San Jacinto Mountain

San Jacinto Mountain or San Jacinto Peak rises about Palm Springs, California and the surrounding valley. The peak has an elevation of 10,834 at its summit. It is also the highest mountain in the San Jacinto Mountain Range. It is part of Mount San Jacinto State Park. The mountain was once commented on and painted by muralist John Muir, known for his California explorations. San Jacinto Mountain is ranked 6th among the 48 continuous states other peaks.

The prominence of this peak is at 8,319 feet, with its parent peak as Mount Whitney. The peak sets in the eastern section of Palm Springs with a border at Idyllwild. The north face is the sheerest of the entire peak with a 10,000 foot climb in seven miles. Hikers looking to challenge themselves often take the north face above Snow Creek.

The first inhabitants of the mountain were the Cahuilla Indians, who named it I a Kitch or Aya Kaich. It means Smooth Cliffs. It was also where a meteor called Dakush fell. It was not until the late 1800s that San Jacinto Mountain became important to white settlers. Today there is an emergency hut near the summit for hikers who may get caught in snow storms.