Two hikes in one: a Sierra Club group hike to three peaks near San Jacinto Peak, followed by a solo visit to the latter.
The first part of the program started by taking the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway on the first car up, then scrambling to those three peaks: Yale, Harvard, and Cornell. Some of the participants weren't that experienced or comfortable with Class 3 so it wasn't a summit-or-bust trip.
First, we attempted Yale. Two of the leaders scouted ahead and determined that trying for that summit wouldn't be appropriate for the group, so the next goal was Harvard. We got to the top of that and saw what could have been a route up Yale but there's apparently a 10' downclimb that might have required a belay and would have taken too much time. Anyway, we weren't going to go back.
Unfortunately, while getting to the Harvard summit area was just a cross-country scramble, the highest rock is protected by a step across with about a 10' drop. See the second photo below. I decided it wasn't worth the risk when I first saw it and it also looked too smooth to chimney. However, from the second-highest rock I took another look and it seemed like you could grab the top part and step across. And, in fact, that's what the only member of our party who got the higher rock did. He mentioned that the problem then was getting back. Unfortunately I didn't see how difficult that part was and in any case by that time the group was ready to move on.
The first part of the video shows the view from Harvard to Cornell.
The next peak was Cornell. Getting to the summit area was also a fairly mild scramble, but the last part involves a high Class 3 climb with small holds. And, while I didn't get far enough up to see it, the highest point is apparently Class 4 due to exposure. I went partway up the Class 3 part; two others went a little further. However, no one got the highest point.
While the Sierra Club counts summits even if you don't get to the absolute highest point, I'd feel better about claiming Cornell and Harvard if I'd got the highest points. Despite that, it was an enjoyable outing with a friendly group.
After that, because I'd already paid for the tram and because I'm training to do things like Langley and Whitney as day hikes, I set off alone for San Jacinto Peak. I've been there several times before but it was worthwhile nevertheless. That's the second part of the video. Despite a delay going up, dawdling on the summit, and having to come back at night, I was able to get back to the tram station in time for the last car down. Most of the fellow passengers work at the station, but apparently a few people spend the night there to protect it from bears and rogue hikers or something.
