On July 15-16 I climbed San Gorgonio Mountain, the tallest peak in S. California. This was my first backpacking trip, and it was a duzy! John K. and John W. were my hiking partners with JB joining us for the first day. We started our climb from the Barton Flats trail head and started up on Friday. JB joined us up to the turn off for Dollar Lake where we went to get water, and he hoofed it up to the ridge line and then headed back down. We continued on up to the Dry Lake Overlook campground and made camp. This first day was a killer, but not as bad as if we had come up the Vivian Creek Trail head which we would learn when we went down! In the morning we headed for the summit and dropped our packs at the Vivian Creek trail fork and made the summit. Was a very impressive view and sense of accomplishment. We hung out and took pics for an hour or so and headed down. The hike down the Vivian Creek trail was very steep and perilous, especially with tired legs made of rubber, THANK YOU Again, John W. for sharing half of your hiking poles with me! We made it down to where we had left John K's car and collapsed in exhaustion. What a couple of days! Hope you enjoy the pics.