Strawberry Loop

[Ellen]

Howdy All

I call this Walt's long loop -- tram > Wellman's > Strawberry > Deer Springs > LRV > summit > tram. The Craigmeister also enjoys this loop.

I headed up the first tram on Sunday with over 20 of my closest friends (Actually, this was a meetup hike for the San Jacinto hiking club). Like many folks, I don't enjoy "rush hour hiking" and we eventually sorted out into small groups based on pace -- I hiked with Perry A, Krai, Liz, Larry, and David.

The water was flowing well at Wellman's cienega. I love the Strawberry section of the hike -- very pretty and peaceful. When we reached the Deer Springs junction, a group of hikers warned us that a Pacific Diamondback rattlesnake was just a few feet off the trail. It was very aggitated because Boy Scoutts had thrown rocks at it We hiked around the snake without incident.

We started to run into more people when we passed the Marion junction and headed up to Little Round Valley. Compared to the day before, the climb up to LRV was later in the day and much warmer. As suspected, the summit was a zoo but we found other folks from the San Jacinto club and enjoyed lunch before heading down. Had a nice time chatting at the tram bar (and yummy Arrogant B--tard beer) before we went our separate ways.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Wild]

Nice Ellen, sounds like a good trek...especially with that bastard at the end

[Hikin_Jim]

Poor Ellen. Too bad you can't get out more often.

HJ

[Ellen]

Howdy All

Did the Strawberry loop yesterday with Perry. We ran into many friendly faces in the boarding area -- Indo Joe, Hengst Joe and Don. Jym from Thousand Palms joined us. It felt warm from the moment we started -- summer is definately here.

There were so many people at the Round Valley sign (congestion junction) that Perry took a picture. In fact, this is the most number of people I've ever seen on a hike in the San Jacintos. We had the most solitude on Stawberry up to the Deer Springs junction. From the Marion junction, it was a regular LA freeway up to the summit and back to the tram.

On the positive side, water is flowing nicely everywhere, everyone had excellent trail etiquette and the Arrogant Bastard beer at the tram bar tastes especially good when dehydrated.

Also met a very nice Marine Captain Bill from 29 Palms who did his first C2C (Skyline > San Jacinto summit > tram). We congratulated him and thanked him for his service.

On that note -- Walt -- we miss you

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Florian]

Hi Ellen. I seem to be mirroring your hikes a day behind you've done them. I hiked tram, summit, Little Round Valley, Deer Springs, Strawberry trail loop today (Sunday). There were people out hiking but i never felt the trails were too busy. Nice water in LRV and Deer Springs area. Usable trickles in Strawberry Cienega. Wellman Cienega good flow.

-Florian

[Ellen]

Howdy St. Florian

Sorry we missed you I think there are fewer people on the trail than on Saturdays.

I love the Strawberry loop

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Katbent]

My husband and I are headed there this weekend and have our permit to camp at Strawberry Junction for one night before summitting. We are trying to decide if we need to bring all the water we'll need or if we can filter somewhere near Strawberry Junction... Sounds like Strawberry Cienega might have water - is that east on the PCT from Strawberry jct, and if so, how far?

[Hikin_Jim]

Sounds like Strawberry Cienega might have water - is that east on the PCT from Strawberry jct, and if so, how far?

Take a look at this map The trail junction is marked as point "A". Strawberry Cienega is marked as point "B". The two are perhaps a mile apart. I've never camped at Strawberry Junction, so I'm not exactly sure where the sites are.

I haven't been this year, but water flow is typically low at Strawberry Cienega. If you want to use a filter, it might be handy to have something to collect water in that you can filter water out of (like a shallow bowl or sierra cup).

HJ

[Florian]

My husband and I are headed there this weekend and have our permit to camp at Strawberry Junction for one night before summitting. We are trying to decide if we need to bring all the water we'll need or if we can filter somewhere near Strawberry Junction... Sounds like Strawberry Cienega might have water - is that east on the PCT from Strawberry jct, and if so, how far?

There is no water at the Strawberry junction camp. Carry everything you'll need for the first night. There is/was a usable trickle of water at Strawberry Cienega last Sunday, 6/24. If you go up via Deer Springs and Little Round Valley there you'll find plenty of water that way. There is also still a good flow at Wellman Cienega.

-Florian

[Ellen]

Howdy All

Summer is here Went up yesterday -- it was warm. Perry A hiked with me to Wellman's, then summited San Jacinto. He hiked down towards LRV three times to meet friends (including me). It was warm on the climb up to LRV and I cracked on the climb out. Met some really nice folks on the summit before heading down. Thanks to Perry

Had a nice chat with the Craigmeister while downing an Arrogant B beer at the bar. He noted that some folks had started up Skyline at 3 AM -- it took them 10 hours to reach the tram. Fortunately, they didn't need to be rescued -- RMRU already has their hands full.

Perry and I inhaled our wonderful dinner at Las Casuelas before heading home.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen