Cactus to Clouds Hike

[FCT]

Figured I’d post up a review since there is a few on here that enjoy self torture as well.

For those of you that don’t know it’s a hike that starts from the art museum in downtown Palm Springs and you hike all the way to San Jacinto Peak which is at 10,834’. It’s about 10,400 of elevation gain and 20.53 miles.

I started my hike Solo yesterday at about 1am. Because of the heat you start early in the morning so by the time the sun comes up your already at elevation where it’s cooler. This hike was Brutal! I have screws in both ankles and don’t have the best range of motion so hiking uphill is extra difficult for me because I pretty much have to do it all on my tippy toes when it’s steep. The trails were extremely rocky and a lot of the trail wasn’t much of a trail at all and you had to use your navigation to stay on track. The first few hours were a little eerie being out on the trails all alone in the middle of the night but it was awesome. I didn’t see a single sole until I reached 8400’ where the tram is. After that I saw a handful of people and the trails from there are maintained and well marked all the way to the peak.

It was bad ass and definitely one hell of an adventure. I’ve climbed 10k feet on a bicycle but doing it on my feet was a whole other animal. If any of you are interested in doing it I’d be more then happy to help you out with logistics and what to bring as far as food, supplies, and liquids.


Hope everyone has a awesome weekend and get out and challenge yourself

 

[Singleton]

Great job,
Wife and I did top of tram to peak last year. I am not crazy enough to do cactus to clouds

 

[monkeyswrench]

The pic of daybreak is amazing. There's something kind of spiritual or magic being on the eastern face, seeing the light break over the horizon.
Congratulations on the success of an epic journey!

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

Awesome! How long did it take to the peak, and how long round trip? Did you take the tram down?

 

[FCT]

Awesome! How long did it take to the peak, and how long round trip? Did you take the tram down?

I posted up my Strava and it shows my moving time was like 10.5 hrs. My total time was about 13hrs with my breaks and I re filled my water bladder at the ranger station at long valley on the way up. I did take the tram back down and took a Lyft back to my car where I parked at agua caliente casino Palm Springs.

 

[FCT]

Great job,
Wife and I did top of tram to peak last year. I am not crazy enough to do cactus to clouds

Thanks and That 12 miles was still hard because I was already tired . That first 8400’ is demoralizing lol

 

[FCT]

The pic of daybreak is amazing. There's something kind of spiritual or magic being on the eastern face, seeing the light break over the horizon.
Congratulations on the success of an epic journey!

Thank you!

It was bad ass watching that sunrise no doubt!

 

[DarkJuJu]

Shoot I give myself a pat on the back after a 9-mile hike with only an ~900' elevation gain (my feet and ankles hated me), I cant imagine 20miles and 10k, wish I was younger awesome accomplishment!

 

[HgH Vltg]

These guys talking about 20mi, 9mi. I’m 35, and I’m out if it’s a 2mi hike haha.

Props to the original poster. That’s an insane undertaking. Quite an accomplishment.

 

[hboutlaw]

Fantastic adventure and thanks for sharing. Curious about the screws in ankles. I'm about to have an ankle fused and would appreciate any feedback you can share... procedure, doctor, recovery.

 

[TrollerDave]

That’s AWESOME!! Too much for me, so thanks for posting pics. Great job.

 

[FCT]

Fantastic adventure and thanks for sharing. Curious about the screws in ankles. I'm about to have an ankle fused and would appreciate any feedback you can share... procedure, doctor, recovery.

I broke the Talus in both ankles at the same time. Had 5 screws put in my left and 2 in the right. It was back in 2008. I was living in Brazil racing MX and had my surgery down there at Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo. I had a top notch doctor thank god because the talus is a very bad bone to break. My recovery was brutal but thankfully I was in great hands and was very well taken care of. Dr. Alexander in Murrieta will be taking my screws out sometime this year, I can’t take it anymore. He has done a number of surgeries on me already and has done a good job. Where are you located?

 

[mjc]

My son in law has done it a few times, me I haven't done San Jacinto since boy scouts.

 

[DrunkenSailor]

Congrats! Thats awesome thanks for sharing the pics. What boots do you have? I just picked up a pair of new oboz that I really like. We are doing Whitney next month.

Any altitude sickness? What did you bring with you food water wise?

 

[hboutlaw]

I broke the Talus in both ankles at the same time. Had 5 screws put in my left and 2 in the right. It was back in 2008. I was living in Brazil racing MX and had my surgery down there at Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo. I had a top notch doctor thank god because the talus is a very bad bone to break. My recovery was brutal but thankfully I was in great hands and was very well taken care of. Dr. Alexander in Murrieta will be taking my screws out sometime this year, I can’t take it anymore. He has done a number of surgeries on me already and has done a good job. Where are you located?

I live in Huntington Beach

 

[rivermobster]

10k ft of elevation gain...

That like 500ft per mile, which doesn't sound bad. Until you calculate their can't be ANY flat going during that entire hike, then it sounds Brutal!!!

13 hours???

You have my total respect. Killer accomplishment.

: bowdown:

 

[Singleton]

Congrats! Thats awesome thanks for sharing the pics. What boots do you have? I just picked up a pair of new oboz that I really like. We are doing Whitney next month.

Any altitude sickness? What did you bring with you food water wise?

My wife hikes a ton. Currently on the PCT in Big Bear doing 30 miles with our daughter.
When we do long day hikes (over 15m), she packs hydration packs, that we mix with water.
Fold is beef jerky, trail mix (no chocolate) then dried fruit for the natural sugar. Also cheese and salami for lunch.

 

[Singleton]

10k ft of elevation gain...

That like 500ft per mile, which doesn't sound bad. Until you calculate their can't be ANY flat going during that entire hike, then it sounds Brutal!!!

13 hours???

You have my total respect. Killer accomplishment.

: bowdown:

One section from the Tram to Peak, you climb over 1k feet in under a mile. it is right before Wellman Divide after you leave viewpoint camp

 

[rivermobster]

One section from the Tram to Peak, you climb over 1k feet in under a mile. it is right before Wellman Divide after you leave viewpoint camp

There was a trail called Garcia trail (gone now) by my house. It was Exactly 1k ft in one mile. No big deal. It was my beginner trail.

But 20 miles of non stop incline???

Brutal doesn't even describe that!

I take it You've done this trail too??

 

[FCT]

Congrats! Thats awesome thanks for sharing the pics. What boots do you have? I just picked up a pair of new oboz that I really like. We are doing Whitney next month.

Any altitude sickness? What did you bring with you food water wise?

I have Danner Trail 2650 shoes. They are awesome. Very comfortable and I have never got blisters with them. I didn’t get any altitude sickness at all. It has never bothered me. Anytime I do anything at altitude I just literally sleep like a rock when I’m done.

I brought 3 liters of water in my bladder. I mixed up 2 bottles of electrolytes with Hammers product Heed. 2 more bottles of Hammers Perpetuem for a carbohydrate drink. Total of 5 liters. Refilled my 3 liter bladder at the ranger station at 8400’ at the tram. Went through all 8 liters by the time I was done.

Food wise I had a Gel every 45 minutes. On top of that I had a PBJ sandwich, 6 hard boiled eggs, 6 clif bars, 6 apple sauce packs throughout the duration of the climb.

 

[FCT]

There was a trail called Garcia trail (gone now) by my house. It was Exactly 1k ft in one mile. No big deal. It was my beginner trail.

But 20 miles of non stop incline???

Brutal doesn't even describe that!

I take it You've done this trail too??

The first 8000’ of climbing are in the first 9 miles which is brutal.

 

[Desert Whaler]

That's 'Stud Staus' right there.
I did the 'Chilkoot Trail' in Alaska, but that's peanuts compared to your climb.
Mad Respect.

 

[rivermobster]

That's 'Stud Staus' right there.
I did the 'Chilkoot Trail' in Alaska, but that's peanuts compared to your climb.
Mad Respect.

Ive done Half Dome. Twice.

It's nothing compared to this!!

Mad respect indeed.

 

[Desert Whaler]

Ive done Half Dome. Twice.

It's nothing compared to this!!

Mad respect indeed.

Chilkoot was cool . . . I think it was 33 miles to the top . . . but we took 4-5 days.
The cool part is taking the narrow gauge train ride from Bennett down through White Pass in the Yukon and down to Skagway for the return trip.
Damn . . . never had a burger and beer taste so good after that trip ! LOL

 

[rivermobster]

Chilkoot was cool . . . I think it was 33 miles to the top . . . but we took 4-5 days.
The cool part is taking the narrow gauge train ride from Bennett down through White Pass in the Yukon and down to Skagway for the return trip.
Damn . . . never had a burger and beer taste so good after that trip ! LOL

I know that feeling Quite well.

 

[stephenkatsea]

That's impressive! Once camped next to guys at Whitney Portal who climbed Mt Whitney and back in one day. Their climb started at about 3am, they got back to their Portal camp about 9pm and had a beer with us.

 

[DrunkenSailor]

That's impressive! Once camped next to guys at Whitney Portal who climbed Mt Whitney and back in one day. Their climb started at about 3am, they got back to their Portal camp about 9pm and had a beer with us.

Doing this in two weeks. Hope I don't die lol.

 

[Danger Dave]

You burned 5492 calories in one activity. That's like the average daily caloric intake for most posters here.

 

[stephenkatsea]

Doing this in two weeks. Hope I don't die lol.

Those guys were very fit and experienced. They'd done numerous other climbs. I spoke to them about Meysan Lakes, which they'd passed as they climbed up Whitney. Those Lakes are named after my Dad's family who'd settled Lone Pine back in the 1800s. You'll see them during your climb.

 

[FCT]

That's impressive! Once camped next to guys at Whitney Portal who climbed Mt Whitney and back in one day. Their climb started at about 3am, they got back to their Portal camp about 9pm and had a beer with us.

That’s rad and is one of the next ones I want to day hike. I have a few buddy’s that did it last year and had a blast.

 

[FCT]

Doing this in two weeks. Hope I don't die lol.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[rivermobster]

That's impressive! Once camped next to guys at Whitney Portal who climbed Mt Whitney and back in one day. Their climb started at about 3am, they got back to their Portal camp about 9pm and had a beer with us.

A lot of people will head up to Half Dome after dark, so they can watch the sunrise from up there.

People checking for permits seem to be be MIA after dark as well...

At least that's how it way back then.

 

[FCT]

A lot of people will head up to Half Dome after dark, so they can watch the sunrise from up there.

People checking for permits seem to be be MIA after dark as well...

At least that's how it way back then.

I wonder what that fine is If you can’t get one the fine might just be worth it

 

[rivermobster]

I wonder what that fine is If you can’t get one the fine might just be worth it

I'm pretty sure they just eject you?

I've done a bit hiking in Yosemite. Been checked for permits a couple of times.

We came down HD late one time. The ranger at the bottom was gone.

 

[stephenkatsea]

FCT, your original post was outstanding. An amazing feat, for sure. Hell, I can feel the elevation change when we drive over to Williams from LHC!

 

[stephenkatsea]

Doing this in two weeks. Hope I don't die lol.

As you drive up to Whitney Portal, check out that huge home on the left past the Cuff Ranch. Looks like it belongs in the Havasu Foothill Estates. Looks very out of place. Was told it's belongs to the family who owns the Dow Villa down in Lone Pine. Sure hope it's not the start of a trend. Would assume most of that land, Alabama Hills etc, is BLM property. Had an uncle who lived on Tuttle Creek Rd in the middle of the Alabama Hills. When he and my aunt passed they came in and bulldozed everything down. Turned out, all those years he'd been squatting on BLM land. We had no idea.

 

[FCT]

FCT, your original post was outstanding. An amazing feat, for sure. Hell, I can feel the elevation change when we drive over to Williams from LHC!

Thank you! Just want to share so hopefully anyone thinking about it gives it a shot. Hell if anyone isn’t sure I’ll tag along again for a good time

 

[sintax]

Woah man!

Glad to see you did it! Super stoked for you, that’s prob the most brutal day hike in SoCal.

PS. I don’t hate myself THAT much

 

[HB2Havasu]

I’ve done the return hike from Havasupai in the Grand Canyon which I thought was sheer masochism. (Hike 8 miles thru a powder sand wash and then climb 2200’ feet over 2 miles of switchbacks to the top). But this Cactus to Clouds Hike sounds like 13 hours of pure unadulterated Hell. Good Job - That’s a puff your chest out moment!!!!