Question about Jean Peak

[hotmanwalt]

[img]http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=190305&id=624674964&saved#!/photo.php?pid=4555437&id=624674964

I tried to hike to Jean Peak today. Took Deer Springs from Wellman up to 0.3 mile signpost to Mt San Jacinto. Hiked south to the saddle before Jean with no problem. Hiked up to the area indicated in the picture....actually took the long way going too much west rather than going east....I saw and followed the cairns on the way back which was easier.
My question for someone who has been there....Is what I circled Jean Peak?
Now that I look at the picture it looks like I should have gone slightly to the left and up a bit higher to get there. Is that the best way? Since I was alone I decided not to head straight up and turned back. Also, as I was headed back I noticed cairns that seemed to head directly down to Deer Springs Trail to the area where the old Tamarack Valley trail intersects it. Is that a fairly easy climb down?

[Hikin_Jim]

[img]http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=190305&id=624674964&saved#!/photo.php?pid=4555437&id=624674964

I tried to hike to Jean Peak today. Took Deer Springs from Wellman up to 0.3 mile signpost to Mt San Jacinto. Hiked south to the saddle before Jean with no problem. Hiked up to the area indicated in the picture....actually took the long way going too much west rather than going east....I saw and followed the cairns on the way back which was easier.
My question for someone who has been there....Is what I circled Jean Peak?
Now that I look at the picture it looks like I should have gone slightly to the left and up a bit higher to get there. Is that the best way? Since I was alone I decided not to head straight up and turned back. Also, as I was headed back I noticed cairns that seemed to head directly down to Deer Springs Trail to the area where the old Tamarack Valley trail intersects it. Is that a fairly easy climb down?

Walt,

It sounds like you're describing the eastern side of the summit region of the San Jacintos, the summit region being that area which is above 10,000'. I believe that the Deer Springs Trail is on the other side of the mountain from what you are describing. In other words, I don't believe you were on the Deer Springs Trail although you may have started on the Deer Springs Trail.

The photo you tried to post doesn't show up. I'd log into Facebook where the photo is, but my account is screwed up, so I can't comment directly on the photo.

Jean isn't super distinctive, but there's enough of a peak there that you should know it if you hit it. There shouldn't be anything higher around it except San Jacinto. Can't tell if you hit it or not, but you may not have.

HJ

[hotmanwalt]

Yes I was on the eastern slope. It's indicated on my GPS map as Deer Springs so I got in the bad habit of calling it that. I guess most call it Mt San Jacinto trail. Sorry for the confusion.
I've put another picture that shows the point I got to on my Flickr account if you could have a look.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9349895@N03/4841358620/
Since I didn't actually get to the peak, I wasn't 100% sure where the highest point was. Since I plan to go back I'm just trying to get an idea where I need to go to get to the actual top.
Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.

[Hikin_Jim]

Yes I was on the eastern slope. It's indicated on my GPS map as Deer Springs so I got in the bad habit of calling it that. I guess most call it Mt San Jacinto trail. Sorry for the confusion.
I've put another picture that shows the point I got to on my Flickr account if you could have a look.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9349895@N03/4841358620/
Since I didn't actually get to the peak, I wasn't 100% sure where the highest point was. Since I plan to go back I'm just trying to get an idea where I need to go to get to the actual top.
Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.

Hi, Walt, yes, I believe if you stay a bit more to the east, you'll have an easier time of it. If you head west, the terrain is tougher, and you may wind up doing some class 3 stuff which is unnecessary.

Be careful of the ducks (cairns) up there. Everybody and their brother has put one up, and God only knows where they lead sometimes. In an area like that, I'd rather that people didn't put them up at all.

Going from Jean-San Jacinto saddle to the top of Jean is a lot easier than going straight down from Jean to the junction marked on the map.

By the way, don't try to use that junction as a visual point of reference while hiking; it's not discernible. You probably already know that since you were just there.

Going down from Jean-SJ saddle to the old trail junction is easier than coming straight down from Jean, but not by much. I would not describe either route down to the old trail junction as easy.

HJ

[Vnthali]

I really enjoyed yout pictures and description of your efforts to get to he summit of Jean. Back in April when there was still snow covering all of the boulders and brush, Sally (from the board) and I hiked the east side of Jean to the summit. The route was very steep towards the top. I don't know if I'd want to fight the snowless terrain along the same route, based on what I can see in your photos.

[Sally]

Hi Walt,
That's sure an ambitious hike you took up Jean! Great pictures, too. It's Hard to believe that Vnthali and I were able to make it to the top, and that there was so much snow that it covered all those boulders.
Thanks for a great TR! I look forward to your report on your next trip up there.
Hi Tyrus!

[halhiker]

[quote="Hikin_Jim"]

"Be careful of the ducks (cairns) up there. Everybody and their brother has put one up, and God only knows where they lead sometimes. In an area like that, I'd rather that people didn't put them up at all."

Here, here. There's a reason I kick those suckers over.

I've found the best way up Jean is straight up the gully before the trail from Wellman starts going across the face of San Jacinto. I generally take this gully directly up from Tamarack Valley. Then from the saddle I just go left.

[Vnthali]

Hi Sally. .

[hotmanwalt]

I finally made it to Jean Peak yesterday after almost getting there last week then I headed to Marion Peak but I wanted to get home so I stopped at the saddle just north of Marion Peak and headed down and went around the northside of Wellmans Cienega to the trail then up to Wellman Divide. The Jean Peak area was a wonderful spot!

The bushwhacking was all great except after I left the trees and headed down through all the bush chinquapin and other nasty bushes above Wellmans Cienega. Although I tried to follow animal trails it was really dense stuff. I thought later that it was probably risky since I would never see any snake, etc. in my path. Does anyone know of a good way through that mess??

Pictures are at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9349895@N0 ... 659625496/

I appreciate all the comments that helped me get there!!

[Hikin_Jim]

Walt,

It's tough to route through all that stuff above Wellmans Cienaga. I've found it helpful to not drop straight down but sort of aim for just short of Wellmans Divide. I drop down a fair amount first and then start heading towards the Divide where the trail hits the divide. That's pretty vague I realize. There's no obvious good route, and there are ducks everywhere you look (unless Hal has been through recently) . There are so many ducks in so many directions that they're completely worthless in my opinion. I don't mind people marking trails, use trails, or well established specific routes, but putting ducks hither, thither, and yon is a form of man made intrusion that should not be in the wilderness.

HJ