Mt. San Jacinto: The Rooftop of Southern California

There's nothing like getting a broad, sweeping, panoramic view of Southern California from two miles in the air. And that's exactly what you get when you are standing on the rocky, craggy, weather-eroded summit of Mt. San Jacinto, Southern California's second-highest mountain at 10,804 ft. As the legendary naturalist and Sierra Club founder, John Muir, once said, "the view atop Mt. San Jacinto is one of the most sublime spectacles to be found anywhere in the world." As a person who has ascended to the top of Mt. San Jacinto one time in my life, I can attest to the surreal and awesome view afforded from its rocky heights. Mt. San Jacinto is a beautifully rugged mountain, with many stunted and weather-beaten shrubs and trees near the summit that are signs of the severe, often intense, weather that visits the summit throughout the year. But on a cool summer or spring day, a trek to the top of "San Jack" - a name that many locals use to refer to San Jacinto peak - is a truly rewarding experience.

The shortest trail leading to the top of San Jacinto peak is approximately 5.5 miles in length; or 11 miles in round trip distance. This trail - the Marion Mountain Trail - is a steep, no-nonsense trail that doesn't waste any time in ascending. For those looking for a leisurely, quaint stroll on a forest trail, this is not the trail for you. It always helps if you are in reasonably good shape and are somewhat acclimated to intense aerobic exercise in a high elevation environment. This trail is a heart thumping one, and you will know that you have accomplished a great feat at the trails climax. Thankfully, large portions of this trail are shaded, so even on warm days, there are plenty of shady spots in which to rest.

As the trail climbs higher and higher, the vegetation and tree cover becomes more sparse. At these higher elevations, there is considerably less oxygen in the air, and only the sturdiest, most rugged trees survive. Just below the summit of San Jacinto Peak, the tree cover vanishes and you are left with an exposed, rocky area that leads directly to the summit. Here, above the so-called "timberline," an area that marks the elevation where trees no longer grow, you know that you are close to the summit. A small stone shelter has been constructed just below the summit, a structure that is used by many hikers and campers seeking shelter from inclement weather or as an overnight camping spot. And, when you finally scramble the last hundred yards or so to the summit, there, awaiting your tired, weary eyes, is a view of the surrounding valleys and deserts that you will never forget. You must remember to bring a camera; if you don't, you will kick yourself for such a transgression. A view like the one afforded to you on top of Mt. San Jacinto is a view that is definitely worth remembering and memorializing.