[pct-l] Palm Springs trail to San Jacinto

[Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com]

On Jan 5, 2009, at 9:35 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
>
> I don't think Cactus to Clouds is by any definition a "good" trail,
> although it is more well defined than most realize. It involves  
> 8,000 feet
> of gain in 11 miles, with a lot of the gain at the beginning and  
> the end.
> In season, a very early start is needed to avoid 100+ degree  
> temperatures
> with no shade on the lower part, but side trails can lead one off  
> route.
> In winter, there are icy chutes near the top that have resulted in  
> many
> falls and a few deaths, and currently buried in snow. The upper  
> part of
> the trail is less defined, with some hikers going off route and  
> ending up
> stuck on ledges where they can go neither up nor down. The last  
> pitch is
> deliberately left vague so tourists from the tram don't stumble  
> across it
> and start down somewhere they don't belong. It is strongly recommended
> that the first time you do this you go with someone who has already  
> done
> it.

Pain, suffering, heat, cold, blood, getting lost and hidden from  
tourists isn't the definition of a good trail? I must be hanging with  
the wrong crowd. :)

Piper.