PCT - Mount San Jacinto Peak

Me at the top of Mount San Jacinto Peak.

PCT Section: Saddle Junction (33-46-26.88N 116-40-22.79W) to Wellman Cienaga Trial Junction (33-47-19.70N 116-40-38.13W)

Location: San Jacinto Wilderness Area, Idyllwild, California

Date: 17-19 August 2011

Weather: Warm.  Upper 80s.

PCT Completion to Date: Northbound: 0004.0 miles; Southbound: 0004.0 miles; Overall: 0004.0 miles

A few months ago I made a failed attempt to summit Mount San Jacinto Peak, 10,834' (3302 m), due to a critical equipment failure and the discovery that I wasn't physically prepared for high altitude excursions. Since then I have been hiking and backpacking the area in preparation of another assault. This goal has now been completed in a three-day, two-night solo-backpacking trip.

My campsite above Tahquitz Peak.

The first day, I left Humber Park in Idyllwild, California via the Devil's Slide Trailhead at about 9:50 AM. I reached Saddle Junction by 11:30 where I fueled up on beef jerky, crackers, cheese and water. I then proceeded north on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to the Mount San Jacinto Peak State Park Wilderness Boundary and set up camp at about 9000' on the ridgeline of Marion Mountain near the junction of Wellman Cienaga Trail.

On day two I hiked out of camp at 8:30 AM still sore from the day before. I managed to reach the peak by noon. I only saw one man and his son as they passed me on the way up and they were at the peak when I arrived. They left shortly after I arrived and I had my lunch. I started back at 12:30 and saw more people who I think were hiking up from Terminal Station (aerial tram from Palm Springs). My logger died about a mile before I returned to camp. I'll have to check the settings or make sure I'm properly charging the unit as this is not the first time I've had this problem.

Emergency shelter on San Jacinto Peak.

On day three I managed to break down my camp, pack up and start down about 9:00 AM. Of course, when I got back to Idyllwild I had to make my ritual stop at Arriba's Mexican Restaurant. This time I had the beef taquitos. This was my third time at this restaurant and again, OUTSTANDING. If you are ever in this area and you enjoy Mexican food, you have to eat at this place.

For more photos and satellite overview click on Mount San Jacinto Peak.

PCT; Saddle Junction; Wellman Cienaga

Me on Devil's Slide Trail

PCT Section: Saddle Junction (33-46-26.88N 116-40-22.79W) to Wellman Cienaga Trial Junction (33-47-19.70N 116-40-38.13W)

Location: San Jacinto Wilderness Area, Idyllwild, California

Date: 5 August 2011

Weather: Warm.  Mid to Upper 80s

PCT Completion to Date: Northbound: 0004.0 miles; Southbound: 0004.0 miles; Overall: 0004.0 miles

This 1.8 mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail was an in and out day hike to Wellman Cienaga in the Mount San Jacinto State Park Wilderness.  The purpose of this hike was to determine if Wellman Cienaga (33-47-32.70N 116-40-50.11W) would be able to provide me with fresh water for a future backpacking trip and to find a suitable campsite within the Nation Forest but outside the State Park.

Diamond Valley Lake and Suicide Rock

I started this hike in Idyllwild at Humber Park from the Devil’s Slide Trailhead.  I hiked the 2.5 miles of Devil’s Slide Trail to Saddle Junction and then proceeded north on the PCT toward Wellman Cienaga.  The cienaga is about half a mile into the park on Wellman Cienaga Trail.  Deer Springs is apparently a little bit further, but I did not hike that far.  The cienaga did have water, but will require a little bushwhacking in order to find a suitable pumping point for filtering.

I then returned to the National Forest and hiked west along the PCT to the ridgeline where I bushwhacked 300’ southerly along the ridge to find an excellent area for camping.  There were obvious traces of previous campsites and this spot provides panoramic views.  My only concerns about this location are lightning and high winds since it is rather exposed.

Wellman Cienaga

After doing a short survey of the area, I returned to Saddle Junction via the 1.8 mile section of the PCT where I ate a light snack and finished off my second liter of water.  At Saddle Junction I met some hikers that were part of a hiking club who were friendly enough to give me website information to join their future hikes as well as other hiking clubs throughout the area.

Upon returning to Idyllwild, I made my second of what will likely be many pilgrimages to Arriba Mexican Restaurant.  Previously I had the Pork Green Chili Burrito which is quite possibly the best burrito I’ve ever eaten.  This time I had the Chicken Tacos which were also outstanding.    I noticed about half a dozen folks with Forest Service uniforms were here at lunchtime as well.  I highly recommend this restaurant if you are in the area.

PCT; Skunk Cabbage Meadow; Chinquapin Flats; Tahquitz Lookout

My nephew and I

PCT Section: Saddle Junction (33-46-26.88N 116-40-22.79W) to Little Tahquitz Trail 3E41 (33-45-38.89N 116-39-56.47W)

Location: San Jacinto Wilderness Area, Idyllwild, California

Date: 22-23 July 2011

Weather: Warm.  Mid to Upper 80s

PCT Completion to Date: Northbound: 0002.2 miles; Southbound: 0002.2 miles; Overall: 0002.2 miles

My nephew and I hiked this 2.2 mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail going southbound as part of a lollipop loop backpacking trip to Skunk Cabbage Meadow in the San Jacinto Wilderness Area.  We started in Humber Park at the Devil’s Slide Trailhead and hiked up to Saddle Junction.  He and I proceeded east along the Willow Creek Trail 3E02 to Skunk Cabbage Junction where we headed south on Trail 3E42 toward Skunk Cabbage Meadow.  We set up camp to the south between the meadow and Caramba Trail 3E04.

Skunk Cabbage Meadow Campsite

After camp was set up and water was filtered, he and I set out on Caramba Trail 3E04 heading west toward Saddle Junction and the PCT.  On the PCT we headed south 1.4 miles to Chinquapin Flats (33-45-26.84N 116-40-18.08W).  We then took a side trip on South Ridge Trail 3E081 to the Tahquitz Fire Lookout, the oldest standing lookout in California.  The lookout is now a museum and is staffed by volunteers during the day.  We were able to see an active fire to the south outside the local fire district.

Tahquitz Fire Lookout

We returned to Chinquapin Flats and hiked east down the PCT 0.8 miles to the junction of Trail 3E41 to Little Tahquitz Valley.  We exited the PCT and proceeded north along that trail past Little Tahquitz Valley, through Tahquitz Meadow and then to the junction with Caramba Trail.  From there it was a short hike east back to our camp where we spent the night and then returned to Humber Park the next morning.  We had an early lunch at Arriba Mexican Restaurant across from the ranger station and the food was outstanding, I highly recommend it and plan to eat there again soon.

For more photos and satellite overview click on Skunk Cabbage Meadow and Tahquitz Lookout