San Gabriel Mountains
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The San Gabriel Mountains are located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, USA. The mountain range forms a barrier between the Greater Los Angeles Area and the Mojave Desert. This Transverse Range lies in and is surrounded by the Angeles National Forest with the San Andreas Fault as the northern border to the range. The highest peak in the range is Mount San Antonio, commonly referred to as Mt. Baldy. Mount Wilson is another famous peak, famed for the Mount Wilson Observatory. The observatory may be visited by the public.
The main road that runs through the San Gabriel Mountains is the Angeles Crest Highway, California State Route 2. It starts in the southwest at the city of La Canada Flintridge and ends at its junction with California State Route 138 just past Wrightwood near the Victor Valley. Past its junction with Angeles Forest Highway traveling east, Angeles Crest Highway suffers from blind curves, and various bumps and potholes. This section of the "Crest" is closed during the winter due to rockfall and avalanche hazards. The California State Route 2 just past Mountain High is called the Big Pines Highway all the way to the 138 junction.
Another key county route which connects Angelenos to and through the mountains is Angeles Forest Highway. Angeles Forest Highway begins 11 miles northeast of La Canada Flintridge at its Angeles Crest Highway junction. Ending near Acton, it allows easy access to the central Forest and the fast growing Antelope Valley. Because the "Forest" and the 11 mile "Crest" portion leading to La Canada Flintridge is well traveled by Antelope Valley commuters, its road maintenance is much better, and is open much of the winter.
In the winter snowboarding and snow skiing is quite popular in the San Gabriels at Mountain High, and Mt. Baldy. There are two other resorts (Mount Waterman and Kratka Ridge) but they are rarely open. In the summer, hiking, backpacking, picnicking and camping are some of the activities of its visitors. From time to time, a hiker gets lost or stuck on a mountain ledge, or may fall downhill. Some of the more extreme cases of emergency search and rescue will often be given air time on Los Angeles television and radio newscasts.
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[edit] Winter resorts
The San Gabriel Mountains accommodate a few winter resorts which are:
[edit] Significant peaks
Sorted by elevation from highest to lowest:
- Mount San Antonio aka Mt. Baldy 3,067 m (10,064 ft)
- Pine Mountain 2,940 m (9,648 ft)
- Dawson Peak 2,918 m (9,575 ft)
- Mount Baden-Powell 2,865 m (9,399 ft)
- Mount Burnham 2,742 m (8,997 ft)
- Cucamonga Peak 2,721 m (8,599 ft)
- Mount Islip 2,515 m (8,250 ft)
- Iron Mountain #1 2,440m (8,007 ft)
- South Mount Hawkins 2,372 m (7,783')
- Vetter Mountain 1,800 m (5,908 ft)
- Site of active fire lookout tower
- Mount Wilson 1,740 m (5,710 ft)
- Site of Mount Wilson Observatory
- Mount Disappointment
- Mount Lowe 1,707 m (5,603 ft)
- Site of Mount Lowe Railway
- Echo Mountain 977 m (3,207 ft)
[edit] See also
Nearby mountain ranges:
- San Bernardino Mountains
- Santa Susana Mountains
- Santa Monica Mountains
- Sierra Pelona Mountains
- Tehachapi Mountains
[edit] Volunteer Organizations
- Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association has rebuilt and operates Vetter Mountain Lookout, and Slide Mountain Lookout. Organization is rebuilding South Mount Hawkins Lookout.
