The Last of my A16 3-Peak Challenge

This was the last of the long, long, long weekend — my third peak in as many days as part of Adventure 16’s 3-Peak Challenge. I woke up in a parking lot, having driven to Palm Springs from San Gorgonio the night before. I really did not know whether I would have any energy to attempt this peak but I thought to myself, I can’t give up now – I must try it. I was on the 8am tram up and made my way to the ranger station to fill out my wilderness permit. Leaving the ranger station at 8:24am, I met a group of “local hikers” who essentially got me up the mountain. It was refreshing to start a hike solo but end it with friends and of course, a true sense of accomplishment. I am thankful for Cameron and Nile for giving me the distraction I needed to ignore my aches and pains and to relatively-mindlessly follow the trail to the peak. I am happy to report this is my second summit of San Jacinto (the first was in the snow via the Sid Davis Trail) but more importantly, it was my third peak in Adventure 16’s 3-Peak Challenge!! I summited Southern California’s three highest peaks in three days – San Antonio (Mt. Baldy), San Gorgonio (Mt. Near Death of Me), and San Jacinto – yahoo!