“Tree Near Laws Camp”, originally uploaded by me (Cobber99) on Flickr and is part of the photo album linked to below.

Today Angela, Paul and I hiked from the Mountain Station to Laws camp. We headed to the Ranger’s Station, then south along the Willow Creek Trail to the Tahquitz Trail and to the camp.

There is a moderate elevation gain just as you start the Willow Creek Trail, followed by alpine granite beauty for a mile before you come to Hidden Lake Divide, after which point you descend down toward the junction with the Tahquitz Trail and then further down to Laws Camp. We all found the camp to be a bit haunted. Not that there are any structures or anything, but just the general wooded area gave us the creeps.

Back on the Willow Creek Trail we met up with Ryan, made a quick chilly stop at Desert View (a.k.a. Point Angela) (45 degrees) and then back to the tram for beers and football on their new plasma TVs.

“Eric’s Peak Shot”, originally uploaded by me (Cobber99) on Flickr and is part of the photo album linked to below.

Took a great 7 1/2 hour hike with Angela and her brother Josh. The views were fantastic! Be sure to check the map view to see our route.

San Jacinto Peak is easily accessible, as many trails penetrate the San Jacinto Wilderness. The most popular route involves taking the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway from Valley Station (2,643 ft) in Palm Springs up to Mountain Station (8,516 ft). From there, one can easily climb the mountain face via trails. Another method is to hike to the peak from the nearby mountain town of Idyllwild. The climb is popular and not overly strenuous. The Cactus to Clouds trail climbs over 10,000 ft from the Desert Art Museum in Palm Springs to the summit at 10,800 ft [1]. Climbing the mountain’s north face, via the Snow Creek Drainage, is no longer legal as this route passes through private property.

The mountain is quite rugged in places, with several outdoor hazards that hikers may be unprepared for, including high altitude, severe weather, steep rock faces, and wild animals. Hikers and climbers die or are harmed every year.

From the peak, Mount San Gorgonio can be seen across the San Gorgonio Pass. Also easily visible below is the Coachella Valley, which is home to the Salton Sea. In addition, much of the Inland Empire to the west can be viewed on a clear day.

“South from Mountain Station”, originally uploaded by me (Cobber99) on Flickr and is part of the photo album linked to below.

Angela and Eric (PS Tram season passes in hand) went up to Long Valley for Eric’s first trip to the area! We did some caching and basically scouted out the area.

From: the CA State Parks website:

The deeply weathered summit of Mount San Jacinto stands 10,834 feet above sea level, and is the second highest mountain range in Southern California. No more than a two hour drive from either Los Angeles or San Diego, the mountain’s magnificent granite peaks, subalpine forests, and fern-bordered mountain meadows offer a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy a scenic, high-country wilderness area. The park offers two drive-in campgrounds near the town of Idyllwild. Most of the park is a designated wilderness area enjoyed by hikers and backpackers.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Starting in Chino Canyon near Palm Springs, the tram takes passengers from Valley Station at 2,643 feet elevation to Mountain Station on the edge of the wilderness, elevation 8,516 feet. The Mountain Station features a restaurant, gift shop, snack bar, and the state park visitor center. In Long Valley, a short walk from the station, you will find the Long Valley Ranger Station, a picnic area with barbecue stoves and restrooms, a ski center, a self-guiding nature trail, and Desert View Trail which offers panoramas of the high country including several peaks over 10,000 feet in elevation. You can also enter the hiking trail system from this point. The tram operates year-round, except for a maintenance closure in August.