Southern California's Pacific Crest Trail

The region around San Gorgonio Pass, where Interstate 10 shoots between the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains, is one of the most tortured landscapes I have ever seen, owing mostly to the San Andreas Fault, which runs through the area. The San Jacinto's, in the distance, top out over 10,000 feet, while the city of Palm Springs, just below them on the east side, is at 500 feet.

After pioneering a ~675-mile route from the Grand Canyon to Morongo Valley, CA, I was very happy to join the Pacific Crest Trail, which is well maintained and which there is ample information about.

The PCT ascends the San Bernardino Mountains via the Mission Creek Valley, which had burned badly in Fall 2006.

Because of their elevation, the San Bernardino's are home to enormous old growth Ponderosa pines, scrub oak, and other relatively lush flora.

Again, elevation makes a huge difference as to what can survive in the desert. Where this picture was taken, you'll find junipers and piñon pines, but several thousand feet lower (the bleak landscape in the distance) you'll be hard-pressed to find any vegetation that is more than head-high.

The bark of a Ponderosa pine, which flakes off in thin layers when encroached by fire in order to shed heat.

A rattlesnake makes lunch of this rat along the trail in Deep Creek Canyon. This was a truly mind-blowing site: the rat is about twice as wide as the snake is, yet the snake seemed determined to get it down.

Deep Creek Canyon, where if you're lucky you'll encounter a half-dozen 60 year-old nude hot spring goers, as I did.

Sunset over Lake Arrowhead, a reservoir on the north side of the San Bernardino's.

Enjoying a strawberry milkshake at the McDonalds that is located just .3 miles from where the PCT crosses Interstate 15 at Cajon Pass.

Reliable on-trail water sources along the PCT are sometimes uncomfortably far apart (up to 33 miles), so trail angels regularly stock the trail with water caches during peak thru-hiker season. There are a few caches that are mostly reliable, though often even the biggest caches (like this one) will get wiped out quickly when "the herd" of thru-hikers comes through. It is not advised that hikers rely on the caches; they should be used to top-off only.

Looking back towards Cajon Pass. Note the smog-filled clouds moving in from the left (west), from Los Angeles, and how they struggle to get up and over the San Bernardino range. A similar thing happens with rain clouds, which partly explains why Palm Desert is so exceptionally dry -- the moisture that rolls off the Pacific can't get up and over, and the moisture that does make it is unlikely to fall because the air warms on its way down and is able to retain more moisture.

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