San Jacinto Peak

After many a trip where I gazed at Mount San Jacinto off in the distance (see here, here, here, here, and here), I finally went up and climbed to the top this weekend. As usual, the summit itself wasn't the highlight of the trip, but rather the journey to get there, and I especially enjoyed spending a couple days camping nearby at a lovely, high-altitude backcountry camp. Here are some photos!

Just off the I-10 freeway near Cabazon, a snowy San Jac beckons to the south.

In camp at 9100', with Cornell Peak in the distance.

This woodpecker (whom I quite creatively named "Woody") returned over and over again to a sugar pine at camp, and made for familiar (if not particularly friendly) company.

Enroute through a snowfield on the way to San Jac summit.

San Jac summit (10,834'), with Gorgonio in the distance to the north.

Emergency shelter near the summit. After reading this story, I brought a big jar of peanut butter to pay forward.

Enroute back to camp, with Juan Peak in the background.

Sunday sunrise.

Looking down Chino Cyn toward Palm Springs from the tram.

Note:
Enroute out of camp this morning, I ran into a search & rescue team looking for two lost hikers, who apparently got misdirected on the way to/from the peak yesterday. The ranger described them as an "older couple, inexperienced hikers." I thought to myself, "what older, inexperienced hiker decides it's a good idea to climb an 11,000' mountain, IN THE SNOW?!" I did take the opportunity to share with the ranger that it could have been any of the dozens of unprepared idiots I saw climbing the mountain yesterday. It's shocking to me this doesn't happen more frequently, and permits really should be harder to come by. For related ranting, see here, here, and especially here. Alas, it's good that people are at least out appreciating nature, and I'm very grateful everyone made it out alive.

Aloha.