Blackmouth - Feb 27, 2009 5:08 pm Date Climbed: Feb 24, 2009
SW Ridge-Winter Ascent
Took Deer Canyon to the SW Ridge of Cucamonga Peak. Climbed with Forjan & Mdostby. There was nothing fast about this route, lots of buckbrush and lots of deep postholing even with snow shoes on. Eventually had to ditch the snow shoes and just postholed all the way up. I think that this route would actually be a-lot harder later in the season without the snow, there is no trail higher up and a-lot of brush to get through. There was also a small chossy section of class 3 to get through. Bring a helmet!
mdostby - Feb 25, 2009 4:33 pm Date Climbed: Feb 24, 2009
2nd try
Feb 24th 2009
Tried again with Miguel and Tony. This time we went left/west on the San Sevain trk trail and went up the SW ridge. Much less brush to deal with. I became exhusted and turned back. Miguel and Tony went on to summit. This route goes but does have a moderate amount of bush whacking and in our case a bunch of deep postholing. Hopefully my 3rd attempt will be sucsessful.
psullam - Feb 3, 2009 6:08 pm Date Climbed: Feb 3, 2009
NO way, wait next fire!
I can confirm , you have to wait next fire to try this way to the peak!
Nice , solitary trail.
mdostby - Jan 2, 2009 8:08 pm Date Climbed: Jan 2, 2009
Whitethorn City
Attempted Cucamonga Peak via Deer Canyon - South Ridge. As I was afraid of, the return of extremely thick brush, buckthorn, whitethorn...whatever the 'F'-thorn, has choked off the South Ridge. I did find a way to gain the ridge 100 yards past the 180 degree turn on San Savaine truck trail. There is a very steep, 400', class 3 chute full of very loose scree and boulders that you can crawl up to gain the ridge. Once on the ridge line I was able to weave in and around the brush to about the 7,000' level. Here I hit a massive wall of whitethorn. I tried for an hour to get through it or around it. Nothing. So close to the summit, but not today. Unless this shit burns again, I doubt this route is doable. I still had a very enjoyable day and another good workout.
Blackmouth - Feb 27, 2009 5:08 pm Date Climbed: Feb 24, 2009
SW Ridge-Winter AscentTook Deer Canyon to the SW Ridge of Cucamonga Peak. Climbed with Forjan & Mdostby. There was nothing fast about this route, lots of buckbrush and lots of deep postholing even with snow shoes on. Eventually had to ditch the snow shoes and just postholed all the way up. I think that this route would actually be a-lot harder later in the season without the snow, there is no trail higher up and a-lot of brush to get through. There was also a small chossy section of class 3 to get through. Bring a helmet!
mdostby - Feb 25, 2009 4:33 pm Date Climbed: Feb 24, 2009
2nd tryFeb 24th 2009
Tried again with Miguel and Tony. This time we went left/west on the San Sevain trk trail and went up the SW ridge. Much less brush to deal with. I became exhusted and turned back. Miguel and Tony went on to summit. This route goes but does have a moderate amount of bush whacking and in our case a bunch of deep postholing. Hopefully my 3rd attempt will be sucsessful.
psullam - Feb 3, 2009 6:08 pm Date Climbed: Feb 3, 2009
NO way, wait next fire!I can confirm , you have to wait next fire to try this way to the peak!
Nice , solitary trail.
mdostby - Jan 2, 2009 8:08 pm Date Climbed: Jan 2, 2009
Whitethorn CityAttempted Cucamonga Peak via Deer Canyon - South Ridge. As I was afraid of, the return of extremely thick brush, buckthorn, whitethorn...whatever the 'F'-thorn, has choked off the South Ridge. I did find a way to gain the ridge 100 yards past the 180 degree turn on San Savaine truck trail. There is a very steep, 400', class 3 chute full of very loose scree and boulders that you can crawl up to gain the ridge. Once on the ridge line I was able to weave in and around the brush to about the 7,000' level. Here I hit a massive wall of whitethorn. I tried for an hour to get through it or around it. Nothing. So close to the summit, but not today. Unless this shit burns again, I doubt this route is doable. I still had a very enjoyable day and another good workout.