San Jacinto Peak
8 November 2015
John and I went Cactus 2 Clouds 2 JJ’s Mexican Restaurant, a highly recommended route. It was fascinating to ascend from the desert floor into the sky island. At one point on the trail a friendly raven walked up to me and start pecking at my boot (while it was on my foot no less!) to see if it was food. I was tempted to give the little fella some mixed nuts but decided against it. We maintained a steady workmanlike pace all day with few breaks and made it to the slippery summit (just a dusting of snow up there which has been packed down by heavy foot traffic) in the late afternoon. This was a very rewarding, challenging hike that lived up to the hype.
PS. November was a great time to hike the Cactus to Clouds trail. It is generally accepted by the hiking community that to try this hike in the summer is foolhardy. The heat is extreme and people have gotten hurt. Stay safe out there!
