I was really debating which route to summit San Jacinto this year. I’ve did Marion Mtn 10/30/20 and it was truly breath-taking. It’s a more challenging route with an elevation gain of ~4600ft and my recording clocked us at 15mi. The peak stands tall and proud at 10,834ft. It’s a strenuous day to say the least. There are other routes I’d like to attempt, Devil’s Slide, C2C to name a couple but I just LOVE Marion Mountain. My photographic trail memory was itching to see all incredible landmarks from my first summit.

I get anxious before tackling these bigger peaks, mainly concerned about my body’s ability to perform and to enjoy vs struggle to the top. Rachel and I have really been perfecting our mountain game though. We’ve packed the right snacks, and the right performance fuel. Energy gels with the right carbs, caffeine, and amino acids etc to help with endurance and to combat the lactic acid build up in your calves. We were marveling at how good we felt plowing up the mountain. We were both having a few tired struggles at Baden-Powell the week before for some reason and we were pleasantly surprised that we didn’t have the same struggles on this much harder hike.

We headed out at 3:30am and were on the trail by 7:15am. Later than we wanted to start but there’s always a bit of time needed to get your gear in order, get your costume accessories on and what not. Fortunate for us, we got to see the pinky skies as the sun rose and we had enough light on the lower leg of the trail to enjoy the gorgeous display of autumn leaves on all the vegetation in that first biome of the trail. The black oaks and hillside gooseberries and other bushes were just ablaze with shades of gold. I wondered why we ended up taking a bit longer than my first run and it’s because we stopped to enjoy the scenery so much. I read some trail reports beforehand and anticipated that the springs would be dried up but the one I saw last year was indeed still flowing and we topped off our water with it on the way back (filtered of course).

Up and up we went and the landscape changes every few miles or so. It’s really amazing. There’s oaky forests in the lower half and then some crazy dense pine forests as your make your way up and some really trippy craggy pines as you get higher and higher to the saddle and peak. A bit before the Little Round Valley Campground we started seeing patches of snow leftover from Monday’s storm. We saw more and more patches as we got closer to the top.

After you pass through the camp, you’re about to embark on that last leg of the trail, switching you back and forth through boulders and pines with more exposure. We had fueled at the right time before the last slog, so we confidently blazed up. Once you reach the saddle you’re home free. Just moments away from the stone hut. We played tourist and explored the hut and signed the register in there and took our requisite pics. Then the last stretch of boulder scrambling and the next thing you know, you’re on the top of the world with that glorious 360˚ view. It was clear enough to see the Salton Sea on one side and San Gorgonio on the other side.

We enjoyed some lunch with our fellow summiters and took our peak pics and reluctantly made our way back. It’s just so beautiful you wanna hang out all day if you could. We always make fast work of our return descents and this was no different. We got to see a different vibe to the mountain as we came down since the sun was entirely different. We got to finish with the sunset complimenting the amazing fall colored leaves in the lower section of the trail. I was stopping every few minutes to snap more and more pics of the sunset shining though the trees. It was magical. We came around the mountain just in time to catch the sun making its last peek before it set entirely. And then we were back. It’s a victorious feeling finishing a tough hike with all the perfect moments that we experienced. Sunrise, sunsets, critters, peaks, beautiful vistas, springs, gorgeous vegetation etc. Thank you Marion Mountain and San Jacinto for a perfect day and for keeping us safe and sound. — with Rachel Waddy in San Jacinto Mountains