5/31/2023 0 Comments Bonfire peaks on the ledge![]() Three storm soldiers arrived bearing candy, On Bonfire Night was this desert princess born She was wrapped in soft and sinless rags, Warm flames kissed the young baby inside, On Bonfire Night he delivered the package to ![]() He held the precious Life in his beak carefully, Wrapped in the soft garments of innocence, Moonlight dripping from the eyes of a restless red Moon, The people were hugging loved ones tightly as they scattered Her faithful Left arm stayed to comfort herīut the Right one was yanked away and eloped with a The volcanic eruption of unnatural hatred threatenedĪnd waltzed headlong into the vaporised night, The porcupines raised high their itchy spikes The embers of Autumn burst into lashings of blame’s flamesĪnd into forgetful numb snow did the show go. The last bars of the Overture faded into obscurity Porcupines and hawks were eager, impatient Once back on the PCT, we hiked past the Zen trail and headed for Apache Peak.Than these walking sightless, tongueless, earless Going down the steep gully was as slow and difficult as going up. I don't think we succeeded in the latter. We took a fairly long break to enjoy the summit and tried to capture photos that did it justice. I searched to find Hikin' Jims entry and noted the others climbers I knew. Standard HPS red cans held the register that went back to 1998 and was a little more than half full. On the summit was a pole marker and a small US flag. Sean opted for a more direct, but more exposed track, and I switched back more to the right. We took different class 2 lines to the summit. I went first again and when Sean made it up, we angled left for easier terrain. It appeared that someone had done some clipping, because we found a relatively clear path to the next class 3 section. We passed left of the tree, then ducked under some small pines on a down sloping slab. We continued over the top boulders to find the dead pine tree, a sign we were on the right track. Sean waited until I reached the top of the crack before starting up. It would have been a dangerous hazard the rest of the way. The pole got hung in part of the crack, so as soon I reached the first ledge, I removed it from my pack and threw it down to the base. I collapsed my trekking pole and placed it in my backpack, then started up. At the base, I instantly recognized the starting class 3 crack from Hikin' Jims 2013 report. The other popular route to reach the base is the north ridge. I was a sweat faucet when we reached the top of the gully, the base of the Antsell summit. As the gully narrows at the top, some class 3 scrambling over boulders and trees was necessary. ![]() We both dislodged huge rocks on the way up and I often used vegetation to assist my climb. The ascent gully was very steep, rising about 750' in a third of a mile. From there, it was a quick half mile to the east ascent gully, marked with its own rock cairn. We managed to stay on track and emerged onto the PCT at the saddle between Antsell Rock and Apache. Near the top, it got a little confusing where deer trails competed with the eroded main trail. There was still a lot of burn damage from multiple fires in the past. Vegetation is starting to encroach on parts of it, but cairns and orange ribbon kept us on track most of the way. The climb up the Zen trail is steep in parts, gaining about 1300' in a little over a mile. We continued up the dirt road past three water towers on the left, then continued straight past the first switchback to the start of the trail. We walked past the entrance gate and stayed left at two road splits. ![]() ![]() The last mile of Apple Canyon Road is a good dirt road and the parking lot was on the left. Sean and I drove up Highway 74 to the Zen Mountain Center visitor parking lot. It is also one of the few mountaineers’ peaks in Southern California that requires more than the usual plodding to reach the third class summit. its stony buttresses make an impressive sight from most directions. From his book, Afoot and Afield: Inland Empire: Jerry Schad called it the jewel of the Divide. Named after a local artist, Antsell Rock is the most difficult peak on the Desert Divide, a high and jagged ridge running south from San Jacinto Peak. Prominence: 519' (Antsell), 687' (Apache)Įlevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 2.52 Distance: 7.2 miles round trip on trail and cross country ![]()
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