San Gorgonio Fifth Summit

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Back view of a hiker standing on a granite outcrop in the San Gorgonio Wilderness, overlooking forested ridgelines and the sunlit summit under a clear blue sky

Trail Stats

San Gorgonio (11,503 ft) via South Fork Trail — 21.0 miles RT, 4,500 ft gain, 9h15m.

🪜 Stairs Equivalent

• ~450 flights • ~7,650 steps • StairMaster Time: ◦ ~130 min @ Lv. 6 ◦ ~85 min @ Lv. 10 ◦ ~65 min @ Lv. 12 • 🏙️ Motivational: “That’s like climbing the Eiffel Tower 7.8x.”

Hike Summary & Reflections

Started pre-dawn from South Fork Trailhead, weaving through dense pine forest before opening into alpine meadows and rugged switchbacks.

Key waypoints: Horse Meadows → Dry Lake junction → Dollar Lake Saddle → Sky High Trail → Summit Ridge.

This approach was longer than Vivian Creek but offered a steadier, less punishing initial climb, making it ideal for endurance work. (See: Trail Logs)

Summit panorama: sweeping views of San Jacinto Peak, Catalina Island, and the Mojave Desert.

Milestone: This was my 5th summit of San Gorgonio, and every climb has taught me something new about resilience, pacing, and the beauty of returning stronger. (See: The Loop We Chose)

Personal note: Rolled my ankle on the descent — a reminder that focus matters as much on the way down as it does going up.

Conditions: Clear skies, light winds at the summit, temps in the high 60s.

Inspiration: Every summit is different — the trail changes, the weather shifts, your body feels new. But the mountain? It always asks the same question: How much of yourself are you willing to give today? (See: The Silence Between Steps)

Fuel & Hydration Protocol (Autophagy + Endurance):

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Wild Moments on the Trail

  • Goldenrod blooms glowing gold against the alpine ridge — a late-summer reminder that beauty thrives in harsh places.
  • A silent pause on the summit with no wind, just the faint hum of the wilderness below — a rare stillness at 11,503 ft.
  • Passing through a patch of forest where pine needles were so thick underfoot it felt like walking on memory foam.

    • Why This Hike Mattered

    This wasn’t just another San G climb — it was proof of long-term endurance growth. Coming off Whitney, my body handled the distance and gain with more ease than ever before.

    It reinforced why I train the way I do: to feel stronger each time, not just to repeat the same effort.

    It also reminded me that the mountains aren’t conquered — they’re earned, one step at a time, no matter how many times you’ve stood on the summit.

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    Trail Gear & Fuel

    Pack & Hydration

    Apparel

    Fuel & Nutrition

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