Day 1- San Jacinto via South Ridge

6/22/16  21 miles, 6,000' gain
I decided to make the Challenge a little harder by not using the tram for San Jacinto and instead trying South Ridge, one of the longest routes to the top, and a new one for me.
DSC03775 I decided to take the South Ridge Trail for the San Jacinto portion of the 3-day Challenge. It was the only route up San Jacinto that I hadn't tried yet. My...
I decided to take the South Ridge Trail for the San Jacinto portion of the 3-day Challenge. It was the only route up San Jacinto that I hadn't tried yet. My…
DSC03779 A quick climb with great views of the valley and Lake Hemet below.
A quick climb with great views of the valley and Lake Hemet below.
DSC03780 An interesting rock frame.
An interesting rock frame.
DSC03783 Fantastic singletrack.
Fantastic singletrack.
DSC03789 Made it to the top of Tahquitz Peak at 8,846', one of the more interesting little summits I've been on recently. There are great views and an old fire...
Made it to the top of Tahquitz Peak at 8,846', one of the more interesting little summits I've been on recently. There are great views and an old fire…
DSC03801 Here is the 89 year old watchman that hikes up to the tower with his wife every Monday, stays all week, and then hikes down on Friday. Aside from actually...
Here is the 89 year old watchman that hikes up to the tower with his wife every Monday, stays all week, and then hikes down on Friday. Aside from actually…
DSC03800 The map and sighting tool used to triangulate the exact position of any fire that's spotted. Note their cooking stove in the background.
The map and sighting tool used to triangulate the exact position of any fire that's spotted. Note their cooking stove in the background.
DSC03802 Tahquitz Peak summit marker.
Tahquitz Peak summit marker.
DSC03795 View of San Jacinto from the watchtower.
View of San Jacinto from the watchtower.
DSC03792 View of Mt. Baldy and Santiago in the distance.
View of Mt. Baldy and Santiago in the distance.
MAH03798 360 video taken while walking around the watchtower catwalk.
360 video taken while walking around the watchtower catwalk.
DSC03804 Heading on now, here's a view of the ridgeline leading to the San Jacinto summit.
Heading on now, here's a view of the ridgeline leading to the San Jacinto summit.
DSC03811 Hiking up the ridge looking back at a great view of Tahquitz Peak.
Hiking up the ridge looking back at a great view of Tahquitz Peak.
DSC03813 On to the PCT now and some of the best singletrack in SoCal.
On to the PCT now and some of the best singletrack in SoCal.
DSC03814 Lots of trails merging in this area. The South Ridge trail is now merged with the Devil's Slide trail from Humber Park.
Lots of trails merging in this area. The South Ridge trail is now merged with the Devil's Slide trail from Humber Park.
DSC03818 Wellman's Cienga. Still one of my favorite spots in all of SoCal. The ferns aren't nearly as big as when I was here in a wet year, but at least they're still...
Wellman's Cienga. Still one of my favorite spots in all of SoCal. The ferns aren't nearly as big as when I was here in a wet year, but at least they're still…
DSC03820 Tough to beat the singletrack here, even in a dry year.
Tough to beat the singletrack here, even in a dry year.
DSC03828 Wellman's Divide. I never knew previously that was Tahquitz Peak on the right. I've also wondered what that black peak is in the distance. I definitely want to...
Wellman's Divide. I never knew previously that was Tahquitz Peak on the right. I've also wondered what that black peak is in the distance. I definitely want to…
DSC03831 Looking down at Round Valley with Cornell Peak on the left and the Long Valley tram station in the middle along the ridge. The traffic on the trail is starting...
Looking down at Round Valley with Cornell Peak on the left and the Long Valley tram station in the middle along the ridge. The traffic on the trail is starting…
DSC03832 Another view of the mysterious black mountain in the distance.
Another view of the mysterious black mountain in the distance.