Yesterday we talked about one of the locations for Special Assignment. Today we’ll talk about another. Mount San Jacinto stands guard just beyond the Banning Pass between the Inland Empire and the Coachella Valley, where Palm Spring is. There are two ways to reach the top. The easiest way is via the Palm Springs tram (you can also hike up the backside). Now, I’m not a fan of heights, so my stomach wobbles every time I get on it and ascend two and a half miles from the valley floor to the mountain top to arrive at an 8,500-foot elevation. You start in the Sonoran Desert and arrive at an alpine forest.
But it is so worth it! There’s usually a significant temperature change, so it makes for lovely hiking weather up top. On very clear days you can see all the way to the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island to the west and the lights from Las Vegas to the east. There are some lovely trails that are easy and wind through the mountain meadows. And there are a few trails that come closer to the edge with some spectacular views.
And if you choose, you can dine in their restaurant perched on the side of the mountain with spectacular views of the valley.
If you’d like to see more pictures of Mount San Jacinto, you can find them on my Pinterest board here.
Tomorrow we’ll talk about the siblings of our characters and why we might want to keep an eye on them. Hint: future series!
