Mount San Jacinto was my fifth hiking adventure of the So Cal Six Pack of Peaks challenge. My son and I took on the challenge together, similar to our last four hikes. This hike was challenging, with quick elevation gain and many obstacles. The trail was steep and rocky, with fallen logs blocking the path of travel at several points. The trail conditions and obstacles made staying on track challenging at times. My son and I found ourselves off-trail several times and had to regroup and get back on track. I would classify the trail more as a ‘rocky, beaten path'. A lot of elevation gain also starts quickly after the hike begins. Within the first few miles, we were in ‘climb-baby-climb' mode. The bugs were also annoying. However, the foliage, mini-waterfalls, and breathtaking views made up for some of the discomforts. This may be an easier trail for more experienced hikers. However, it took me and my son a lot of work, with far less hiking experience and time in the saddle. Nevertheless, the experience of summiting Mount San Jacinto was worth the pain and effort. Because of the fantastic view, we decided to stay at the peak for a couple of hours. Plus, we had it all to ourselves. We could see Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs, a portion of the Morongo Basin, Diamond Valley Lake, and the Salton Sea!

However, there was a downside. Because we stayed on the summit for so long, we started down the mountain late. We found ourselves again hiking at night, similar to our experience hiking San Bernardino Peak. Walking down San Jacinto Peak at night was much more challenging than San Bernardino Peak. The terrain is more technical and the trail less evident. It was another hard lesson about starting early and remaining well-disciplined with time.