On Saturday May 14th, a group of us will be doing the “Cactus to Clouds” hike starting in Palm Springs and summiting Mt. San Jacinto. While this hike may be a little too much for most people, there is an easier way to get there and will be a lot of fun for everyone. You are able to take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up the mountain and start fairly close to the summit. I recommend this option for anyone interested. Here is the hike from the top of the tram (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/san-jacinto-peak-from-the-tramway?u=i)
It’ll be 5.5 miles to the summit from the top of the tram and Jacob and I will pass by the tram to link up on the way to the top. Timing is important because we need to depart from the top of the tram with enough time to make it back down before the last trams go down for the night. Tickets for the tram can be purchased ahead of time here (https://shop-us.vivaticket.com/pat/generaladmission.html) and I recommend buying one ahead of time to secure a ticket. You can buy a walk up ticket the day of as well.
Timing is super important for the day to make sure everyone has a good time and safely makes it up and down the mountain. It takes about 2 hours to drive there so we plan to leave from the gym at 6 a.m. in order to get there by 8 a.m. for the first tram up. There’s a cafe at the top and some small trails to explore while you wait for everyone to get up there but everyone needs to be ready to step off on the trail by 10 a.m. in order to have enough time to summit. Below is a timeline of the day.
6:00 a.m. – Depart from CrossFit Reform to Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
7:45 a.m – Fill out a free wilderness permit at the kiosk before you ride the tram
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – Ride the tram to the top and wait for everyone to step off
10:00 a.m. – Step off at the trailhead to summit Jacinto
Approx 1:00 p.m. – Reach summit for lunch/picture at the top
Approx 4:00 p.m. – Return to tram to ride back down
If you are unsure about what to bring here are some tips in order to be prepared for the hike:
- Water! Bring at least 2-3L of water for the hike. Hydration is super important!
- Small snacks (bars or trail mix) and a lunch (sandwich or wrap is perfect)
- Layers: weather may vary so having the ability to be warm, cold, and anywhere in between is important. Light pants, t-shirt, light sweater, and puffy jacket are a good combination of layers to stay warm or you can peel off if it gets hot.
- Good Shoes: running shoes do not make good hiking shoes. Hiking boots or trail runners are preferred.
- Sunscreen: we will be closer to the sun and sunburn happens quickly at elevation.
I want to make a list of anyone going so we can organize carpools and make sure we don’t forget anyone on top of the mountain! Let me know or a coach and we will put you on the list! It’s going to be super fun!