Mt. San Jacinto

This hike was organized by the Orange County Hiking & Backpacking Group (OCHBG) as a volunteer mission to resupply the emergency shelter located just below the peak on Mt. San Jacinto. One of the OCHBG members spend three days trapped in the shelter during the previous January after sustaining a leg injury near the peak. So many of the supplies had been pilfered that she was left with one can of beans.

San Jacinto is one of the highest peaks in Southern California. At 10,834 feet, it towers over the town of Palm Springs located at sea level. The summit trails begins at an unusual starting point: the top of the aerial tramway, which ferries tourists and hikers alike to 8,420 feet. From here, the trail winds through the Round Valley Plateau for 3.1 miles before climbing sharply to the summit over a 2.5 mile distance.

The difficulty of the climb is due to the rapid ascent one makes from the valley floor on the tram. On this specific hike, we also hauled heavy packs stuffed with emergency supplies.

I performed well, putting my calf injury behind me with every step. Even the high altitude and pack weight of 62 pounds did not affect my leg.

I should mention that this mountain range affords some of the best views in all of Southern California. To the west, it is possible to view the whole of the LA basin and even Santa Catalina off the coast. To the north, lies San Gorgonio at 11,493 feet, sitting atop the San Bernardino mountain range. Palm Springs spreads out across the desert floor to the east. Further south, one can see the Salton Sea.

This hike gave me the idea to attempt the Cactus-to-Clouds hike. As the name suggests, the trail starts in Palm Springs at sea level, climbs the eastern slope of San Jacinto, and connects to the summit trail near Round Valley. The 10,000 vertical feet, sixteen mile climb, is one of the most difficult day hikes in the US. I resolve to give it a go next weekend.