My father – a very fit 67-year-old trail runner – lives in Redlands and looks out at Mt. San Bernardino every day. For over a year, he's been determined to hike it, and as it was the final original Six-Pack I hadn't yet completed, I volunteered to accompany him.

Last year, the fires halted our summit but this year we settled on the most perfect day ever: Saturday, July 20.

We were on the trail sometime between 7:30 and 8:00 am and made the summit in a smooth few hours, reaching at 1:00 pm sharp.

This was love at first hike for me! The trail itself was moderately graded and in the morning it was shady most of the way, so I never felt my heart rate soar and rarely needed to break. The last few feet to the summit was a steep scramble (but that may have been a social trail). I was astounded by the greenery, manzanita bushes, and the views, which are easily among the most encompassing vistas I've encountered (Palm Springs and desert; Orange County; LA County and San Gabriels; Big Bear and alpine region?!). Toss in a quaint wheelbarrow, old marker, a couple of monuments, and a steadily flowing stream? It was perfect.

I'll be back, San B. You're easily my favorite long-distance day hike in SoCal.