Pacific Crest Trail and Pacifico Mountain

The Pacific Crest Trail is a National Scenic Trail that runs 2,663 miles from the United States-Mexico border through California, Oregon, and Washington, where it reaches its northern terminus at the United States-Canada border. The Pacific Crest Trail is known as a challenging thru-hiking and backpacking route through some of the country’s most spectacular wilderness ranges. The trail generally follows the high route through the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges.

The PCT (an acronym that many use to refer to the Pacific Crest Trail) passes through seven national parks and 25 national forests. The PCT was designated a National Scenic Trail in 1968, but was not officially finished until 1993.

Thru-hiking, or hiking a long trail in its entirety in one season, is a popular pursuit on the Pacific Crest Trail. A PCT thru-hike is a long-term commitment that usually takes several months of plans as well as 4-6 months of hiking. Thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Crest is the topic of many books, memoirs and documentaries, including a recent best-selling memoir entitled “Wild,” written by Cheryl Strayed and promoted by Oprah Winfrey.
 Together, the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail, are known as the Triple Crown of long-distance hiking in the United States. Someone who successfully thru-hikes all three trails is known as a Triple Crowner.

Pacifico Mountain is a the most prominent peak in the northwestern San Gabriel Mountains with extensive views of the San Gabriels, Mojave and the western Transverse Ranges. It has a prominence of P1610 making it the fourth most prominent peak in the entire range. On it's granite boulder covered summit is a nice small campground. Pacifico Mountain is the most western +7000 foot summit in the range.

Take the I-210 freeway to La Canada andtake the Angeles Crest Highway (SR-2). Drive north SR-2 for 9.5 miles to a junction with Angeles Forest Highway. Turn left go 14.2 miles to Mill Creek Summit. Park here on the eastside of the highway picnic area for route one.

Route 1 Pacific Crest Trail
Cross the road to the PCT traihead and hike east for about 2.5 miles where you reach a road. Turn right and right and reconnect with the PCT and take it again to a saddle that lies .5 miles west from the summit and reaching a road. Leave the trail and hike up the slope to the summit.

Above data from the Internet.

My life in retirement has been much busier than any time in my pre-retirement past.
After long hours at the desk, I decided to join a hike with my high school alumni alpine club in Southern California.
I needed fresh air on a mountain top. It was yesterday (Saturday March 19, 2016), leaving Irvine and driving through L.A. freeways to La Canada exit from I-210, we drove on Angeles Crest Highway (CA SR-2) to the trailhead of Pacifico Mountain.
This peak, at 7,124 feet elevation, is situated on the northern part of the San Gabriel range, just north of Los Angeles.
On the way to the summit, we hiked a small part of the Pacific Crest Trail. It was the first time for me to be on the PCT.
It was 2,200 vertical feet climb and more than 10-mile trail walk.
At the summit, with tired legs, I was grateful that I was able to keep the pace with younger junior alumni.

written by the person with a wide-brimmed hat, yellow striped shirt, and kaki pants.