I started the hike at about 6 a.m., a bit later than I had planned.  First, there was the drive up the dark 243. I made it to the ranger station and filled out the self-service permit without an issue. However,  while heading to the trailhead, I missed the turnoff to Forest Route 4S02 (despite using GPS) and drove around for about 10 minutes before eventually finding the correct road.

There were a few other cars in the parking lot when I arrived.  One note about the parking lot, which is across the road from the trailhead: there is a small drop between the concrete and the dirt lot, which made me question whether I was entering the lot at the right spot. I saw what appeared to be some easier paths to the parking lot but they were blocked off from the main road. When I returned to the trailhead, I saw cars lined up alongside the road and I may also park there the next time I do this hike.

The hike itself was wonderful but chilly. That was not an issue for me as I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and love chilly weather.  I wore a jacket during the entire hike but did wish at times that I had brought gloves and maybe a hat. My hands were freezing.  It was cold enough that I saw ice form on a rock where water crossed.  That made for kind of an embarrassing/hilarious moment: I was putting my foot down on the rock just as my brain comprehended that the water had turned to ice. Luckily, my trekking poles stopped me from doing a failed Lutz.

The trail itself can be kind of hard to follow at times. I use a watch GPX for general directions and a Gaia on my phone for more specific electronic route-finding. I had to look at my phone more than I have on any other hike to make sure I was going the correct way. The hike also does have a lot of climbing but doing San Gorgonio last week helped me with the training for this hike. (My initial plan had been to hike San Jacinto before Gorgonio but the forest closure and other circumstances made me switch the order).

At the summit, the conditions were very windy and cold. Yet, the amazing views at the top helped to distract from the wind. Being at the top of that mountain is an incredible experience and I was glad that I decided to do the hike this year.  The colorful foliage further down the trail also adds to the beautiful scenery of this hike.

As I walked down from the summit, the sun came out and helped me warm up a bit – hence, the “thawing” referred to in the hike title.  Overall, it was a wonderful hike and the weather was perfect (for me, at least).