Apparently, yesterday was national take a hike day and I just happened to go on my longest (by distance) day hike to date, up to San Bernardino peak. From the Angelus Oaks trailhead, the trail started out fairly steep up a handful of switchbacks. After a couple miles, the trail becomes a little forgiving as you are walking through Manzanita bushes and pine trees. Once you pass the old wheelbarrow, you're back on a pretty good incline again heading up to Limber Pines campground. Limber Pines looks like a great place to overnight, with an awesome view. About a half mile past the campground is a little creek which still has running water, it's been so cold up here at night that parts of it was frozen. Up another handful of switchbacks and you arrive at a great vista point, Washington's Monument. No, not that monument and no not that guy. In 1852, Colonel Henry Washington established this spot as the initial point from which socal was surveyed from. The last stretch to the peak is, by far, the steepest and the last 7.5 miles you just hiked didn't help. But, once you make it to the top, you are rewarded with an awesome 360° view of Southern California. The weather was perfect, you can easily make out Baldy, Santiago peak, San Jacinto, San Gorgonio and even the observatory at Big Bear Lake! I got to the peak in just under 4 hours, took an hour break at the peak chatting with some cool people and then headed back down to the truck, which only took 3 hours.
16.5 miles RT with 4,737′ elevation gain in 7:39:47 total time.
11/17/2019
Peak 11/12
Hike 43/52
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