This hike the GPS clocked us in for 16.5 miles and hiked it close to 9 hours.
To me this hike was really hard. I'm not sure if this was due to lack of preparedness or lack of sleep …probably the combination. The beginning of the hike was nice. Through several switchback we came into the Manzanita Flats. My good friend Marlon's comment on hiking through Manzanita Flats …”It's like the teletubby meadow!” Yes… it may look it, but it wasn't really a happy moment.
Anyhow, this was in a way special hike for me. To put it vaguely and cleanly as possible … I answered nature's call …in nature…. Practiced Leave No Trace of course. I now know that when the need arises, I am capable, but rather not …
On to the rest of the hike. We went to the bench first before the peak. Hindsight, we should have gone to the peak first and then explored the bench. After the bench, the peak seemed so far away. We summited in 6 hours or so.
Descending takes shorter time of course, but that's when the trail seems like it's taking forever. We're doing San Jacinto Peak next!
Responses
Congratulations on the summit! This is one of my wife’s favorite peaks in the challenge, although it DOES seem longer on the way back down. 🙂
Nice sign!