High Sierra Topix

I hiked from the Palm Springs Art Museum to Long Valley on the Skyline Trail yesterday. The trail was clear until above 7,200 feet and after that it was soft patchy snow. Long Valley has just patchy snow too. I didn't go all the way to San Jacinto 8,500 feet gain was enough for me for the day. I rode the tram down and caught a cab back to my truck because it was too warm out to hike back down to the museum, which sits at 500 feet elevation.

Here are some pictures:

http://kathywing.smugmug.com/gallery/1373023

Nice job. Did that hike a few months back. It is arguably one of the tougher hikes. I would even say it is more difficult than Whitney...but others may disagree.

One of these days we should get a forum group together to do the whole thing from the Museum to the Summit...That would be a wicked affair.

Congrats on the hike. Great shots.

Ratboy - It was a good workout. Next time I want to get all the way to the summit. I think going to the summit of San Jacinto would definately be harder than doing Whitney, but only going to Long Valley is about the same. A little more elevation gain than Whitney, but not at as high an altitude. A group trip would be fun.

I concur, it must be done...What would be really cool is to hike up and summit, spend the night and then come down the following day...like in late fall or early winter, or something like that,just to beat the heat.

Could be an adventure in the making.