Asbestos Mountain

Hiked: 4/24/2020
Distance: 3.3 miles round trip on trail and cross country
Summit Elevation: 5265'
Prominence: 1265'
Elevation Gain: 1088'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 0.8
Round trip time: 2 hours 35 minutes
Recommended water: 48 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on Jeraboa Road
Difficulty: Easy

After Desert Angel, I looked at a few options in the area and settled on Asbestos Mountain. It was a short hike to an HPS peak (#257) and I thought I could complete the hike and be home early enough to pick up dinner. I drove up to highway 74, then went south toward Mountain Center. The trail starts at the end of Jeraboa Road. I stopped after the last intersection, but could have driven a bit further. I didn't mind the extra hiking.

I followed the road to the end, then tried to decide between the ridge line and a more direct approach. With no prep, I didn't know where the HPS route was or the summit. There was deep saddle along the ridge so I went more directly toward Asbestos Mountain. I didn't spot a use trail on the way to the base, but it was easy to dodge the light brush. I started up not quite sure where I was headed, pausing once to let a swarm of bees move up the mountain. After a couple hundred feet, I noticed a wide gully to the left that might offer an easier way up. I scrambled to the gully and was pleased to find a set of cairns. I had stumbled on the HPS route and followed the cairns up the gully. When it leveled off near the top, I was staring at 3 possible peaks that could be Asbestos. I broke out my phone and pulled up a trip report with a GPS track. That cleared up which peak to chase. Class 2 was required to reach the summit where several register books were stuffed inside a pair of red cans. I also found the benchmark. I enjoyed a second set of amazing views on the day. I had an easier time following the complete HPS route on the way down. I came across another swarm of bees, hovering around a hole in some rocks. I was about 100' away and was careful not to get any closer. No other people were around the entire day. From the HPS page: "Named for the large asbestos deposits in the San Jacinto Mountains that were first mined in 1888".

High point not visible at start

HPS route goes left of the large outcrop

Following cairns

Passing left of the outcrop

Approaching Asbestos summit

Scramble at the end

San Jacinto front, Gorgonio in the distance

Toro Peak

Odd "base" benchmark near the bottom of gully