Saturday on Sierra Peak

I decided to try and knock another peak off the Lower Peak Committee list by climbing Sierra Peak near Corona. The drive up went quickly; I missed my usual breakfast, as it is Passover, but the large coffee from McDonald’s still helped. I parked at the trailhead and set off and I could spy the communications towers up at the summit. The trail did not waste any time and began climbing. Various wildflowers were still present as I worked my way up. I knew from trip reports that I had some pretty steep sections ahead of me, and they were not kidding. I was not looking forward to descending these sections later.

A nice breeze helped offset the warming day, as well as keep any bugs away that might be around. After the third steep section, I spied the service road (aka Main Divide) and knew that the summit was drawing near. A mountain biker was taking a break as I reached the road. We chatted for a bit before I cruised on toward the summit. Once there, I found a spot to enjoy a snack and the views.

After snapping some photos, it was time to head back down. While the views of the inland empire were stunning (except for the almost complete lack of snow across the mountains), I needed to be very focused on my descent. Not only was it steep, but the footing at times was less than ideal. Thankfully, I survived all the sections without landing on my rear. Along the way, I did stop to photograph the various wildflowers I enjoyed on the way up. I also spotted the rusty frame of an old car I had missed before. Soon the houses came back into view, and I knew I was almost done. That was my 29th peak off the list. The hike was 6.5 miles with an elevation gain of 2,286 feet. I was up and down in 3:38.

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I am the co-author of Urban Trails: San Diego, available now!

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 both the Arizona-Winter and Arizona-Summer).

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

Morning on Manza Benchmark

Ted and I pulled off Sunrise Highway next to the trailhead. It was just before 7am, and there were only two other cars lining the road. We grabbed our gear and set off down the Sunset Trail. The destination today was Manza Benchmark. Derek mentioned that he had done some trail work recently, and it had been almost 7 years since I last hiked it. I knew that the trail had probably become overgrown during that time. We cruised along the trail, catching the sun poking out through the trees. Soon thereafter, we caught sight of Manza Benchmark off to our west, and the descent and ascent that it required.

We reached the spot to leave the trail and begin our cross-country portion of the hike. A very faint use trail led across the forest floor until it reached the drainage that we would follow. A mix of cairns, clipped brush, and bits of a use trail would guide our journey. Checking my saved route and verifying that we were right on track, we began the steep climb up to the ridgeline. We got quite the workout for those 200 feet or so of elevation. That familiar X of downed trees was still in good shape, so I knew we were now ready to turn north and push on to the summit.

Again, cairns and clippings help navigate us toward our goal. I also remembered various sections from time to time. Atop a false summit, I pointed at the true summit and we pressed on. Soon we made a short scramble up some boulders and reached the summit. I signed the register and, after some photos, enjoyed a snack along with some nice views.

Our return went very smoothly, with just a few double-checks along the way. Once back at the car, the roadsides were no longer empty. Quite a few folks were out enjoying the various trails that start off from this trailhead. Ted now has 14 peaks left to finish Derek’s list and 15 peaks to finish the San Diego Sierra Club list. Our adventure today was 4.0 miles in 2:42, with 764 feet of gain.

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I am the co-author of Urban Trails: San Diego, available now!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

Best laid plans…

Since I was ahead on my school assignments, I decided to go on a quick overnight in Barker Valley. I figured the water would still be flowing, and I could enjoy some solitude. After stopping at Kit Fox Outfitters for a new first aid kit, I drove out past Warner Springs. I turned on Palomar Divide Truck Trail and began the 8-mile drive up to the trailhead. Once at the trailhead, another car was already parked there. I did not expect to see that on a Wednesday afternoon. I tossed on my backpack and grabbed my hand clippers (I planned to do some trail maintenance on the way down), and set off. Given the recent heat waves, I kept an extra careful eye out for snakes. There have been several fatal incidents recently in Southern California, and I did not want to become a statistic. Sure enough, I did encounter a snake enjoying the warm afternoon sun on the trail. Thankfully, I spotted it well before it became an issue. I recognized it as a gopher snake and waited for it to slither back into the brush. As I continued down the trail, I kept thinking about that other backpacker and how they probably also picked this spot for some solitude. Once I reached the left turn that would take me off the ridge and descend into the valley, I decided to let them enjoy their time and began hiking back to the car. I reached out to some friends for options to which I might pivot. Maybe a small section of the PCT? Maybe Atáxam Mámta’ash Campground? The one issue I had was that I needed some more water. I had planned to filter almost all my water needs at the campsite, but I was going to need to find a faucet somewhere.

Back at the car, I tossed my gear in and drove back down. I had settled on spending the night at Atáxam Mámta’ash Campground, as that was the easiest option. I drove all the way back to Warner Springs and filled up my water bottles before turning back around to drive up to the campground. The road was nicely paved as it wound its way up from Warner Valley. I reached it just after sunset, and drove around inspecting the possible sites. Only one site was taken by a pair of smaller RVs. I found a nice site away from them with some clear level ground to pitch my tent.

I set up quickly and then turned to making dinner. I was trying another new meal, Farm to Summit’s Green Chilli Mac & Cheese. Not bad, but it does require 2 cups of water, so not one I would take if dry camping. I also brought a book I needed to read for one of my courses, and once done with dinner, I crawled into my tent and got to reading. The book is titled “Love Letter to the Earth” by Thich Nhat Hanh. I enjoyed it, as several of the book’s themes resonated with me. I then turned in for the night, with the quarter moon shining through the oaks that stood above me.

I slept fairly well, and I awoke around 6. I brewed some coffee and ate a bar. I decided to skip my oatmeal and treat myself to something from Dudley’s Bakery instead. I broke camp and tossed everything in the back of the Outback. I drove down the road, grabbing a few photos of the early morning vistas along the way. I had my second breakfast at Dudley’s and came home. While not the overnight I had initially planned, it was still a wonderful adventure, and I got to explore a new part of San Diego.

Note: Atáxam Mámta’ash Campground is closed from April 1 to May 31 for Arroyo Toad’s breeding season.

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I am the co-author of Urban Trails: San Diego, available now!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

Exploring San Pasqual Valley

In April, I hope to hike all 5 sections of this year’s Coast to Crest Challenge in a single day. I have hiked all the sections before, except for a portion in San Pasqual Valley. So, this morning’s goal was to scout this section before that attempt. I drove out to the trailhead under low clouds and parked in the empty lot. I gathered my gear, had one last drink of coffee, and set off along the trail. It passes by a collection of orchards and farmland as it works its way to the west. Quite a few benches dotted the trail, offering places to rest. Some workers were out tending the sod farm as the trail turned southward. Once it reached Bandy Canyon Road, the route again turned west.

Here, I followed the road for some time, with a portion passing the Verger Dairy and some farm workers’ homes before returning to a more protected trail. A lovely bridge crossed over the dry Santa Maria Creek. I continued on until I reached the Ysabel Creek Road Staging Area and turned back. I had hiked that portion of the trail a few years back and did not need to scout it again. I retraced my route, enjoying one of my podcasts, and soon was back at the car. It was a pleasant 5.5-mile jaunt.

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I am the co-author of Urban Trails: San Diego, available now!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

Across the Main Divide

With the heat wave still blanketing the area, I took a look at some other options during my spring break. I decided, why not make the long off-road drive along Main Divide Road near Santiago Peak, and climb some of the Lower Peak Committee summits that sit nearby? Doing this adventure on a weekday should also reduce the issue of encountering a lot of traffic on the road. I made my way up Silverado Canyon, avoiding some pretty good-sized potholes. Silverado Creek was still flowing nicely, and the hillsides were still lush and green. Soon, the road turned to dirt, and it was time to really break in my new off-road tires. The road really isn’t that bad. There were some rockier sections from time to time, but no major ruts or obstacles to be concerned about.

I reached the junction where Maple Spring Road finally meets Main Divide. Usually, I head south on Main Divide to park and climb Santiago Peak and Modejska Peak, but today my plan was to head north to climb three new peaks. From the junction, I drove about 2.4 miles north to a safe turnout and parked. This was going to be a short but steep climb to the top of Bald Peak. I followed an old firebreak up the peak where a small wooden sign denoted the summit. I enjoyed the views for a bit before carefully making my way back to the car.

I drove about another 3.1 miles to the base of Beauty Peak. Again, finding a safe spot to pull off, I grabbed just my poles and headed up another steep slope. A similar wooden sign greeted me as I reached the summit. A lizard sat on top of it, reminding me of the plastic dinosaurs along the way to San Mateo Peak. I saw that the trail continued north, and after taking a quick look, I decided to make a short loop. This was mostly to avoid descending that steep, loose section. Pleased with my choice, I was soon back at the car and ready to hit the final peak. I could feel the heat of the day rising.

I drove another 5 miles up and down along the ridge. I passed a couple of nice overlanding camp spots before reaching my final peak, Pleasant Peak. A communication relay tower complex sits next to the actual peak. I parked and crossed over the gate, and followed the road up and around toward the towers. There may or may not have been a sign at the second gate indicating No Trespassing. Pleasant Peak lies east of the communication towers, and a use trail led me to the summit. A similar summit sign stood atop this peak as well. To the north, fading snow sat on Mt. Baldy and San Gorgonino. I made my way back down, skipping the road and taking the shorter firebreak option. Once back in the car, I changed out of my sweaty hiking shirt. I am sure the temperatures were in the 90s by this time. I then made the long drive back along Main Divide, then down to the Maple Springs Trailhead. Along the way, I met a few other off-roaders making their way up. I now have 28 peaks climbed on the Lower Peaks Committee list. One of my 2026 goals is to climb 40 peaks on the list. If we can get some normal spring weather, I think I can do it.

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I am the co-author of Urban Trails: San Diego, available now!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

Early morning on Malapai Hill

With this winter heat dome over the area, my hiking options were very limited. None of my remaining desert peaks were remotely possible, so I turned to some of the other peak lists that I am working on. Out in Joshua Tree National Park, there was one small peak on the Lower Peak Committee list that I needed to climb, Malapai Hill. I had skipped it after climbing Bernard and Little Berdoo. As luck would have it, there was a campsite at Jumbo Rocks Campground for Sunday night, so I grabbed it. As I pulled into the site in the late afternoon, a light breeze was blowing and the air was warm. After quickly setting up camp, I relaxed in my chair, reading. This was my spring break after all. As the sun set, I lit a campfire and started dinner. I watched the flames dance in the fire pit. Today was also the one-year anniversary of the passing of my sister. My thoughts turned to the cherished memories I have with her. Soon, the fire grew low, and I was ready to turn in.

I woke around 6 and quickly broke camp. The plan was to climb Malapai Hill, then possibly drive down to hike the Lost Palm Oasis Trail. Turning onto Geology Road, I stopped and marveled at the sunrise, with a sliver of moon hanging above the desert. I hoped the photo turned out well. After about 7 miles on the road, I pulled into a small parking area and finished gearing up. Malapai stood off to my west, its red, rocky talus slope challenging me.

The morning glow began to fill the valley to my south with its gentle light. It was already 64°F, so I got moving. The desert floor was covered with a wide range of flowers, and their scent filled the air. As I drew near to the base of the climb, I opted to stay to the south (left) of the main talus field to make my ascent to the saddle between the summit of Malapai Hill (the north bump) and Malapai Benchmark (south bump). The climb went very quickly, and I was soon at the saddle. The final climb to the top of Malapai Hill did involve more rocky sections, reminding me of Red Hill in Anza-Borrego. The summit does not appear to have a register or anything beyond some incredible views. I then worked my way back down to the saddle and up to Malapai Benchmark. Again, nothing was found, just better views toward the south.

I returned to the saddle, then back down to the desert floor, snapping photos of some of the flowers along the way.

Once back at the car, I opted to skip Lost Palm Oasis. It was another hour’s drive, and a 7+ mile hike at a lower elevation, all of which meant a toasty one. The climb up Malapai Hill was 1.7 miles in 1:08 with 399 feet of gain. That was also my 25th LPC summit.

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I am the co-author of Urban Trails: San Diego, available now!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

Out to East Mesa High Point

With this early heat wave blanketing San Diego, I knew that I could not attempt any of my remaining peaks. So, once again, we looked over Ted’s remaining peaks and decided to knock out East Mesa High Point. A cotton-candy sky greeted us as we neared the parking lot. We paid our $10 day use fee and soon headed out. It was actually nippy and Ted opted to wear a fleece, while I went “bold” and started cold. We cruised up the Harvey Moore Trail, the sun peaking over the mountains to our east.

Unlike the last time I climbed this minor peak, I would try approaching it from the west side. We left the trail and began our climb. From the satellite imagery, I had a rough idea of where I wanted to begin working my way through the brush. I also brought some hand clippers to help trim our path to the summit. I found a fairly decent route through, and soon we were at the same spot I had declared as the summit last time. There is no register or benchmark, just some sweeping views of the east mesa.

After a few photos, we set off back down. We missed our exit route and followed another and this route turned out to be even better. So, if you are using this as a guide, look at our exit track for the easiest route. Once past the brush, we debated our options: loop around to see the Granite Springs Campground, retrace our route, or meander along some of the other trails. The latter won.

So, we hopped back on the Harvey Moore Trail and headed west until we reached the Dyer Springs Trail. This took us northward, crossing two small streams along the way. When it reached the Juaquapin Trail, we followed it to the south. Staying on it, we eventually reached the East Side Trail, which we would use to return to the car. Along the way, we crossed Juaquapin Creek, which was flowing nicely. Our loop around the East Mesa of Cuyamaca State Park was 8.0 miles in 3:38 with a total elevation gain of 1,165 feet.

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I am the co-author of Urban Trails: San Diego, available now!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

Returning to Oriflamme

We opted to try to work on knocking out one of Ted’s remaining peaks. There was just one problem – it was going to be a bit windy for all of them. In the end, we settled on Oriflamme Mountain. As we drove out and passed Santa Ysabel, the various flags flying around were straight out. We pulled into the parking area and gathered our gear. I slipped on a fleece and made sure to put a wind shell in my pack. We crossed Sunrise Highway and headed down the old Jeep road.

We cruised along, passing the rusted wreck of a truck. Maybe “Matt’s Off-Road Recovery” could remove it! I spotted the point where we would leave the road and begin the short climb to the summit. There isn’t a trail, but rather the need to use a best-guess method through the brush. For the most part, I got us to the top without any issues. It was quite breezy there, so we snapped a few photos, double checked for a register, and headed back down. We again weaved through the brush and actually exited at exactly the same point, back onto the road! We climbed back up to the car, (got to love those inverted hikes) and along the way, I outlined all my 2026 hiking goals. No surprise, I’ve got a ton!

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I am the co-author of Urban Trails: San Diego, available now!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

Chino Hills Loop

With my spring break plans in flux, and the desert still too warm for any significant peak bagging, I opted to knock out a couple of peaks on the Lower Peaks Committee list. I made the drive up to Chino Hills State Park to do a loop that would have me pass over Gilman Peak and San Juan Hill. Starting from the Rimcrest Trailhead, I began my clockwise trek heading down toward Telegraph Canyon. The morning was cool, and the plants that encroached onto the trail were still damp with the morning dew. Soon, the legs of my pants, and my shoes, were soaked.

Once I reached Telegraph Canyon, I hiked in solitude until I reached the Gilman Peak Trail. I then began the climb toward my first summit. Some wildflowers dotted the hillside, but it was mostly black mustard, which is actually an invasive plant. The summit of Gilman Peak soon came into view, and I found the California Highway Marker atop it. A snowcapped Mt. Baldy loomed to my north, making for a lovely sight. After a quick snack, I followed the North Ridge Trail for a bit before dropping back down. A shaded rest area could be seen, along with an informational kiosk. I mixed up my electrolytes before beginning the climb up out of the canyon and onto San Juan Hill.

Once on the South Ridge Trail, I made the short climb to the summit of San Juan Hill. Here I found the reference marker and the concrete summit marker from 1896. Again, I enjoyed the clear views from the summit before heading back to the car. I began passing others out enjoying the trail. Soon, I spotted the trailhead where I started, and my loop was done. This loop was 9.7 miles with a total gain of 1412 feet, and I covered it in 3:34.

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I am the co-author of Urban Trails: San Diego, available now!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

Exploring Cody & Pike Benchmarks, again

Several months ago, I arranged with Gina to be able to hike down to Palm Mesa High Point from Los Coyotes, figuring the end of February would be perfect to attempt it. Rick and Andrea were also going to join me to climb Cody & Pike Benchmarks. Well, Mother Nature had other ideas with an unseasonably hot spell. We wisely decided to cancel my attempt to summit Palm Mesa High Point, as it is an inverted hike and fully exposed. Instead, I would join Rick and Andrea on their efforts to bag Cody & Pike. We met at Gina’s lovely home, and piled into her car to drive into the deeper parts of the reservation. Wild turkeys and deer were spotted as we passed through the locked gates. We parked past the San Ignacio Cemetery, where some of her husband’s family is buried. We gathered our gear and set off down the road before dropping into the wash that would take us up to the ridge. Gina had left cairns for herself, as she does come wandering out here from time to time, we redubbed the cairns as “Ginas”.

At the saddle, with Anza-Borrego spread out before us, Gina wasn’t feeling it. She sent us off, and she was going to chill and maybe stroll over to Dry Benchmark. The rest of us opted to skip climbing Phil and Norte Benchmarks and stay true to the primary benchmarks. I led the way through the brush, roughly following the track Gina and I took several years ago. Other than the brush being a bit thicker, it was a fairly straightforward ascent. Rick might disagree, as he did opt to wear shorts. At the summit, we took a break, signed the register, and took in the views before returning to the saddle and then onto Pike.

We followed the exit track that Gina and I used to avoid climbing up past Army Benchmark (which has been delisted in Peakbagger). I got a text from Gina that she was feeling better and had wandered over to Pike and would wait for us there. I found a deer trail and used that to cut across toward Pike. The day was warming, which reinforced my decision not to try for Palm Mesa High Point. We bypassed Pike Benchmark Summit and headed directly for Pike Benchmark. It is on the San Diego Sierra Club list, while the other is not. Gina was soaking in the views as we joined her.

We ate our lunches, again marvelling in the views, while a light breeze helped keep us cool. Rick and Andrea made the short climb over to Pike Benchmark Summit. I opted to skip it as I might be headed to Arizona for some hiking over the next four days. Gina and I side-hilled around it. When we reached a small saddle, Gina realized that she lost her phone. She had taken a call from her youngest, so we had an approximate area where it might be. She doubled back, and I waited a bit to begin calling it, so that it might be heard if it was not directly visible. Thankfully, she found it. When she went to return her phone to her shoulder case, she must have missed it. Crisis averted. We reached that initial saddle, and shortly thereafter, Rick and Andrea rejoined us. We took another short break and then headed back down to the car. While I did not get the peak I was after, it was still a great day out hiking with some great friends. The final stats were 5.7 miles in 6:00 with 1,130 feet of gain/

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I am the co-author of Urban Trails: San Diego, available now!

I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

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