San Jacinto Peak via Marion/Deer Springs trails

Did this 7/23/17. Distance from pkg lot (via Garmins) - 13ish miles Time (incl one long stop) - around 9.5/10 hours Getting there: - 19 mi on CA 243, a 2 lane mtn road - No facilities in the dirt lot, and I got stuck in sand trying to 3-point out as I was blocked in. I scooped it away with my hands and have off-road on my car, so I got out, but be warned. Trail: - First mile/two alternating steep sections with flats. I found some steeps to be steeper than Ski Hut and Vivian. So overall altitude gain is misleading as it is not consistent. - About two miles in, there is a section of poison oak, with one area of it some big bushes you can't avoid while going through. It touched my sides even when I tried to part it with my poles. More double-washing my gear to get the oil out and taking off my jacket with disposable gloves - ugh. I will report it to the ranger station. - After the steeps, trail mellows to a more manageable, mostly dirt climb with some larger step-ups, one tree trunk crossing (though Forest Service was in the area doing maint so it may be gone now), and some granite slabs you need to traverse. - There were also a few small water crossings, where water was very shallowly going over the trail. The pools around it were not flowing, so I did not fill up. - At Little Round Valley (1.3 mi to peak), which is larger than its name implies, there is a nicely-flowing stream which I filled up at (filtered it). There also is a port-a-potty near the end of hiking through the campground. There was no TP and it was not the cleanest, so be prepared. - The trail meets the tram trail close to the emergency hut. - The summit yest had big clouds rolling in, so close it was like you could touch them! It was as magical as always, and a very special day!