The California Department of Fish and Game, US Forest Service, and the Society for Conservation of Bighorn Sheep have conducted annual surveys for bighorn sheep in the San Gabriel Mountains since 1979. The mountain range once held an estimated 740 bighorns, which made this the largest population of desert bighorn sheep in California. The population declined through the 1980’s but appears to be on the increase, with recent estimates being approximately 300 bighorn sheep.
Every year they hold a volunteer bighorn sheep count and this year I decided to help out. But, despite being out there for many hours scanning the hillsides, I didn't see any sheep :( But others in our group saw a couple dozen or so :) And I enjoyed learning about how to identify sheep (males vs. females, age, etc.) at the meeting Saturday evening and of course I enjoyed the hike on Sunday. I hiked up the Middle Fork Lytle Creek Trail into the Cucamonga Wilderness with about 25 other people. I only went a little above Stone House and then up a side drainage a little ways. The further you go up the more beautiful it is and it was so sunny and warm yesterday, t-shirt and shorts weather! The trail is a steady climb uphill and it gets narrow in spots with a steep-drop off on one side so not for people afraid of heights but otherwise okay. There is a side trail that goes down to Stone House but we stayed on the trail that stays higher along the ridgeline. A few groups of people stayed along the lower part of the trail. Then most of the group went up the side drainage to scramble up to high vantage points. I stayed low at the mouth of the drainage with one other guy and we found a good spot to sit and eat lunch. Then we looked and looked and looked but didn't see any sheep. But we saw lots of birds and lizards and bobcat prints in the wash. At about 3:20 the helicopter flew over and circled low looking for sheep themselves. After that we hiked out.
A few photos in case you haven't been up to this area yet. It's amazing, I highly recommend the hike :) I would like to continue and hike up to Third Stream Crossing or Comanche one day. Or maybe even further up to Icehouse Saddle and Cucamonga Peak?? Let me know if you want to come with!
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