Skyline in the clouds

[Ellen]

Howdy All

I felt the call Thursday night and left a bit after 6 AM yesterday. I wanted to hike mindfully, enjoy the views, and take pictures with my relatively new iPhone.

The mountain did not disappoint -- I was treated to fabulous views of the Santa Rosas, Coachella Valley and Chocolate mountains. I'll try to figure out how to post photos -- they're on my facebook page.

I met Patti shepherding two fellows up the trail at 3 K. A rainbow appeared over the red rocks of the 5 K ridge. It drizzled on and off as I climbed, which heightened the desert colors and smells.

I ate lunch at St. Florian's cache (love the views from there) and packed out an empty liter bottle. At 6.5 K, I heard pounding hooves in the brush off to my left and caught the gray and white backend of two big horn sheep -- my first sighting ever on San Jacinto and I didn't get a picture Another gift from the mountain.

By the time I reached the traverse, I was hiking in the mist, though I could make out Coffman's. Time seemed to stand still -- climbing, panting -- and then Grubbs Notch. Scrambled up the rocks and startled tourists. Ran into InFerno and enjoyed a beverage before taking the tram down. Said hi to Craig in the lower tram station and caught a taxi who had dropped folks off (InFerno rode his bike back to the museum).

Topped off a lovely solo day with Las Casuelas before heading home.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Sally]

Wow, what a beaut of a day it must have been (I saw your pictures, you're getting good with the iPhone!) Also, congrats for slowing down enough to snap some shots! I hope you can figure out how to post them here.

Rainbows and big horns, what a treat. One usually sees more wildlife when hiking solo.

Your TR reminds me of the day we did Skyline in the mist a couple of years back.

[HH8]

I was hiking in the mist

Mist, like snow, adds the magic of deeper silence for yourself to resonate in.

[Backwoods]

Your so lucky to have seen the big horn sheep. I have proubly spent over 50 hours in the last year stopping and checking out cliffs and rocky peak's hoping to get a glimps of some with no luck. I understand about not getting the pic with the Iphone that's what I use and when I was up close and personal with a Bear in the middle of the trail on the PCT I got my Iphone out to get a pic but there are just too many steps to get to the camara to get a quick unexpected shot. Good camara though every hiking video/pic I have ever made was with a Iphone4. Who cares I'd be so jazzed to see some Big Horn's pic or not. Congrat's

[Hikin_Jim]

I was semi-nearby while you were doing Skyline -- I was doing Newton Drury via the Marion Mountain and Deer Springs Trails.

Photos from FB aren't too hard to post. Here's a couple from Ellen's FB page:




HJ