A new way for me up into the San Gabriels. I got a late start, so thoughts of Cucamonga Peak were quickly dismissed, and I settled for Commanche Camp at just under 6,000′.
It was a beautiful day with great views, interesting rocks, and lots of good wildlife: a gorgeous mountain kingsnake, a handsome southern pacific rattlesnake,a deer, some songbirds, lizards everywhere, in pairs and complicated trios, this being springtime and all. There were quite a few flowers I don’t recall seeing over on our south side of the mountains. It was also the first buggy hike I’ve ever done in Southern California. Black flies were in my eyes, ears, and hair the whole trip, with mosquitoes as well in the shade. No rest breaks longer than five minutes; I just couldn’t stand it. Must be because of the wet winter. Two hours from trailhead to Commanche Camp, one and a half down. Forty-five minute drive from Claremont. The road up to the trailhead is in bad shape; I made it in my Honda Fit only because I’m stupid and stubborn. Low-clearance vehicles cross several dicey parts. The trail needs some work as well. There were a couple of stretches across eroded, unstable scree with terrifying exposure, literally hundreds of feet nearly straight down to unseen death on rocks hidden below. I won’t let my kids hike here until they’re twenty or so. :-0 I felt a little spooked at one point myself, and I’m kind of a mountain goat.