Diapensia
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San Jacinto Mtns, Southern California (June 2012)
Spent 4 days in the San Jacinto Mtns in Southern CA, in mid-June (16-19). They're about a 2.5-3 hr drive east of LA.
San Jacinto Pk (10,804 ft) is the highest point in the large mountain massif that towers above Palm Springs. It clocks in with the 6th highest topographic prominence in the lower 48. San Gorgonio Mtn just to the north is a bit higher, but with a smidge less prominence.
This was mid-June, so it was into the 90s every day, but it's much easier to take since the humidity is low. It was fire season, and the nearby area had over 6 small forest fires during the 4 days!
Day 1: June 16
The first afternoon, went up the Black Mtn Truck Trail (a road which is sometimes passable by most passenger cars). The road goes through open coniferous forest. The vistas were nice, with especially nice views of a forest fire just off to the NW.
Day 2: June 17
Went down to the Desert Divide section. Hiked up the Cedar Springs Trail, then south on the PCT. Most of this area here is completely exposed, and the vegetation is predominantly chaparral.
Here's the view looking north from the PCT towards San Jacinto:
I climbed up Pyramid Pk (7035 ft) and Lion Pk (6168 ft). Pyramid Pk has a lovely rocky summit w/ 360 views.
The 1.5 mi south on the PCT was on the sheltered side of a knoll so was hotter than the open ridge. Lion has a cute little summit w/ esp nice views to the Santa Rosas.
Day 3: June 18
Went up the Devil's Slide Trail to Saddle Junction (8100 ft). There is a quota for this trail on the weekends, so I went on Monday. The trail is pretty cool - there's a reason it gets so much traffic. From Saddle Jct I took the trail around the ridge then cut across the steep slope to Tahquitz Pk (8846 ft). The slope drops down over 2000 ft to the trailhead, with great views of San Jacinto.
It was pretty windy. There's a fire tower on Tahquitz, and the volunteer fire-spotting couple was in residence.
Day 4: June 19
Puttered around at lower elevations before driving back to catch the plane home.
Spent 4 days in the San Jacinto Mtns in Southern CA, in mid-June (16-19). They're about a 2.5-3 hr drive east of LA.
San Jacinto Pk (10,804 ft) is the highest point in the large mountain massif that towers above Palm Springs. It clocks in with the 6th highest topographic prominence in the lower 48. San Gorgonio Mtn just to the north is a bit higher, but with a smidge less prominence.
This was mid-June, so it was into the 90s every day, but it's much easier to take since the humidity is low. It was fire season, and the nearby area had over 6 small forest fires during the 4 days!
Day 1: June 16
The first afternoon, went up the Black Mtn Truck Trail (a road which is sometimes passable by most passenger cars). The road goes through open coniferous forest. The vistas were nice, with especially nice views of a forest fire just off to the NW.
Day 2: June 17
Went down to the Desert Divide section. Hiked up the Cedar Springs Trail, then south on the PCT. Most of this area here is completely exposed, and the vegetation is predominantly chaparral.
Here's the view looking north from the PCT towards San Jacinto:
I climbed up Pyramid Pk (7035 ft) and Lion Pk (6168 ft). Pyramid Pk has a lovely rocky summit w/ 360 views.
The 1.5 mi south on the PCT was on the sheltered side of a knoll so was hotter than the open ridge. Lion has a cute little summit w/ esp nice views to the Santa Rosas.
Day 3: June 18
Went up the Devil's Slide Trail to Saddle Junction (8100 ft). There is a quota for this trail on the weekends, so I went on Monday. The trail is pretty cool - there's a reason it gets so much traffic. From Saddle Jct I took the trail around the ridge then cut across the steep slope to Tahquitz Pk (8846 ft). The slope drops down over 2000 ft to the trailhead, with great views of San Jacinto.
It was pretty windy. There's a fire tower on Tahquitz, and the volunteer fire-spotting couple was in residence.
Day 4: June 19
Puttered around at lower elevations before driving back to catch the plane home.
