Strawberry Peak

I knew the forecast was going to be hot before I left San Diego, but boy, oh boy! I arrived at the Red Box Picnic Area at just after 6 am, and the thermometer read 74°F. I gathered my things and quickly set off. This was my 5th time doing this peak, so I was very familiar with the trail. I cruised along, enjoying the shade from Mt. Lawlor. Then at Lawlor Saddle the “fun” began. I took a short break on one of the false summits for a quick snack before pushing on. I had the summit to myself, sitting on the western side for well-earned shade.

As I headed down, I finally started to encounter other hikers. Just after the first false summit, I ran into another SoCal 6-Pack of Peaks Challenger, Alfred. We chatted for a while before parting ways. Early on, I offered general encouragement to those hiking up, but as I continued on my return I became more concerned about their safety. The day was really warming up, and the section from the saddle to the summit is fully exposed to the blazing sun. Most seemed to be properly equipped, but there were some that did give me some real concern. Back at my car, I quickly turned the A/C on and drank some ice-cold water I had. The car’s thermometer read 90°F, and given how the trail felt that last 1/2 mile, I would believe it. I could not stop thinking that some of those hikers were going to have a miserable time.

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.

Bernardo Bay & Piedras Pintadas Trail Loop

Like I suspect many of this year’s Coast to Crest challengers, I linked the Bernardo Bay Trail with the Piedras Pintadas Trail to complete two of the five hikes. Under a nice cool marine layer, I set off down the paved bike path toward the north. I cruised along the trail, looking at the fog hanging up above the summit of Bernardo Mountain. Lake Hodges remains empty this far back from the dam. I wonder how long it will take to refill once the repairs to the dam are complete. As I cruised along, bunnies would scamper across the trail in front of me, and the sounds of birds filled the air. As I neared the junction with the Piedras Pintadas Trail, I passed by quite a bit of habitat rehabilitation.

Turning onto the Piedras Pintadas trail, I enjoyed the smells of the various plants as I made my way toward the waterfall. I stopped at a bench to adjust my shoes, this was their inaugural hike, then had some water and set off again. Made the short climb up the hill, and took in the vista. As I returned, two coyotes darted into the brush. Soon, I was back at the parking lot, which was now much fuller. All in all, it was a nice 5 miles to start the day.

Dry Lake

Secured another permit for an overnight adventure in the San Gorgonio Wilderness, to camp at Dry Lake. Ted Markus kindly decided to join me on this adventure. The plan was to hike up to Dry Lake, spend the night, hike up to the summit the following day, and then hike out. Initially, I was going to use my Osprey 34 Stratos as my pack, and while everything fit (included the required bear canister), it was a tight fit. So, I switched to my Osprey Atmos 65, with plenty of room for all my gear, plus this pack is a bit more padded. The Atmos 65 has a removable top section, and since I did not need it, I left it behind for this trip. Meanwhile, Ted showed up with a massively loaded pack. Pack weight would be a discussion we would have throughout the trip…

We pulled into the parking lot for the South Fork trailhead, and quickly got ready to set off. I let Ted know that after the creek crossing at the beginning of the trail, we would have a steep, but thankfully short, section to climb. Once past that part, the climb became more manageable. At Horse Meadow, we took a short break, exploring the couple of buildings that remain. From there, we continued our climb to our next stop, Poopout Hill. We slipped out of our packs and enjoyed our lunches. San Gorgonio loomed in the distance with not a cloud in the sky, which was different from my last time here. Our next planned stop was at the junction for Dry Lake and Dollar Lake. We passed a returning hiker from time to time, while I kept an eye out for the small tree I took shelter under during that thunderstorm. After thanking that little tree for its help during that downpour, we pushed on to the turnoff to Dry Lake. After a couple of small stream crossings, we found a nice log to rest upon and again slipped off our packs. I was feeling pretty good. The extra padding of the Atmos 65 was worth the slightly heavier weight over the Stratos. Next came the first real challenge of the hike—crossing the actual South Fork of the Santa Ana River. The water was flowing pretty good, and unlike the other water crossing, we had to scout around for a safe place to cross. I found a log upstream and we used it. Once across, we located the trail again and the final 1.6 or so miles to Dry Lake. Ted’s pack weight was taking its toll (and the altitude, as we were now over 8,200 feet in elevation), so we took some short breaks from time to time. Finally, Dry Lake came into view and we had reached our destination. We circled around the lake to the south side to locate a campsite for the evening. We found a nice spot where we could pitch our tents in the sandy soil.

We took a short walk over to Lodgepole Spring to filter some water and fill the CNOC for later. After dinner, we settled in for the evening. Ted was beat from all that weight he hauled, and I wanted to have a good night’s rest before setting off for the summit in the morning. As I lay in my tent, the winds began to pick up. I hoped the weight of the rocks I had placed on my tent stakes would be enough to keep the tent from collapsing. Around 10pm, a strong gust blew through, and one side of the tent came falling onto me. I climbed out of the tent, flipped on my headlamp and staked down that guideline again, adding another rock to keep it in place. After crawling back in, I lay there listening to the wind howl through the trees. We must have been having 25 mph winds. Then around 11, another very strong gust blew through, once again knocking the same stake free. Now adding a third rock, I crawled back in, resigned to the fact that I probably was only to be cat napping throughout the night. Whenever I heard the rush of wind coming, I braced that trekking pole to prevent it from pulling the stake free.

I dozed from time to time, and around 6:30 am, I crawled out in the pre-dawn light, with Ted emerging soon thereafter. He also did not have a restful night, so we both agreed to skip attempting the summit and to hike back out. After breakfast, we packed up our gear and hit the trail around 7:30. We hiked along the rest of the shoreline we had skipped on the way in. In addition to the two backpackers that arrived after we did, we spotted a few tents at some of the campsites along the northeast of the lake. A couple of those sites actually looked to have some wind shelters built from some logs. Good to know for next time. We cruised down the trail toward that challenging water crossing. Instead of the route we used the day before, I scouted downstream for an option. I found a spot that wasn’t too bad and made it across. I called for Ted to trek over to me. I also repositioned a log for him and he crossed without incident. We returned to the logs we stopped at yesterday, and shed a layer. After a snack, I mixed up some electrolytes (had some cramps overnight, so that is something I need to be mindful of in the future).

The rest of the hike back out went quickly, passing some day hikers heading out to enjoy the trail. When we stopped at Horse Meadow for a break, I called Anita to let her know that our plans had changed and I would be home much earlier. Back at the car, we dropped our packs and changed clothes. As we drove down the road, an insect flew in, landed on Ted’s neck. When he went to brush it away, it stung him! Thankfully, I had some ice in a hydro flask, so he was able to use that to ease the pain. After grabbing a hot lunch at The Oaks, we cruised back home. While I am bummed about not getting to the summit and the “joy” of the tent collapsing twice, the backpacking experience was still a great trip.

Del Dios Gorge

Invited my good friend Mark Better to join me in hiking Del Dios Gorge before work. This hike is one of the five hikes that make up the San Dieguito River Conservancy’s 2024-2025 Coast to Crest Challenge. This hike was previously included in the 2017-2018 challenge. We pulled into the parking lot and gathered our gear. I was hoping for some marine layer to cool things off for a bit, but none was to be had. As we reached the trailhead, three other hikers were just finishing up their hike. After a quick greeting, we set off.

The trail is pretty mellow, with a few small climbs along the way, and one nice bridge crossing. Mark and I caught up with each other as we made our way to Rattlesnake Viewpoint. We took a short break and took in the view of the Lake Hodges dam and then used the viewfinder to locate some points of interest. The day was warming up, and the hike has almost no shade, so we hustled back the way we came. Once back at the car, where the thermometer read just over 90°F, we enjoyed the air-conditioning as we drove home.

Little Baldy Peak

After scouting out where the Wilderness Permits were obtained, I headed over to the market to buy lunch. As I waited in the slow line, I kept looking at my watch and finally decided to postpone lunch until I had a permit in hand. One other hiker was waiting for the Ranger to arrive at 1, so we chatted to pass the time. Slowly, more folks queued up behind us and I really bailing on lunch was a good call. I scored a permit to camp at Pear Lake and was now free to explore more of Sequoia NP. I grabbed a sandwich and soda and enjoyed them under the towering trees. I drove over to my campsite and tossed my food into the bear box. Unfortunately, the site had zero shade, so grabbing a nap there was not in the cards, so I opted to drive to the Little Baldy Trailhead. This trail is just over 3 miles round trip and about 1,400 feet of gain, which was good afternoon workout to test the lungs and the legs. It was a tad warm, so I was mindful of that and I focused heavily on keeping my pace down. The trailhead starts at 7,700 feet, so I was going to feel it as I worked my way up the trail.

Once in a while I would pass a few hikers returning from the summit, but had a lot of time to reflect on life as I steadily climbed. I started to feel a bit off as I worked my way up, much like I did when hiking Mt. Pinos & Sawmill. I wonder what is triggering this? I will be keeping a close eye on it when I hike out to Pear Lake. I took a few breaks, partly to begin to build better backpacking habits, but also to let my stomach settle. After about a mile, the trail eased up and cruised over to the summit. From there I was rewarded with some 360-degree views! After finding the benchmark, I hopped over the summit to sit in some shade for a bit before making my way down.

Heading down went quickly. Two other groups of hikers were making their way up as the sunset must really be something from the top. I felt pretty good as I hiked down. I did encounter a grouse on the trail—I don’t think I have ever seen one in the wild. Back at the car I headed back towards Lodgepole, making a stop at the market for a Gatorade and another soda, before heading to my actual campsite and began setting up for the night. Hopefully, a good night’s sleep would have me ready for the challenge of tomorrow.

Postscript

As the moon rose later that evening, it had an orange glow, not a good sign. When I awoke, I wasn’t sure if the smoke I smelled was from campfires from those at the campground or also from the fire. I checked with the Ranger before heading to the trailhead. He said the air quality was about 90 and 160 over at the museum! I drove to the General Sherman Tree and decided to hike down to it, to get a sense of what I might be hiking in. The air was smokey, and you could feel it in your throat. That pretty much sealed the deal, I was bailing. After a long drive home, I checked the estimated AQ at Pear Lake, where I would have spent the night, the reading was 142.

Moro Rock

After spending the night in Bakersfield, I drove up to Sequoia National Park to spend the day getting in some mild hikes to acclimate to the higher altitude before I set off on my overnight trip to Peak Lake (assuming I got a last-minute permit). I pulled into the parking lot across from the Giant Forest Museum. I grabbed my small daypack and got the shuttle bus to Moro Rock. I had climbed this landmark many times, but never as someone who would be writing a trip report. While I could have driven to the trailhead, I was actually wanting to hike the Moro Rock Trail back to the Giant Forest Museum.

I kept my poles in my pack as I made my way up the stone steps, pausing from time to time to allow folks returning to pass. Off to the south, the smoke from the Coffee Pot Fire rose up until it reached an inversion layer and spread out. I was not directly worried about the fire but I was keeping an eye on the air quality.

At the summit, I took in the views I had been seeing since I was a small boy. This was the park where we would bring visitors to showcase some of California’s grandeur. I needed to be mindful of the time, as I had to be at the Lodgepole Ranger Station before 1 pm to try to get a walk-up permit.

I cruised back down from the summit and crossed the road to take the Moro Rock Trail back. After a short climb, the trail cruised along. At the Hanging Rock junction, I took it to see the rock and the views from it. It provided a nice view looking back at Moro Rock. After chatting with a family from Denmark, I scampered down and resumed my hike. A few folks passed from time to time, but a lot of peaceful solitude was had. After passing through a burn area, I found myself at the Museum. I tossed my gear in and headed down the road to the Lodgepole Ranger Station.

Stormy San Gorgonio

I scanned the skies as I shouldered my pack on my back. There were some possible rain clouds forming over the mountains around me, but the forecast from NOAA had the chance at about 30%, so I decided to set off for my overnight trip up San Gorgonio. I crossed the road and onto the trail to begin my 6-mile hike up to Dry Lake. The area burned back in 2015 in the Lake Fire, so the landscape is a mix of new undergrowth and burned trees waiting to fall.

I reached Horse Meadow Camp and made a quick stop to explore a bit, but I knew those clouds around me might become an issue so I pressed on. At the junction for Poopout Hill, a group of young backpackers and their chaperone were taking a break. I chatted with them briefly to learn they were aiming to camp at Dollar Lake. I made the short detour to Poopout Hill, took a break, and enjoyed my PB&J for lunch. Off in the distance, I could see the summit of San Gorgonio. I waited for the group to set off before returning to the main trail. After a bit I felt a few drops of rain starting to fall, so I slipped on my pack cover and had my jacket ready. Pressing on, I knew I was starting to get close to the junction where the trail splits, with the left fork up to Dry Lake, and the right fork onto Dollar Lake. Then, as the rains started to pour, I quickly slipped on my rain jacket and spied a small tree to huddle under to offer maybe just a bit more protection. Thunder began to echo across the mountain and the rains continued. Then a flash of lightning darted across the skies, followed by hail! I had leap-frogged those young backpackers, and they came trundling past. One of them was using their tent’s rainfly as a poncho. I was fine huddling here, hoping the rain showers would be brief. After about 20 minutes or so, and no sign of it letting up, I broke open my bivy to act as my additional layer of protection. I wasn’t 100% certain that my jacket was actually water-proof and was feeling a bit damp. I sat there for about an hour, listening to the storm continue on. When it finally eased, I grabbed my pack and headed back down the mountain. As I made my way down, parts of the trail had now filled with water. Since my shoes were already soaked, I just pushed on through.

Along the way, I passed several hikers making their way up. I think they either hung out at Horse Camp while the storm did its thing or, as one backpacker told me, stayed in the car. When I reached Horse Camp, I had a cell signal and called my wife to let her know about the change of plans, and while I was on the phone, another rain shower passed over me. This time I was safely under the cabin’s roof. After the rain stopped, I hiked the last mile to the car, looking forward to getting out of my wet clothes. As I drove home, I felt very confident that I made the right call to turn back. This trip was just one of mistiming. If I had started later or earlier I could have probably avoided the thunderstorm and had a great trip, but I didn’t. Hopefully, the next time I try backpacking San Gorgonio, the weather will be in my favor…

Sawmill & Mt. Pinos

I spent the night at Mt. Pinos campground enjoying some clear skies and good company with a good friend from college.

After breakfast, we made the short drive to the trailhead for our planned hike to Sawmill. Unfortunately, my breakfast wasn’t sitting well, so I kept a more relaxed pace to see if things might settle themselves. The hike up to Mt. Pinos is pretty mellow, so I knew I had some time to see if my stomach calmed down. We reached the summit without any other incidents and snapped some photos. The summit sign was MIA, but no biggie.

We continued on to the Mount Pinos Condor Observation Site and I sat for a bit. An incident radio station had been set up to assist the firefighters battling the Apache fire to our west. Neither Ted nor I saw any smoke from it. I was feeling better and we began our descent to the saddle between Mt. Pinos and Sawmill. Having done this peak several times, I was comfortable with continuing.

We worked our way up to the summit of Sawmill and had a nice long rest. The smoke from the Borel fire, east of Bakersfield, was clearly visible (later in the day, it may have triggered a pyrocumulus). After chatting with another 6 Pack of Peaks challenger, we set back. While I was better, I was not at 100%, so we took a few breaks along the return. The trail had become more active as the day wore on.

Back at the car, we calculated making the 7.3 miles with a moving time of 3:12. We drove back down the mountain to grab some deli sandwiches for lunch and some more firewood for my campfire later that night. Ted had commitments Sunday morning, so he packed up his tent and headed home. I spent the afternoon relaxing under the pine trees, researching new adventures. I woke again to the first light of the sun, packed up and cruised on home.

Cuyamaca Peak

With the region under a heat advisory, I knew that any serious hiking would require a very early start. I arrived at the Los Vaqueros Trailhead just after 5:15 am, and the parking area was already quite full. It appears that I would once again be hiking Cuyamaca Peak during a trail run. After gathering my gear, I crossed the road. Off near the horse staging area, several large white tents were set up, and quite a few cars were parked along that road as well. This might have been more than just a training run. (Narrator: He was right, it was an actual race). I cruised along Milk Ranch Road, and orange flags denoted the route the runners would be taking. Their route had them using the Middle Peak Fire Road, so it seemed I would have this first mile or so to myself. I stopped a few times to photograph the sunrise.

I hopped on to Azalea Springs Fire Road to connect with the Conejos Trail. The runners would be following the same route to the summit as I was taking, but so far I hadn’t encountered a single one. There were some bugs so I slipped on my bug net. I figured it would be good practice to get comfortable wearing it before some of my upcoming backpacking trips. The miles slipped by, and as I neared the junction with the service road, a pair of race photographers were camped out, ready to capture the runners as they came past. At the junction, I chatted briefly with a race volunteer, who gave me the 411 on the race. There were three races; a 50K, a marathon, and a 1/2 marathon. As I plodded up the service road, runners finally started to appear. Some racers lightly jogged up the 15-20% grade toward the summit, while others fast-walked it. As I neared the summit, I could hear the sounds of cowbells clanging and music thumping. The end of the service road was set up as a check-in point, complete with an aid station for the runners. I gave the volunteers a wave and followed the use trail to the summit proper.

I sat at the summit enjoying my snacks and the view for a bit, but the constant noise from the race did not lend itself to allowing a restful time on the peak. I headed back down along the fire road. Once past the junction with Conejos Trail and the Burnt Pine Connector Trail, I left the race behind for a while. Along the way, I did meet two hikers working their way up the road. We chatted a bit before heading our separate ways. I hopped back on the Azalea Springs Fire Road, glad to be off the warm asphalt of the service road. Once back on Milk Ranch Road, I strolled along, feeling the warmth of the day increase. A runner raced past, which was odd, as the route had them taking the side trail up to Middle Peak, then down its service road. She was too far gone before I had a chance to tell her she missed a turn. I guess when her tracker is short by 2 miles, she might figure out her mistake. Back at the car, I changed and enjoyed some well-earned cold water. As I drove away, I checked the temperature and it was already 84°F! As much as waking up at 4 AM, sucked, beating the heat and knocking out another peak was worth it. Did the 8.6 miles in 3:45, so I was pretty happy with the day’s hike. This is probably my last peak on the San Diego Six Pack of Peaks list until the weather cools in the fall.

Volcan Mountain

Since I needed to hike Volcan Mountain for this year’s Six Pack of Peaks Challenge, I invited Becca Barr and her son, Daniel along for the hike. Both are fairly new to hiking, so this was a perfect hike to test their hiking legs out. They needed to be back in town around noon-ish, so we had an early start to the day. I drove out to the trailhead, and there were just a couple of cars parked along Farmers Road. We gathered our gear and set off. After a quick pit-stop at the port-a-potty, we began our hike in earnest. I spied a new sign that had been posted about the Coast to Crest trail, which was very welcomed. I followed my standard route of taking the 5 Oaks trail up, and service road back. We took a few short breaks along the way, just to make sure everyone was feeling good. We stop at the ruins of the cabin, and the nearby overlooks, before reaching the summit.

After a quick snack, we took our photos at the benchmark. Gazing out across Anza-Borrego, I pointed out the various peaks and other sights. But since we had to be mindful of the time, we began our descent. We passed quite a few folks working their way up to the summit. Once back in the car, we motored home so they could clean up and make the show. It was nice to serve as a hiking guide for some new hikers. Hopefully, I can show them some more great trails around San Diego soon.