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tommy750 Posts: 1094
4/17/2025
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May be one of the few people on this forum who's actually never been to Villager so last month I figured I'd finally give it a go. Amazing views all the way up/down and an obvious trail made it a rather enjoyable hike.
 IMG_1781 by tomteske, on Flickr
The entire hike was through lots of crazy metamorphic rock.
 IMG_1792 by tomteske, on Flickr
One of a few coat hangers along the trail.
 IMG_1791 by tomteske, on Flickr
The trail passed through a rather large roasting pit.
 IMG_1812 by tomteske, on Flickr
Was kinda hoping this was going to be "the" false summit but not even close.
 IMG_1796 by tomteske, on Flickr
Looking from the actual false summit toward Villager.
 IMG_1798 by tomteske, on Flickr
Still a few patches of snow from a recent storm.
 IMG_1797 by tomteske, on Flickr
Finally on top. Definitely not a FKT but happy to have made it. Only saw two hikers the entire day both heading down from an overnight. Kudos to whoever made the sign.
 IMG_1802 (1) by tomteske, on Flickr
One of my poles got stuck in a crack on the way down and snapped but was able to make a shorty out of the pieces. The REI replacement wasn't a bargain 
 IMG_1811 by tomteske, on Flickr
Almost back. I got 15 miles and 5.1K gain/loss which is a bit more that what I saw online but suspect it may be from using dual band/GNSS/increased sensitivity settings. Enjoy!
 IMG_1817 by tomteske, on Flickr
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Brian Posts: 256
4/18/2025
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I hiked Villager for the first time last year. Those false summits definitely challenge one's patience.
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dtoujours Posts: 40
4/19/2025
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Great photos, congrats on checking this classic hike off your list!
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tommy750 Posts: 1094
4/19/2025
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Brian wrote:
I hiked Villager for the first time last year. Those false summits definitely challenge one's patience.
Totally agree. Counted about 3-4 maybe the last false summit till the real one.
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tommy750 Posts: 1094
4/19/2025
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dtoujours wrote:
Great photos, congrats on checking this classic hike off your list!
Thanks Dtoujours!
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rockhopper Posts: 684
4/20/2025
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Great trip report. Good eye on the roasting pit. Way up there! I remember those hiking pole snapping rock cracks. The geology. The geology creates some of the most fantastic views from the edges of the shear face. I always called the ramp the cougar paw ramp. Two times to Villager a decade apart. I used to take old girlfriends up the ramp to the first drop off but no further. Back in the day. Oh well. I wouldn't recommend it to the youngsters. Live and learn. btw I read somewhere the oldest rocks in the region are the marble remnants on top of Villager. I will look that up.
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tommy750 Posts: 1094
4/21/2025
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rockhopper wrote:
Great trip report. Good eye on the roasting pit. Way up there! I remember those hiking pole snapping rock cracks. The geology. The geology creates some of the most fantastic views from the edges of the shear face. I always called the ramp the cougar paw ramp. Two times to Villager a decade apart. I used to take old girlfriends up the ramp to the first drop off but no further. Back in the day. Oh well. I wouldn't recommend it to the youngsters. Live and learn. btw I read somewhere the oldest rocks in the region are the marble remnants on top of Villager. I will look that up.
Agree, definitely complex geology. I'm seeing fossils were found in the white marble you mentioned from the Ordovician Period, only about 450M years ago!
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rockhopper Posts: 684
4/21/2025
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Yes, that's what I remember reading. Around 500 million years ago!
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Rocko1 Posts: 626
4/22/2025
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Very nice! And not many people which is an added bonus. Too bad about the hiking pole. I have snapped sections in the same manner.
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tommy750 Posts: 1094
4/23/2025
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Rocko1 wrote:
Very nice! And not many people which is an added bonus. Too bad about the hiking pole. I have snapped sections in the same manner.
Yeah, I'll try to be a bit more careful next time. BTW, recently enjoyed watching a YT WolfeAdventures trip up to Villager/Rabbit!
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Buford Posts: 470
4/23/2025
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Great trip. The views from the ramp are some of the best in the area.
The ramp is the "easy" way up to Villager.
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Links to my photos: ABDSP photos, Bighorn sheep photos, ABDSP time lapse video, Wildlife photos (mainly birds)
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tommy750 Posts: 1094
5/3/2025
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Buford wrote:
Great trip. The views from the ramp are some of the best in the area.
The ramp is the "easy" way up to Villager.
The easy way sounds about right.
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Rocko1 Posts: 626
6/3/2025
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tommy750 wrote:
Rocko1 wrote:
Very nice! And not many people which is an added bonus. Too bad about the hiking pole. I have snapped sections in the same manner.
Yeah, I'll try to be a bit more careful next time. BTW, recently enjoyed watching a YT WolfeAdventures trip up to Villager/Rabbit!
Oh glad you liked it!
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Britain Posts: 627
6/3/2025
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Nice pics and report. Did Villager a long time ago and tagged Mile high at the same time. Walmart sells cheap trek poles. Still have my black diamonds I bought about 20 years ago.
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Cant drive 55
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http://icorva.com
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tommy750 Posts: 1094
6/4/2025
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Britain wrote:
Nice pics and report. Did Villager a long time ago and tagged Mile high at the same time. Walmart sells cheap trek poles. Still have my black diamonds I bought about 20 years ago.
I saw Mile High leering at me a couple times on the way up and down but just wasn't ready for that add on 
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Britain Posts: 627
6/4/2025
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tommy750 wrote:
Britain wrote:
Nice pics and report. Did Villager a long time ago and tagged Mile high at the same time. Walmart sells cheap trek poles. Still have my black diamonds I bought about 20 years ago.
I saw Mile High leering at me a couple times on the way up and down but just wasn't ready for that add on
Buddy and me did Cactus to clouds the following week. Working at getting shape to tackle Mt Williamson again. Group of us did it in the late 70's. But lol by friend busted his ankle a week before we were to go.
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Cant drive 55
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http://icorva.com
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Rocko1 Posts: 626
6/5/2025
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Britain wrote:
Nice pics and report. Did Villager a long time ago and tagged Mile high at the same time. Walmart sells cheap trek poles. Still have my black diamonds I bought about 20 years ago.
I highly recommend the Cascade Mountain Tech carbon poles. Costco has them from time to time $30. Parts are inexpensive also. I have beat the snot out of mine and they hold up well.
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rockhopper Posts: 684
6/6/2025
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Britain wrote:
tommy750 wrote:
Britain wrote:
Nice pics and report. Did Villager a long time ago and tagged Mile high at the same time. Walmart sells cheap trek poles. Still have my black diamonds I bought about 20 years ago.
I saw Mile High leering at me a couple times on the way up and down but just wasn't ready for that add on
Buddy and me did Cactus to clouds the following week. Working at getting shape to tackle Mt Williamson again. Group of us did it in the late 70's. But lol by friend busted his ankle a week before we were to go.
Mt Williamson! The mighty Sierras! Now you're talking. I spent 20 years of summers peak bagging and fishing above timberline. Good luck. Solo'd it back in the 90's. Day hike bottom to top and back. 1 Qt. of water, jerky and a camera. No hiking poles!
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Britain Posts: 627
6/7/2025
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rockhopper wrote:
Britain wrote:
tommy750 wrote:
Britain wrote:
Nice pics and report. Did Villager a long time ago and tagged Mile high at the same time. Walmart sells cheap trek poles. Still have my black diamonds I bought about 20 years ago.
I saw Mile High leering at me a couple times on the way up and down but just wasn't ready for that add on
Buddy and me did Cactus to clouds the following week. Working at getting shape to tackle Mt Williamson again. Group of us did it in the late 70's. But lol by friend busted his ankle a week before we were to go.
Mt Williamson! The mighty Sierras! Now you're talking. I spent 20 years of summers peak bagging and fishing above timberline. Good luck. Solo'd it back in the 90's. Day hike bottom to top and back. 1 Qt. of water, jerky and a camera. No hiking poles!
In the late 70's we hit Williamson 2 times. First time after the boulder field and before the ladder we camped but a storm moved through during the night and dumped a couple of feet of snow in front of us. Wet frozen stuff. WE turned around. Second time we got the top. The third time same guy we went up broke his ankle but we were both in our late 50's at that time. Fun stuff couldnt do it now.
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Cant drive 55
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http://icorva.com
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Buford Posts: 470
6/10/2025
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Williamson is fun, did it a couple years ago via Shepherd pass and the bowl. May as well hit Tyndall while you are in the area.
Cactus to clouds is another fun one.
I use metal hiking poles. With all the bushwhacking, I don't think carbon ones would survive the way I use them.
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Links to my photos: ABDSP photos, Bighorn sheep photos, ABDSP time lapse video, Wildlife photos (mainly birds)
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Britain Posts: 627
6/11/2025
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Tommy posted a picture about 5 years ago of him on the old Indian trail above the Salton sea. Up east of Rattlesnake and south east of Mile High. Picture stuck in my mind of something I wanted to do. Dont think Ill get up there anytime soon. Epic Picture At least I think it was Tommy.
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Cant drive 55
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http://icorva.com
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rockhopper Posts: 684
6/11/2025
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Britain wrote:
Tommy posted a picture about 5 years ago of him on the old Indian trail above the Salton sea. Up east of Rattlesnake and south east of Mile High. Picture stuck in my mind of something I wanted to do. Dont think Ill get up there anytime soon. Epic Picture At least I think it was Tommy.
Tommy will chime in. I am amazed at all the old native trails interlacing the Santa Rosas. The ones on the east as you refer are seldom hiked but worth the effort!
edited by rockhopper on 6/11/2025
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2635
6/11/2025
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Britain wrote:
Tommy posted a picture about 5 years ago of him on the old Indian trail above the Salton sea. Up east of Rattlesnake and south east of Mile High. Picture stuck in my mind of something I wanted to do. Dont think Ill get up there anytime soon. Epic Picture At least I think it was Tommy.
From Rattlesnake, you can head up the hills S/SE and find a trail that will take you over to Mile High and that general area. Lots of old trails and roasting pits on those ridges. Just gotta go explore..!
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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tommy750 Posts: 1094
6/11/2025
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Britain wrote:
Tommy posted a picture about 5 years ago of him on the old Indian trail above the Salton sea. Up east of Rattlesnake and south east of Mile High. Picture stuck in my mind of something I wanted to do. Dont think Ill get up there anytime soon. Epic Picture At least I think it was Tommy.
Was it this trip? https://www.anzaborrego.net/anzaborrego/Forum/topic1665-lucia-and-alamo-canyon-rock-house-ruins--day-bp.aspx
Was on a 2/2022 BP trip from Rattlesnake to Wonderstone to Travertine Palms but don't think I posted on that one.
Agree, lots of interesting trails out there.
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Britain Posts: 627
6/11/2025
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tommy750 wrote:
Britain wrote:
Tommy posted a picture about 5 years ago of him on the old Indian trail above the Salton sea. Up east of Rattlesnake and south east of Mile High. Picture stuck in my mind of something I wanted to do. Dont think Ill get up there anytime soon. Epic Picture At least I think it was Tommy.
Was it this trip? https://www.anzaborrego.net/anzaborrego/Forum/topic1665-lucia-and-alamo-canyon-rock-house-ruins--day-bp.aspx
Was on a 2/2022 BP trip from Rattlesnake to Wonderstone to Travertine Palms but don't think I posted on that one.
Agree, lots of interesting trails out there.
Could be that hike. Wasnt you it is was Gary who was in the picture. He was off in the distance with the Salton in the background.
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Cant drive 55
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http://icorva.com
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