Closing in on the final three peaks (of the Original 6), my friends and I hiked San Bernardino Peak, which stands at a very respectable 10,649ft. Arriving at 6:30am to the Angelus Oaks trailhead, we promptly started our 17-mile (RT) journey through winding (tree-shaded) pathways and switchbacks. At one point, the trail significantly narrowed to allow for beautiful brush that smelled like rice milk. Fortunately, the higher altitude had very little affect on us! We made a quick pitstop at Washington’s Monument, which was quite the interesting sight, and then began our final ascent. While the view from the summit isn’t among the most spectacular, it definitely creates an air of excitement. Seeing our first prayer flags was an added bonus! Overall, this is a long and (slightly) taxing hike, but definitely doable. I recommend it to those looking for a solid outdoor excursion far away from the masses.