We made it to the top and took a last look down to see how high we'd come.

Lunch at 8500 feet.

The coloring of these squirrels is amazing. Unless they're close, or moving, you can't see them.

Palm Springs and Highway 10 far below.

The pale blue area at the top of the picture is the Salton Sea, 40 miles away.

On the other side of the Tram Station is the entrance to Mount San Jacinto State Park.

Adolo's camera has a really strong optical zoom he used to capture this picture.

We took a longer 1 1/4 mile loop.

Adolfo and Liam show how large the trees are. These are Jeffrey's Pines and when you put your nose up to the bark they give off a distinctive butterscotch, vanilla scent.

A critter we met along the way.

Adolfo gets a percentage every time he appears shirtless.

The forest has a spiritual, cathedral like quality.

When I met up with Adolfo and Liam about 11:30am I thought we'd have a nice ride to the top of the mountain, see a View, take some pictures and head back down in 2 hours tops; leaving me plenty of time to stop at Matt's house, just north of Palm Springs, before heading back to San Diego. I didn't realize there was a whole forest to explore and views that took your breath away at every turn; except the butterscotch, vanilla, pine scented clear, clear air makes you want to stay there for a week just breathing.

We didn't get back down to our cars until 5:30. Matt had already headed out for a ride with his horses and I needed to head home. Thank you Matt for understanding; I think we made up for it a couple weeks later at Big Bear. Thanks to Adolfo for sharing photographs; and to Liam who, sadly, has had to return to Oz. And thanks to you, readers of my blog, for patiently waiting for updates. I plan to get back to Mount San Jacinto often, to see it in all seasons.