| Peak | San Jacinto |
|---|---|
| Group | N/A |
| Trailhead | Palm Springs Aerial Tram |
I came up via the Palm Springs Aerial Tram, is that cheating? I don’t know. Anyhow, LOVE hiking here in the winter with crampons and snowshoes. Didn’t really enjoy summiting this in the summer. It is hot (and it is REALLY hot when you get down the mountain in Palm Springs) and it is very, very rocky. The last .5mi or so is pure bouldering- such hell. But the beginning also had a lot of rocks. The trail is about 50% shaded so it is nice to not be in direct sunlight the entire time but the rocks really detract from my enjoyment. Also the trail frequently disappears and it is not clear which way to go to the summit. Elevation wasn’t a problem for me on this and I didn’t exert myself as much as I did on Baldy via Ski Hut but my knees and ankles were very sore the next day. Also, my chapstick I forgot in my car was completely liquefied by the time I got back and it was 106 degrees. Be sure to start this one early!
