way off on the horizon


Sunday: It was a little breezy on the summit ridge


Sunday: Another sick line off Jepson.


Sunday: Kelly, wtp, and Marc


Sunday: Kelly gets first dibs and drops in.


Sunday: Kelly


Sunday: Kelly


Sunday: Kelly releases a wet slide


Sunday: The slide ran about 250 - 300 yards


Sunday: I dropped in second and was a bit conservative after watching the slide run. I stopped on the hump lookers right in the slide picture and stopped to snap some pictures. The snow was like butter, nice and creamy, a tad slushy, but just really niiiiiiiiiiiiiice


Sunday: Marc staying out of the slide path

Sunday: Marc


Sunday: Bailey, lovin every minute of it


Sunday: Big smile! Proof that dogs love snow


Sunday: Not wanting to cross any existing tracks, wtp drops the gully rider's left our the gully the rest of us dropped


Sunday: wtp


Sunday: wtp, out of the trees and heading back to camp


Sunday: Looking back at our tracks from camp with the avy debris visible just left of center.


Well......after that, what more can I say? It was cooling finally meeting Dutch Marc and wtp's friend Kelly. Good hooking up with wtp again for another trip. We were bummed that Dude was injured and that Bodhi bailed out to take care of his pup missed out on our Sunday turns, but after all was said and done, we dedicated our turns to Dude in hopes of a speedy recovery.

[boarderline]

Sick. The fact that it's also real big mountain terrain in SoCal makes it doubly sick. Easily looks like it could be in the Sierras or the Wasatch.



Nice job, guys.

[Bodhi]

Thanks again for making the trip and bringing Bailey...sorry Baily lost his playmate on Sunday...cool to meet Marc and Kelly, and always a top time to ride with WTP and SFB.

Looks like I missed out a bit on Sunday...but I guess I had some bigger responsibilities to take care off...I felt like a parent who had to bail on fun because his kid was sick...

Dude is cool now, ended up sleeping all day and night after I gave him a bath...more than likely sleep it off all day today.

Dude was a trooper, and I think I made the right decision by getting him outta there Sunday morning...he made it out in about 4hrs, and it had to have been killing him. Amazing how that dog would follow me to the end of the world even if he had to crawl on bloody gnarled wheels.

I will resize my photos from Saturday and post them to this thread sometime later today...

peace,
BS.

[skier666]

Sweet TR....

Killed...

[bcrider]

So cal huh?!

Nice!

[MacDaddy]

Again Super Solid TRs from the SoCal Clan!

thanks

to think I was driving around in dem dar hills two weeks ago.

[raddam]

love this shot
and this dog is sitting here saying, "What do you want from me?"

[Baconzoo]

Big hills...
Big Boobs...
In and Out Burger.
You guys are in paradise!

Next time you look over a cornice, keep your board on.

[Bodhi]

Early Morning View of San Gregornio from Poop-Out Hill




Group on the trail SFB-WTP-Kelly-Marc (Bailey & Dude)




San G. Wilderness




Skinning up (Lil' Charlton and Charlton Peaks on right)




Marc checking out San G.




First Clear View of our goal: Jepson Peak




Trees in foreground=base camp




View West-face Jepson




Dude looking pathetic to score some Jerky




Base Camp




View of Jepson from my tent




Jepson Bowls (West)




The Ascent route for Sat


more below...

peace,
BS.

[Bodhi]

Booting up last part




WTP poses for Mommy's B-Day...




Getting ready to drop (San Bernardino Mtn in Backdrop)




Line of Choice (note the spot at bottom is Dude's Backpack)




Marc




SFB




WTP straight down (a bit of a hard surface)




Dude following my track




Down to Camp, for everyone but me...I had to hike back up and retrieve Dude's pack which came off on the way down the top chute...bummer.




Tender foot...I am an evil owner making him do this.




Dude, Shadows, Lines




Our Lines...Green was me, Red was WTP, Blue was everyone else (more or less)...




Dude as soon as we got home...


Great trip...returning within the next couple weeks to do some obvious lines (seen in the photos)...sweet spot. Just have my regret of having to leave early on Sunday...gotta go back.

peace,
BS.

[SmokinFatBob]

Big hills...
Big Boobs...
In and Out Burger.
You guys are in paradise!

Next time you look over a cornice, keep your board on.

Mmmm, In 'n Out. That was the one photo I forgot to take on this trip. But I can assure you, on the drive home, mass consumption of In 'n Out was happening, animal style