Joan and I chose Monday (6/10) to avoid the weekend crowds. After filling out the required day-permit paperwork, we left the Ice House Cyn trailhead at 6:50AM and made our way to Icehouse Saddle.  Plenty of accessible water flowing from above Columbine Spring for the first 1-1.5-miles, so bring your water purification system to re-supply if needed.  Reached Cucamonga Peak at 10:00AM in time to enjoy beautiful views to the SE with Mt. San Jacinto, Mt. San Gorgonio, and Santiago Peak.

Be sure to bring plenty of water as it gets very hot on the East-facing side of the trail between Icehouse Saddle and Cucamonga Peak.

It was a very hot day, so we re-supplied our water reserves at the first opportunity downhill from Icehouse Saddle. Just past the 2-mile marker, swarms of ladybugs began to emerge flying around us as if they wanted to escort us back down to our parked car. The more shade and presence of water brought more ladybugs out of hiding as they landed on our clothing and hair !