I call this one "Walt's long loop." Tram to Wellmans > Strawberry Cienega > Deer Springs trail > Little Round Valley > San Jacinto peak > Wellman's > tram. On the Strawberry trail, I met Ulyssess (Brett). He kindly hiked with me to the Deer Springs junction. Before long, I started meeting people from Micheal Kenny's Orange County hiking group who came up the Deer Spring's trail to the summit
When I got to the trail junction near the summit I started to pass by a hiker sleeping on a large rock, then stopped to say hi when I realized it was Speedy Steve taking a break on his 31 mile Snow Creek to tram hike. Clambering up the rocks to the summit, I met Z-dude and Fern coming down. They didn't look any worse for wear, though I didn't know they had been in Bug Hades all day. I'm doing the PCT hike again this fall. Cons -- shorter days. Pros -- cooler weather, less bugs, fewer snakes.
It was a great day with the exception of the bugs, the congested summit, and the rush hour hiking back to Wellman's.
Miles of smiles,
Ellen
)
). Nice to see there wasn't much concern with residual snow on the west side of the mtn.
