Day 11: (04/15) : to 131.6 :: 12 miles
Our hiking took us out of San Diego County today, around the 150 mile mark. We will no longer be seeing familiar scenery and mountain silhouettes that we recognize.
We got our first views of the big snowy mountains to the north, San Jacinto and further to the north, the San Bernardinos, all fresh with lots of new snow. The highlight of today was taking a side trip up Combs Peak, a trail I’ve been wanting to do for some time. The PCT goes right past the peak, so it was a great opportunity. We will pass near many peaks, but will rarely take the side trails to them! Sadly there just isn’t enough time for such luxuries, we’d never finish in a season. It would be neat to hike smaller sections and add in a lot of side trails.
View of the meadows around Lake Henshaw and the Palomar Mountain Ridge.
Lost Valley
Rocky ridge diving Lost Valley and the next Valley over
Manzanita flowers
View of a rural valley near Combs Peak
Our first unobstructed view of Mt San Jacinto and the snowy terrain to come
We took a side hike up Combs Peak, the visibility was great, could identify the mountains all the way back to El Cajon!
An impressive look at Toro Peak and Coyote Canyon below, but pictures never look as good
View toward Anza Borrego Desert and the Salton Sea.
The sky is so clear! Usually i would expect to see some smog blowing away from LA. Maybe the coronavirus is keeping enough cars off the road to give you clean air.
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