I was very excited to do a night hike. so when Jacinto was reopened I saddled up Ghost the rescue Dog and we Hit the Trail at dusk up Jacinto to reach the peak by Dawn.

Important Disclaimer- Mt Jacinto is NOT DOG FRIENDLY… my dog Ghost is a 24/7 Medic dog to me and is with me at all times- He has very special training for my medical condition and since I hike Ghost hikes – except for rare occasions and then I must hike with a human medic which complicates things in life.
Ghost is therefore a trained mountain climbing dog- and has the correct skillset to be on a summit climb with me.

We had bear spray and a bear horn with us and Ghost would occasionally stop and warn me for predators. He can sense them out from a distance and communicate. so I would be prepared for bears or coyotes should they pop up.

I had great night gear: 10,000 lumen torch for emergency , lighter head lamp with a softer night setting for the long go.

Ghost and I hiked about 2 miles to the setting sun and then the rest of the hike was in darkness..
we planned to hike to the first camp ground and rest but we over shot it and continued to the second campground.
it was a really beautiful forest hike.

My favorite part was hiking along the rim on the PCT in the dark- you can see all of the city lights like a field of stars.

as we neared the summit a lighting storm hit on the adjacent mountain so ghost and decided to sleep in the San Jacinto ski hut till the storm faded.
we slept till sunrise and then watched it together munching on dog biscuits and a can of smoked herring for me.

The last climb was very very rocky, again NOT SUITABLE FOR DOGS
Ghost and I have a method where he will hop onto my back like a stepping stone and down should we need to climb down or up boulders.
we use our bodies to help each other out when needed.

we got all the way down and it was lovely. ghost got a whole tub of frozen yoghurt as a reward , his favorite