Visiting over 4th of July Weekend

[dabandit]

Hi All,

I will be visiting the Palm Springs/Palm Desert areas this coming weekend (4th of July) and would like some advice on trail running. Unfortunately, due to prior commitments, it is likely to be 2pm before I am able to get out for a run. I was thinking of taking the tram (or driving??) to the mountain areas in hopes of being able to both run on trails and run in cooler temps.

My questions are:
1) Is this absolutely an insane idea given that PS temps are likely to be in the 110 range?
2) Are there good places to trail run if I take the tram? I'm looking for something in the 5 - 10 mile rt range. Hills are no problem.

Thanks for any advice and/or recommendations.

[halhiker]

1.It would be insane to run in the PS/PD area but the Tram is fine. The temps are 30-40 degrees cooler.
2. there are many options on trail running at the Tram although the trails do tend to have areas of rocks and roots. For a five miler, I like the Round Valley loop which takes the trail toward Hidden Divide, cuts over to Round Valley and comes back to the Tram from there. The distance is about five miles. Secondly, you could go the San Jacinto Peak. I have done the 11+ miles to the Peak and back in two hours. It does have 2300 feet of elevation gain but it's the extra effort.

In the afternoon there does tend to be a line at the Tram, so if you can get there earlier it is recommended that you do that.

[zippetydude]

Hi dabandit. Hal's post is right on, and I would recommend the peak. There are some other interesting places, but the peak is a great choice for a first time visitor.

As far as running down below, I tried it just for fun a couple of years ago, and it was no problem for about 1 mile. I intentionally followed a circular path around my hotel so I could get back quickly when I started to get hot. It was just under a mile when I figured I'd had enough, then right at a mile as I hit the pool. Fun, but not much conditioning. Up above will be a lot more fun, and you can go on a much longer run.

halhiker: You actually did the peak and back in 2 hours! Sweet! You may have to change your name to halshustler. That's an excellent time!

z

[dabandit]

Thanks, halhiker and zippetydude, for your recomendations. Good to know there is that much of a temperature difference between PS and the top of the tram. I'm definitely going to try the peak. Not sure I'll be able to do the round trip in 2 hours, but at least I have a goal time now.

Have a good holiday weekend!
-d

[halhiker]

Hi dabandit. Hal's post is right on, and I would recommend the peak. There are some other interesting places, but the peak is a great choice for a first time visitor.

As far as running down below, I tried it just for fun a couple of years ago, and it was no problem for about 1 mile. I intentionally followed a circular path around my hotel so I could get back quickly when I started to get hot. It was just under a mile when I figured I'd had enough, then right at a mile as I hit the pool. Fun, but not much conditioning. Up above will be a lot more fun, and you can go on a much longer run.

halhiker: You actually did the peak and back in 2 hours! Sweet! You may have to change your name to halshustler. That's an excellent time!

z

That two hour time was a few years ago when I was in MUCH better shape. I just started training again for a half marathon Labor Day and the Boot Camp Challenge in Oct. I was always disappointed I was never able to get to the top in less than one hour. I was always 1:10 up and 45 min. down. I bet if they had a bar at the top of the mountain one hour would be my slowest time to the top.