Dan, I understand what you're saying--certainly the Azusa/Redbox cyns are nothing better than dried-out cesspools. But do you have some complaint about the Baldy (Mt San Antonio) area? Heavily used and PRISTINE from Telegraph all the way to (but not including) Baden-Powell.
Two years ago, weren't you going to set out on a wilderness snowshoe through Icebox cyn, 30 minutes from your door, and only cancelled when you learned the avalanche danger was extreme? And well you did, considering those kids who were buried in Baldy's South Bowl for 6 weeks until mid-April and their bodies were finally found--30 minutes from Los Angeles.
My point is that the Gabes offer a real mountain experience and the best parts show no signs of wear. So lighten up on the Gabes!
