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| Hiking | 2.94 Miles |
1,085 AEG |
| | Hiking | 2.94 Miles | 2 Hrs 25 Mns | | 1.60 mph |
| 1,085 ft AEG | 35 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | Didn't sleep well so thankfully I got to enjoy Kelly's drip coffee to help me get ready for our day. Today would be the dreaded stairs of Ryan Mountain that I had read about. However, the reward was supposed to be worth it. I would be the judge of that . After a nice, mostly car-free, 45 minute drive we arrived and were able to find easy parking. I told Kelly to hike at her own pace up the mountain. She would wait here and there for me until just below the last of the stairs and then headed on up. Even before starting the hike it was already showing off some pretty views. I used a naked tree to frame up the snow-capped San Jacinto Peak. I would take several photos of it and Gorgonio on the way up.
To assist with the climb, rocks from the surrounding landscape have been built into steps. The trail is well constructed and in great shape. I would try to use the step by-pass route as much as possible and pick the lower choices to step up. I was grateful for those flat moments, such as when we would get some nice views of Mt San Jacinto in the distance and Tors below. And now more steps where occasionally I could pause to check out the scenery including an impressive rock formation on the slope to my right that I learned is called Saddle Rock. The steps would go on, some were pretty tall. I tried to step long on them and use the rest step to get up this part of the hike; it seemed to work. Some of those steps seemed three feet tall; I was glad I had long legs but wish I could have done Saturday's Barbell class as a warm up (but I was sick).
I knew I was getting close to the end of this and to the first false summit/saddle. From here, there was mostly good ole terra firma. I would end up finishing the climb with a couple gals from Santa Cruz. They had a couple of their friends ahead as well and come to find out, Kelly would end up talking with them. I was able to film a lot of the last 1/2 mile that afforded pretty awesome views in preparation for the icing on the cake, the summit. I did take my time getting there as I was using the Joshua Trees to frame some more photos of San Jacinto and Gorgonio Mountain to our WSW.
The views to the south are pretty expansive including Toro and San Jacinto Mountains, though I was mostly drawn to the view west at the snow-capped San Gorgonio. San Jacinto still had a lot of snow on it too. Kelly and I did some texting and I posted a photo from the summit on FB; something I rarely do. Kelly and I even let someone, who offered to, take our picture; which we don't normally do, but this was a good exception.
As much as we were enjoying the summit, we finally headed back down. Kelly stopped at the saddle to give a JT blossom a squeeze. It's just something that seems necessary. You have continuous views over the Mohave Desert north to the Wonderland of Rocks. The trail was fairly crowded but there didn't seem to be any issues. And ya, there are still all those steps. I gathered some more photos in the bottom section as the light had changed. It was a good hike despite the steps. Now onto the easier stuff.
The video is long at a little over twenty minutes but there's lots of movies and some interpretive info:
[ youtube video ] (I haven't reviewed this yet 4-18-2022 as I just finished it)
WATCH 8:44-11:08AM, 2.88 miles, 4629-5745 elevation. 130 avg bpm/162 max burning 931 calories (should have been more for all those steps!) |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Mostly creosote, Mohave Yucca and Joshua Trees with some cholla. |
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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
We actually drove around the north side of the Park, via highway 62 and stayed at Yucca Valley for a night. That allowed us to do drive thru on day one and check out most of the views available from the car, except for Keys View which we did get out and walk. This also allowed me to get an early morning hike in the following day 
Route 
. After a nice, mostly car-free, 45 minute drive we arrived and were able to find easy parking. I told Kelly to hike at her own pace up the mountain. She would wait here and there for me until just below the last of the stairs and then headed on up. Even before starting the hike it was already showing off some pretty views. I used a naked tree to frame up the snow-capped San Jacinto Peak. I would take several photos of it and Gorgonio on the way up.
