After climbing Denk Mountain, Ted and I made the short drive to hike up Double Peak. We opted for the shorter route from the Ridgeline trailhead instead of from Discovery Lake. When we arrived, the lot was completely full. Thankfully, two hikers had just finished, and we were able to grab their spot. The day was warming up, as the June Gloom was starting to burn off. We set off down the well-groomed trail toward the peak. Soon we came to the junction with the steep use trail to the summit and began powering our way up. I remembered this section from the last time I hiked it and could tell the difference in my fitness, as I drew close to the top.
At the top, we passed by the amphitheater and headed to the main viewing section. Some other hikers were milling about, as were some who simply drove up. After quickly taking in the views, Ted asked if there was an alternative route down, and I said yes, but it is a bit longer. We took the trail west down a steep, but much shorter section to the sidewalk. From there, we left the sidewalk and joined the trail we had been on earlier. We cruised along it until we returned back to our starting point. Skipping that descent was fine by me. This lollipop hike was 2.91 miles in 1:06 with 623 feet of gain. Better still, it gets Ted another peak closer to his 100! Since it was still early, we decided to make the short climb up Battle Mountain before lunch.
I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. In 2019, I became the third person to complete the San Diego 100 Peak Challenge. Not stopping with that accomplishment, I set my sights on the harder San Diego Sierra Club 100 Peak list, which I completed in 2021. In addition, I have conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and Arizona-Winter). Beyond attempting the San Diego Sierra Club 100 Peak list a second time, I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.