![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.gdpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/Lamel-Springs.jpg\" "\\"Lamel-Springs\\"")
<\/a>Lamel Springs<\/p><\/div>\n
Jacob asked it we were going up or back down.\u00a0 I answered, up of course.\u00a0 We made our way up the steep trail.\u00a0 The trail head is at 6,593 feet and the peak is 9,399 feet.\u00a0 The hike is 4 miles one way making the elevation gain 700 feet per mile.\u00a0 The hike is rated as strenuous.\u00a0 It was about 3 and a half hours for us to get to the top.<\/p>\n
<\/a>On the trail to the peak of Mt. Baden Powell<\/p><\/div>\n
Close to the top is the Wally Waldron tree.\u00a0 It is about 1,500 years old and one of the oldest trees in the area.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Wally Waldron Tree<\/p><\/div>\n
Once we were on top, the gentleman that took our picture asked us to take his picture at the flag.\u00a0 He was kind enough to take our picture again.<\/p>\n
<\/a>At the top of Mt. Baden Powell<\/p><\/div>\n
We found a place in the shade and a sailplane buzzed the top of the mountain at what seemed about a hundred feet or less. We were looking west and all of a sudden this plane came out of the west over our heads. Jacob took about 50 pictures of the sailplane as it circled around catching thermals.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Sailplane overhead<\/p><\/div>\n
One of the reasons to be on the top was for Operation On Target.\u00a0 That is where scouts use mirrors to flash signals from peak to peak.\u00a0 We were able to signal Keller Peak and Mt. San Gorgonio from our location. The peaks are the far ranges barely visible. Keller Peak is under the one small cloud (blue marker) and Mt. San Gorgonio is under the two small clouds (red marker) on the left end of the high ridge. (Click on the picture to make it bigger – then you will see the distant peaks and the small clouds)<\/p>\n
<\/a>Jacob signaling Mt. San Gorgonio<\/p><\/div>\n
We had an old scouter stop by to instruct us on the proper method of using signaling mirrors. After we patiently listened we explained the geometry involved in making the signaling mirror work. There is a clear spot or “hole” in the center of the mirror and another small mirror glued on the back. As Jacob sites in the peak of his choice through the hole, the sun comes through the same hole and leaves a spot of light on his on his shirt. He looks in a small mirror attached to the back of large mirror and aligns the “hole” up with the spot of light on his shirt. The geometry then makes the light from the mirror beam to the spot Jacob has sighted in.<\/p>\n