#11. Mount San Jacinto

Many of us have probably heard the John Muir quote about the view from San Jacinto being “the most sublime spectacle to be found anywhere on this earth.” This was my first time climbing the mountain, and although neither Muir nor I have seen every view on Earth, I’m going to have to agree with that assessment. As an aspiring PCT hiker, I opted to start at the less popular Devil’s Slide Trail which joins the PCT for a couple miles. I enjoyed the solitude and gradual elevation gain on this trail and marveled at the scenery the entire way up. The trail gets steeper near Wellman Divide but overall feels like a battle of endurance rather than one of steepness. The final rock scramble up to the summit sign was slightly tricky but a nice change of pace. I had the summit all to myself and stayed there for a good hour soaking in the views and sunning on the flat rocks. I think this is my favorite mountain now!