1st Timer On The Cactus To Clouds (Trip Report and Photos)

[calicokat]

Have wanted to hike the Cactus To Clouds trail for sometime now. Been doing my homework reading trip reports, studying Cy's website and going over all the info over and over again. My main concern as a first timer was route finding in the dark as I planned an early start to compensate for first timer issues and heat.

Midnight, Saturday October 18th: I gather my gear and leave my house in Simi Valley and head out to Palm Springs. I arrive at the trailhead just short of 3:00 am (stopped for a bite to eat on the way). To my delight, I see another hiker (Mark) getting ready to leave. I introduce myself and we head off together. Mark had completed the trail in the spring which made me more confident about the route finding. The starting temperature is 74 degrees. We start off using our headlamps but quickly realize the moon is lighting the trail better than our headlamps, so we turn them off and proceed. It is a beautiful site to look back at the city lights as we get higher and higher up.

The time is flying by and the sun is starting to come up. Its a beautiful scene and I am hopeful we will make it succesfully. I am not sure of exact times at different intervals, I just kept putting one foot in front of the other and enjoying the scene. At this point I decide the summit is my goal and won't be denied. Mark will be hiking to the tram and calling it a day. Mark and I will find eachother and exchange info via this message board.

It is getting warm now, I am sweating and starting to slow down. After some chocolate outrage GU and some Shot Blocks, I am ready to push on. Soon, I am at the flat rock. This is where the trail gets really steep. Its a step at a time, but the change in scenery is great, Pine Trees are a welcome sight up ahead. The forested area is tough, seems to be getting steeper and steeper. Soon I am crossing the gullies which are difficult (can't imagine what crossing them when icy would be like). I am not sure how long it took from the gullies, but now I see Coffman's Crag. This is where the trail just goes straight up, well it seemed that way. But up ahead I see non hikers looking down and realize I made it to the Valley. What a rush it is to finish this part of the trail. Still cannot believe I made it.

Tram to Summit Summary: The going is tough, the trail is flat up till Round Valley, but my legs are not cooperating, but I am hell bent on the summit and push on. At Wellman Divide I have to take a lengthy break to eat some lunch and rest. This is just what the body needs and I am ready to make the summit. From the divide to the summit I see alot of people coming down. These are the tram hikers, old, young, in shape, not in shape, it seems everyone decided to climb up San Jacinto today. At the hut, I see that pages and pages of people have signed in today. But there aren't many people once I reach the summit, and that makes me relieved. I take some photos, eat some lunch and high tail it back to the tram. At the tram, I meet a family who offers me a ride back to my truck. I gratefully accept and off we go.

What a day, I am thrilled to have succesfully completed the entire C2C trail. I am also tired and sore, but I am upbeat and smiling all the way back to Simi Valley. Thank you to all who helped out with info and to all the people I met on the trail, it was a memorable day.

I am working on the photos as we speak, check back here later and they will be posted.

http://calicokat.smugmug.com/gallery/6300130_vTZyH

[JayO]

Congratulations on completing a tough, long day! Your pictures are excellent - what a view, from the night lights to San Gorgonio! Keep up the good work.

[pdforeme]

I failed (ok my climbing buddy failed) in the spring and i had hoped to be on the trail at the same time. But alas my replacement buddy bombed out...so living vicariously.

It was pretty hot for this late in the year; looks like you nailed the time of departure and the very clear skies just perfectly.

[mark2812]

Hey this is Mark, your lower mountain hiking pal. Great to see your
photos, i like the sunrise and cacti photos. Stay in touch and let me know if you're heading out again. I expect to do the trail again Sun Nov 2nd with some friends. hope to improve my speed a bit.