We wake up relatively early in the morning and try to decide what to do. It is quite hot today, unexpectedly so given the month, so we decide to go to a higher elevation and hike the Pacific Crest Trail, a small portion of it of course. But first it is time for breakfast on our balcony with a nice view of the surrounding mountains.
We find the trailhead relatively easy and then it is on for our 12 mile hike there and back on this iconic trail. It starts as a dirt road but soon enough it becomes a narrow dirt path.
We go up and down but mostly up as we make our way to a saddle. The views are quite good and there are only a few other hikers which we enjoy.
We see quite a few birds and plants specific to this area of California with a life bird for us being the California Thrasher.
As we walk on the trail we have a good view of the many windmills in this area, the hills are full of them and there are more every time we pass through this narrow pass. The houses finches seem to like this place, there are quite a few of them around us.
As we return to the parking lot we enjoy the great views and cooler weather. This late in the afternoon there is no one else on the trail and we like the solitude as we slowly make our way back.
The moon is up in the sky now illuminating the trail with the nice backdrop of Mount San Jacinto covered by the snow in the distance.
Next we have a big surprise as we pass through an area that we skipped in the beginning when taking the dirt road. We notice a few burrows in the bank of a wash and when we take a closer look what do we see? A burrowing owl, really, really cool!!!
In the evening back in Palm Springs we eat at a restaurant that serves borscht, a rarity in the USA. It is quite good and welcome after the long hike and then it is time to go to sleep as tomorrow we have a long day ahead of us as we have to return to Phoenix.
