A wonderful day hike with yet another CalTech hiking buddy, David (half-Norwegian like me, we share a love of hiking).

Due to unexpected road closures (no thanks, Google Maps), we eventually got to the Marion Mountain trailhead via Hemet three hours after leaving Pasadena (fortunately, we left at 5:30 am).

The first two miles were miserably steep and I was struggling to complete them – not to mention those GNATS! – but after those first two miles, the steepness was more gradual and it had some truly beautiful moments of scenery.

A perfect day for it; flowers everywhere, late-morning/early-afternoon clouds kept us cool most of the day.

Grateful to have completed the entire six-pack this year. What's next? Oh right: Whitney.