I hiked San Gorgonio Mountain on Sunday August 21, 2022, completing the SoCal “Six-Pack of Peaks” challenge for this year. It was my second time reaching the summit, having hiked it for the first time last year. I found the key for me to this hike is to take the first ascent slow, cruise through the middle section, and then make sure to save enough energy for the last climb toward the summit at altitude.

I started at about 5 a.m. because the National Weather Service forecast showed there could be a slight chance of thunderstorms after 11 a.m. I was about 3 miles from the trailhead when light rain started and about a mile and a half from the finish when I started hearing thunder. The skies above me at that point were blue, so I immediately put on the gas and half walked/ran back to the car.

I may see this trail again in a few weeks. I did this hike solo, but I am planning to hike San Gorgonio one more time with my hiking partner before Mt. Whitney next month.