u/Pokegobiker

Back for some more around San Jacinto Mountains. This time, it will be my first time hitting 7k elevation.

Act 1, The Shady Rush

Started at 5:35 A.M at 35 degrees. The sun was rising over the desert  past the other side of the mountains, shielding me from the sun. I managed to clock in 6.1 miles in under 2 hours, before I saw the sun touching the trail. That’s where I put up sunscreen and drank some water before continuing on.

Act 2, Views Of The Desert

Opened the gate that was placed, then was astounded by the views of the desert looking down into Coachella/Indio. I was blown away as I got to the yellow sign which was a great pano shot. With that out of the way, marched over to the peaks. Lion and Pine were in my sight, with Pyramid still being hidden from my view. Terrain switched up to shaded oaks then sandy paths. As i got to the part with the switchbacks before Lion, I met a person who camped up there overnight. He started from where I parked right by his car. Had a small interaction then wished him safe travels. Lion is almost there.

Act 3, 7k

Getting to the saddle between Lion and the other 2, I made my way up to Lion, with a couple of class 1/2 scramble and leaving my backpack down to loosen the climb up. Lion summited, went back down. Off to Pyramid, the turnoff for Pine was within the dense shaded grove waiting for me. Went up the north way to Pyramid instead of south. With Pyramid reached, I have made my first 7k peak.

Act 4, Pinetastrophe

Leaving Pyramid continuing north, Pine was last, (Footnote: GPS is necessary for Pine) went back to the shaded grove and followed the GPS, weaving through and keeping track.I made it out to the viewpoint closeup to Pine. Going down was a fight through bushes and fields. Following the cairns within the light open trail through the manzanitas. I had to leave my backpack again because the manzanitas were thick.Then, disaster strikes. I went way to far left of the GPS, then it became a class 3 scramble for me to get ym way back. After that catastrophe, found my way back and summited Pine (Another footnote: That big rock in front of image 16 is not the summit). Same views as Pyramid except you can see Palm Springs and boulder fields. Heading out of this nightmar, it was time to go

Act 5, Taking It Slow

Normally I would be fast going back down, not this time. The heat will catch onto me, and I did manage to trip a couple of time sliding on the dirt. With 9 miles left after the turnoff for Pine, it was a long drag with one more big climb at mile 17.18 to 17.6. After that climb, it was smooth sailing at the last 3 miles

Elevation gain each 4.13 miles

4.13: 678
8.26: 1339
12.39: 1303
16.52: 49
20.55: 375

Next Episode: Fourth Of July Special

Won’t let the heat from Sunday stop me. First time in the San Jacinto Mountains. Kicking off this range with these 2 peaks. I was aiming for Rock Point and Gold Hill along with Butterfly, but I went straight to Butterfly before the heat came along. It became unbearable on my return from Butterfly that I had to abort mission on the other 2. Enjoyed breakfast at Mountain Center Cafe before starting Thomas. Fueling up with the 2x2x2 breakfast and 2 water cups. Headed over to the Ramona Trail for Thomas. The heat catched upon me with a couple of wind gusts at the lower parts of the trail. The gusts got frequent as I made it to the pines dropping the temperature. Was disappointed with the views at Thomas and there were people with their vehicles going to enjoy the night up there. Overall great first impressions with the range.

Next episode: Lion Peak, Pyramid Peak, and (maybe) Pine Mountain

Hoo boy what a way to enjoy the weekend. Saturday was cross country and Sunday was a desert climb.

Saturday: Ingham, Little Shay, Shay, and Hawes Peaks (images 1-10)
Started at the turnoff for Crab Flats Road at Green Valley Lake Road. Didn’t want to put my Jetta down there so I left it right as I see the road and cleared the way for oncoming vehicles going down or back up. Went down to the campground turned on Redonda Ridge Trail to the PCT for a moment. Then things got worse. Hawes Ranch Trail was completely abandoned, so I scrambled up from the trail getting to
Ingham on the left. Therefore went to the 2 Shay’s which were still challenging with more climbing. After Big Shay, carefully trekked down till I got to the grove of pine trees back at Hawes Ranch. At this point I had enough, but the journey must continue. Pushing up to Hawes and taking it very slow. Finally made it, until I had to do more climbing on the way back up to the campground and the road. Getting back to Green Valley Road, I lodged in at Running Springs

Notes: Wear pants and use trekking poles

Sunday: Silver Peak or Blackhawk Mountain (images 11-18)
Not looking forward to this after yesterday, but it must be done. Left my lodge and drove through Big Bear to the desert on the 18 fwy. Hike started easily until I got to the mine cave. There was a steep rocky gully with a metal rope in the middle for support. Held on for dear life with my poles using support as well. After the gully climb, it was smooth sailing. Of course I had to go down the same way which was even worse than going up.

Strawberry Peak Lookout Tower (images 19-20)
Just a nice walk up to the tower.

Final notes: Was going to Sorenson and Heaps, but all the cars behind me stressed me out.

Some criminally underrated peaks. Started on the PCT at Mill Creek Summit, then staying on the road until taking a detour on the right where Beartrap Peak is with the sign in image 6. Continued past Messenger Flats Campground towards the summit then back on the PCT up to Gleason. Paid respects to the 2 firemen who lost their lives during the Station Fire.

Got to San Diego County’s 2 highest points in one day. Parked for free for Cuyamaca at West Mesa where the fire road is. Japcha is well worth checking out, although there’s some scrambling and kind of pathfinding, but there is a clear path to it. Got to Cuyamaca then ran down the road turning on the west side trail which has seen better days. I was struggling the first half of Hot Springs after driving over an hour to get there. Well worth it. Ended the 2 hikes with a celebration Bianca Pizza from Heroes Restaurant and a Dutch Apple Pie for a dessert celebration at Julian Pie Company

Start time: 5:50
End time: 2:10