The Edge of the Mountains

Rising more than 10,000 feet from the valley floor to its summit, Mt. San Jacinto towers over the Coachella Valley. It is one of the most abrupt and steepest valley to peak rise in elevation found anywhere in the world.

These few pictures were taken right at the western edge of Palm Springs, where the mountain begins its steep rise to 10,805 feet. It's impossible to capture on camera this close, of course. One can hike from here to the summit, should one choose. A tram also takes passengers most of the way up year round.

This last picture was taken a few years ago and from about a mile away from the edge (actually, from my backyard). Most of the foreground is the leading edge of the mountain. Only the very top of the actual peak is visible on the far right of the picture.