San Jacinto Mountains ( more local history here)

The mountains were settled by various Amerindians years ago. Though the Serrano and Cahuilla people arrived and built villages near streams and springs. They were hunter-gatherers and they survived on small game and acorn. San Jacinto was the seasonal home to these folks. It’s fabulous hiking here during the winter because you’ll be trotting along snow, but if you look down you’ll be greeted with the view of this golden desert …

San Jacinto peak is close to 11,000 feet above sea levels. Luckily, there is a tram station that takes you far up. I’m kind of wowed how Amerindians made their way up here with moccasins so many years ago. The trails are covered with sharp rock, and from my experience at Ansel Adams Wilderness … I know how much that hurts with thin shoes.

There is a trail called Cactus to Clouds where you climb from the bottom of the mountain to the top. Most people opt to take the tram station to the near the top of the mountain, then proceed to the peak. It would be a whopping twenty-three miles to do Cactus to Clouds. I felt ashamed because as I was descending the peak, I met an old gentleman who was at least sixty and accomplished it. Apparently, he was a marathon runner. W-wow. Heh. I hope when I become an old man I’ll be as ace. Be careful about attempting the full Cactus to Clouds trail in addition to the peak. Some folks have died on that road from dehydration and cockiness.