Day 16: campsite at mile 160-tahquiz meadow (mi 160-178)

Bird species observed: mountain chickadee, olive-sided flycatcher, pacific slope flycatcher, black-chinned sparrow, western bluebird, cliff swallow, northern flicker, dark-eyed junco, CA towhee, spotted towhee, black-headed grosbeak, Townsend's warbler, Stellar's jay, Anna's hummingbird, Unidentified woodpecker. 

A long day by all accounts. We slept in as we did not have to worry about the hot sun. It was a windy night, With a wind advisory warning of gusts to 75 mph on the ridge where we slept, but we slept well due to the placement of the tent and the use of hiking poles as additional supports. We started out in chaparral, and quickly climbed to the ridge route we would take to climb mt. San Jacinto. 

Erin and I with Mt. San Jacinto in the background. 

Landscape from the hogs back looking south. 

A western bluebird was observed roosting on the ground to avoid the high winds in the treetops above. 

Erin climbing the trail into Mt. San Jacinto Wilderness south of Apache Peak. 

 

 
 

 

We crossed through many ecotones, climbing and descending through Oak woodland and fir-dominated stands. After climbing around the summit of Apache Peak at approximately 7200 feet, the habitat type took a decidedly montane shift, as exposure angles became more extreme, ridges craggier, and the trail steeper.

Erin and I with the southern sawtooth ridge of Mt. San Jacinto in the background. 

A view of the latticed stone used to build the trail into the cliff face. 

 
 

 It is truly remarkable how much better Erin's attitude is upon leaving the desert. She really hates the desert. 

Erin and I at the top of the climb towards Saddle Junction. 

 

We climbed up to 8400 feet without having to refill water, passed through the first snows of the trail, then dropped down into tahquiz creek to refill.

First snow!

 

 We made camp just outside the meadow in that same drainage. A great horned owl welcomed us to his forest upon our dusk arrival after hiking 11 hours, 18 miles and approximately 6,000 vertical feet. A quick hearty dinner of spuds, pork and nido filled us up as we mused upon the possibility of bears. Doubtful, but unsure, we tucked everything into OPsaks and turned in for our first alpine night.

Coolest critters of the day: I always enjoy seeing Horenw lizards, but I would have to say that the coolest raiders overall are the birds. I was thrilled to be going through so many different habitat types, and seeing the good diversity of birds that occupied them. Even though the birding was poor in the morning on account of the high winds, I was still surprised to casually gather as many species as I did by the end of the day.