Islip Peak

May 18, 2003  --  7 miles  --  2,200' elevation gain

	Got going a little later than we would have liked, but we finally got going.  A friend of ours, Darrell, Patrick and I set off on a little day hike to Mt. Islip on a beautiful May morning.  Originally started out on the wrong trail head - the one to Mt. Williamson, but figured it out quick enough.  This I determined was the hazard of going solely GPS - if we had oriented a map it would have been obvious, but oh well another quarter mile won't kill us.  Darrell has an awesome site and always takes great pictures - click here for his entry on the Islip trek.
	These are the remains of what used to be highway 39 that went from Azusa (Azusa Ave.) all the way over to Wrightwood.  Highway 39 was prone to land slides in the winter months, so they would close the road in mid-fall and open again in the spring.  Then about a decade ago we had a really intense El Nino that did so much damage to it that they just never re-opened it.  One of these days I would like to start over in Azusa and hike the old 39 over to here.
	Still a bit of snow on the ground - most people don't think of snow being in Southern California this late, but it certainly can be!  Although I don't think I've seen it snow past May, I've definitely seen snow on the ground into late June.
	Doesn't Patrick look happy about being my model for the picture of the sign?
	If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?  Could have probably heard this bad dog falling from my house in the city!
	It's moments like this that I could just stop, sit and take it in for an hour or so.  I don't know if my partners in this escapade would appreciate the Zen mountaineering of the moment.  Darrell maybe, but Patrick would shortly get into "are we there yet?" mode.
	A giant in training.  By the grace of God my grand kids may stop to shade themselves under the same tree that I had to stop to appreciate the beauty of.
	Little Jimmy Trail Camp.  This is a classic Boy Scout backpacking destination.  There were many plaques indicating various Eagle projects that renovated the camp.  I think I'll take my family there for a short little backpack in the not too distant future.
	Gorgeous valley with Crystal Lake Recreation Area in the distance.  Crystal Lake is the terminus of Highway 39 on the Azusa side.
	I thought this curious.  In what appears to be undeveloped wilderness, you find an, apparently, man made resevoir.
	Here's Darrell within a half mile or so of the peak.  Lordy!  I've known Darrell for about 25 years!  I'm beginning to feel old and question whether I shouldn't have brought my walker.
	Islip had a fire lookout tower built on her in 1927.  This was the cabin that gave shelter to fire dept personnel  for many years.  Ya' know... If I were going to become a fireman, this is the gig that I would want.
	This is Patrick and I standing on a block of cement that was one of the footings for the tower, which was moved to South Mt. Hawkins.
	Looking off into the distance you can see the Palmdale/El Mirage area of the high desert.  It's understandable why they put a fire lookout here - you have a beautiful 360º view.  Now I have to do Mt. Hawkins, because it must be even better!
	The triumphant trekkers on top of the world.

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