"The San Jacintos" by Robinson and Risher, page 195, Note 1. It's long and I will try to not leave out anything relevant.
"Westways, July 1963"
"We have been unable to verify that John Muir ever climbed San Jacinto Peak. He visited Thomas Ranch with the National Forest Commission in 1896, but stayed only one day and did not approach the mountain. The Muir story first appears in K.P. Frederick, "Legends and History of the San Jacinto Mountains" in 1926".
(I believe John Muir died in 1914).
See John Muir Papers, Holt-Atherton Library, University of Pacific, Stockton, Microfilm Roll 14 (1885-1901).
