Tahquitz Rock Sept 4

A perk more than a chore of being a Commissioner for Riverside Parks District Advisory Commission is that the meetings are held on a rotating basis around the many properties in the district, from the shores of the Colorado River to desert lakes to forested mountain slopes. This time around it was an opportunity to drive to Idyllwild a couple hours early to sneak in a hike before the meeting. I wasn't completely clear on what I was going to do until I drove through the main drag of Idyllwild and saw the jagged tooth of Tahquitz Rock (AKA Lily Rock) towering about the mountain town. I knew it was known for Sierra-style granite climbing but realized I did not know if there was a scrambling route up it. I pulled off the side of the road with the last bit of service and with some internet sleuthing eventually found out a climber's use trail and route that, while vague, I should be able to follow to the summit. In addition to the limited time before my meeting I was also racing against developing clouds threatening midday thunderstorms.

The tooth of Tahquitz Rock looms over Idyllwild

I drove to the end of Fern Valley and started hiking a short 1000ft along the Ernie Maxwell Trail before branching off on the steeply ascending hikers trail headed straight for the base of the monolith. The ground was moist and lacking footprints, clearly from a recent thunderstorm. Despite my minimal pack it took no time at all to be dripping in sweat in the humid air. Steadily I gained, then surrounded the rock counter-clockwise to its east side.

 

Here I hugged a little too close to the monolith and ended up climbing through a low fifth class chimney to regain slabs (I definitely chose the easier way back down!). Once I was in the general vicinity of the base of the "friction route", the climber's walk-off route from the summit, I followed my nose trying to find the route. There was surprisingly little signs of a trail and a surprising amount of exposure at times but I more-or-less followed the only logical route through a network of ledges, cracks, and slabs to gain the summit boulder area. Along the way there were interesting dips through snarled manzanita and oaks.

The hardest climbing was behind once I gained the ridge but there was still some routefinding and exposure the last few hundred feet to the summit (1 hr, 0.9 miles, 1500ft elevation gain). The exposure made for a more exciting little solo adventure than I could have guessed and I felt refreshed that I got out and up to something new. The view was grand and panoramic- more fitting of the Sierras than southern California and I savored the surroundings for a few short minutes before it was time to head down.

Down was more straightforward knowing the way and gravity assisting. All up my hike was about 1hr45min, leaving me with just enough time to get to the Idyllwild Visitor Center for my meeting. Afterwards I grabbed some takeaway in town and ate at a picnic table next to Lake Fulmor on the way back, pleasant in the cool mountain shade. All up it was a nice excuse for a mini solo adventure to an area I have spent little time in.