| Peak | San Jacinto |
|---|---|
| Group | N/A |
| Trailhead | Marion Mountain |
After just missing out by 1 peak last year due to travel, happy to say I’ve finished all six this year! And man was San Jacinto a great one to end on. Left LA at 3:30am to beat traffic and get an early start. Last year I hiked from Deer Springs Trailhead in Idyllwild, so this time it was fun to try a new route, and head up Marion Mountain. You aren’t kidding Jeff that thing is all up! Lots of fun, and got to see the forestry workers camp set up just after the PCT Junction. As well as some beautiful flowers and mushrooms!
Most wonderful of all was meeting a gentleman at the top, who was hiking this less than a year after being diagnosed with Cancer, having Chemo and Surgery, and subsequently being declared Cancer free! Not only was this not his first hike since that ordeal, he was training for Whitney (which he had hike many times before) but he smoked me going up, and could have kicked my butt going down too if he didn’t kindly decide to adopt my pace and hike out with me. Always humbling and inspiring to meet folks like this, and really puts my own little aches and concerns in perspective. The restorative and always equalizing power of nature and the great outdoors!
What a great summer of hiking, and more to come! Off to try Shasta this week, my legs should be in good shape after this one 🙂
Happy trails everyone!
