Palm Springs to Idyllwild Hike Challenge

[marmot]

I am considering hiking from Palm Springs to Idyllwild, up and over mt san jacinto sometime in the spring (perhaps early summer, given the snow reports this year).

I plan on hiking the cactus to clouds up and taking deer springs down to idyllwild. From idyllwild, I plan on mountain biking back to my car, perhaps that day or the day after.

Has anybody ever done this before?

How is the deer springs trail? Pretty?

Thanks

[bluerail]

gone up and over to saddle junction and down to Idylwild but never the bike part...which way were you gonna ride back?

[zippetydude]

I think Kevin does this every year, doesn't he? He recently posted about doing it, but going an alternate route to stay below the snow. You might PM him. I thing he's "kd" for his handle.

Yep. The post I'm talking about is only about 10 or so threads down from here. Look for "Skyline minus the snow" by kd.

z

[kd]

Thanks Zip.....

Marmot,

Sure I try to do this one each spring and fall. I usually have friends that do a portion with me and others do the other part. I'm not a great mountain biker, I'm just not much for long downhill hikes or runs.

In the spring I usually have to wait until the Willow Creek Trail (Tram to Humber Park) is relatively snow free. The route thru Wellman's is too snowy in the Spring.
Last year I think that was around April 18th. Or it may have been a week later. Wait too late, and Skyline is too hot.

I usually have friends bring my bike up to Humber Park and ride Earnie Maxwell trail thru Idyllwild to the old Isomata and down Control Road (old stage coach road).

This year I was thinking about altering and going up to the SJ peak, then down Marion Mt trail and biking thru Pine Cove and the down bike trails to the bottom. I have friends that know the bike trail down, just like I depend on my Skyline friends to get me up the hill on the right path.

This spring will be tricky with the amount of snow up top. Fall would be better for the up to the peak route. Spring season window provides more daylight for a longer trip.

Zip is right, I posted about finding a route up from the desert maybe staying a little lower, this spring to avoid the snow. Im still researching.

Let me know if you are interested.... the logistics are not that tough, and I would like the company.

---Kevin