Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - May 6th
Day 27: Monday 6th May Blue Ridge – Little Jimmy Trail Camp
From my camp I dropped down to the Vincent Gap and started the 3000ft climb up
Mount Baden-Powell. After all these days hardly seeing anyone I was now on a well-
climbed mountain. I met 60 year-old Gerald who frequently climbed the mountain,
setting off at dawn to get to the summit while it was still cool. By 8.30am he had almost
completed his descent. I stopped at Lamel Spring, which was just running, fed by a
melting snow patch. Unfortunately, because I had been misinformed by the Rangers at
the visitor centre, I had been carrying water unnecessarily. The trail was well
maintained by the Boy Scouts of America. Mount Baden-Powell was the eastern
terminus of the Silver Moccasin Trail, Scouting’s 53-mile challenge walk through the
San Gabriel Mountains as well as being the highest point on the 100-mile Angeles Crest
run, a long distance mountain race.
On the bare summit ridge stands the “Wally Waldron” Tree, a Limber Pine
reckoned to be over 1500 years old, dedicated as a tribute to Michael H. Wally Waldron
for his untiring efforts on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America. Limber Pines, hunched
and gnarled conifers, provide the only vegetation able to survive on the exposed
summit ridge of the mountain. Mount Baden-Powell, the highest mountain climbed
south of the Sierra Nevada, was a worthy mountain to name after the founder of the
Scouting Movement. The mountain was a bit of a pilgrimage for me. It was the
Skinners’ School Scout Group, run by Latin teachers, Mr. Williams and Mr. Hartwell,
who had started me on the camping and outdoor life 40 years ago and the Scouts who
introduced me to the Scottish mountains as a 15 year-old. On the summit was a
memorial to Lord Baden-Powell with 4 plaques commemorating his life and the
Scouting Movement.
In the afternoon, there were magnificent views and the walk along the lightly
wooded ridges was delightful. I camped at Little Jimmy Trail Camp, an improved
wilderness campsite with about 20 picnic tables and fire-pits. It was deserted now, but
would be crowded with Scout Groups at the height of summer. The nearby spring was
running, but I didn’t need it as I had carried enough water to last me until tomorrow. I
lit a fire, something I didn’t normally do as I usually got into my sleeping bag as it got
colder in the evening.
Day 27: 11.1 miles 6.03 hours Camp: Little Jimmy Trail Camp
From my camp I dropped down to the Vincent Gap and started the 3000ft climb up
Mount Baden-Powell. After all these days hardly seeing anyone I was now on a well-
climbed mountain. I met 60 year-old Gerald who frequently climbed the mountain,
setting off at dawn to get to the summit while it was still cool. By 8.30am he had almost
completed his descent. I stopped at Lamel Spring, which was just running, fed by a
melting snow patch. Unfortunately, because I had been misinformed by the Rangers at
the visitor centre, I had been carrying water unnecessarily. The trail was well
maintained by the Boy Scouts of America. Mount Baden-Powell was the eastern
terminus of the Silver Moccasin Trail, Scouting’s 53-mile challenge walk through the
San Gabriel Mountains as well as being the highest point on the 100-mile Angeles Crest
run, a long distance mountain race.
On the bare summit ridge stands the “Wally Waldron” Tree, a Limber Pine
reckoned to be over 1500 years old, dedicated as a tribute to Michael H. Wally Waldron
for his untiring efforts on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America. Limber Pines, hunched
and gnarled conifers, provide the only vegetation able to survive on the exposed
summit ridge of the mountain. Mount Baden-Powell, the highest mountain climbed
south of the Sierra Nevada, was a worthy mountain to name after the founder of the
Scouting Movement. The mountain was a bit of a pilgrimage for me. It was the
Skinners’ School Scout Group, run by Latin teachers, Mr. Williams and Mr. Hartwell,
who had started me on the camping and outdoor life 40 years ago and the Scouts who
introduced me to the Scottish mountains as a 15 year-old. On the summit was a
memorial to Lord Baden-Powell with 4 plaques commemorating his life and the
Scouting Movement.
In the afternoon, there were magnificent views and the walk along the lightly
wooded ridges was delightful. I camped at Little Jimmy Trail Camp, an improved
wilderness campsite with about 20 picnic tables and fire-pits. It was deserted now, but
would be crowded with Scout Groups at the height of summer. The nearby spring was
running, but I didn’t need it as I had carried enough water to last me until tomorrow. I
lit a fire, something I didn’t normally do as I usually got into my sleeping bag as it got
colder in the evening.
Day 27: 11.1 miles 6.03 hours Camp: Little Jimmy Trail Camp
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Wally Waldron Tree
Plaque, Mount
Baden-Powell
Baden-Powell
W ridge, Mount Hawkins
Ancient Brit at camp