Summer ‘09 in Pics vol. 8
San Jacinto Peak
My latest mountain conquest is San Jacinto Peak, east of Los Angeles and just to the west of Palm Springs. It is an impressive mountain, rising up from land not much above sea level, and the views from the top can be spectacular, if the smog isn’t too bad. San Jacinto is the highest peak of the San Jacinto Mountains and the second highest point in southern California. I climbed it on Saturday with my dad, on the Devil’s Slide trail starting near Idyllwild. This is a moderate hike of about 15 miles, with around 4500 feet of gain. I found it to be an uninspiring trail with only mediocre views until the very top.
I discovered about 15 minutes into the hike that I had not fully recovered from my Mount Whitney hike of the previous week, and my right hip became irritated and hurt progressively more during the hike. This made the hike much more difficult than the comparable Mount Baldy hike of two weeks ago, and it took a lot longer than it otherwise would have. This was also the hottest hike I’ve yet done in California, with the temperatures getting uncomfortably warm by the afternoon.
Near the trailhead; the rising sun is lighting up a small rock outcropping.
Looking south later in the morning and higher on the trail.
The sun just starting to light up the trees on the west-facing slopes.
About halfway up, looking across a saddle toward a smaller peak.
The view to the southwest with that lovely LA smog.
My dad and a rather large pine tree. Yes, that is my Rice Athletics shirt he's wearing.
Pyramid Rock, named for obvious reasons.
Almost at the top, looking over at the adjacent summit.
Palm Springs, about 10,000 feet down.
Californians like to build little huts near the tops of their mountains. Not sure why.
The impressive Snow Creek gully down the steep northeast face. Some snow is visible near the top. On this side, San Jacinto Peak rises more than 9,000 feet in 4 miles. It's an awesome class 4 winter snow/ice climbing route.
San Gorgonio Mountain, the highest peak in southern California, just across the San Jacinto fault.
I apologize for the poor quality, but I wanted to have pictures from the top of each Saint of each of the others. This is Mount Baldy, far in the distance and obscured by smog.
With my dad at the top.
It doesn't count unless you get to the top.
The Tram station is visible in the distance. This brings people from Palm Springs to about 8300 feet, at the edge of the wilderness.
Some of the lesser peaks in the San Jacinto Mountains.
2 comments to Summer ‘09 in Pics vol. 8
we’ll have a house in the mountains someday…
29 June 2009 at 19:56