Returning to Ruffin Canyon

My social media algorithm informed me that the Ruffin Canyon trail had a ribbon-cutting ceremony after some trail restoration, so I was eager to see what had been done to it. Ted and I had hiked it to see about including it in Urban Trails: San Diego back in 2024. We both agreed that we did not recommend it, but with this event plastered all over my feeds, I had to give the trail a second chance. Ted & I parked at the Taft Street trailhead. A condominium now stood across from the school, and several more were under construction. I decided to film this hike, so that meant stopping from time to time to set up the camera, etc. We weren’t in a rush, so it wouldn’t be an issue. The trail took us past the Bonnie Hough Natural Habitat Garden and then began its descent into the canyon. The trail appeared to be as we remembered, but the grasses near the trail had been trimmed.

Wooden stairs aided our descent from time to time, and those two green tunnel sections remained. The trail followed the cement water trough, but again clear evidence of some cleanup work. Once we reached the canyon floor, the trail alternated from dirt to small sections of river stones. Again, it seemed some work had been done here as well. Just after the junction with the Shawn Street connector, the trail left the canyon floor and followed the east side of the canyon. Here we could really see the work done on this trail, as we crossed a nice bridge over a small drainage gully, then onto a very well-graded trail. After crossing two more bridges, we chatted with a gentleman hiking up the canyon. He inquired if we had seen any foxes. I mentioned I thought I might have seen some scat, but not the foxes themselves. Apparently, somewhere on the west side of the canyon is their den, and at dawn or dusk, you can hear them. We parted ways and continued on.

From the news reports, there is apparently a tunnel under Friars Road that allows pedestrians access into this area, which is actually in a gated complex. We followed a few streets before getting on a designated walkway that did indeed lead to a tunnel. This access tunnel is only open during daylight hours. After passing through, we debated strolling over to Costco for a smoothie before hiking back up. Ted and I both agreed that, with these improvements, it probably would have made the book. We retraced our route to the junction with the Shawn Trail and decided to explore it. It was a bit rockier than the main trail for a while, but nothing awful. Once we reached its terminus, we hiked back down into the canyon to return to our car. This was a great urban trail, and I hope folks in Serra Mesa enjoy it. Our next stop was lunch in La Mesa, as I needed to test my setup for a book talk at Helix Brewery next week. I also forgot to mention that this was a birthday for me, and Duke’s Old Fashioned Onion Burgers had a sign already up! (not really for me, but hey, I’ll take 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!

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.

Exploring Morton & Cram Peaks

After not getting out over the weekend, I really wanted to spend some time on the trail. Since one of my 2026 goals was to reach the halfway point on the Lower Peaks Committee list, I decided to try to knock off two more. The drive up to the trailhead was uneventful, with just a quick stop for breakfast and gas from Costco. The gate was open on Warm Spring Truck Trail (Forest Road 1N12), so I could go up to the junction with the Morton Ridge Trail. I found a spot to park, gathered my gear, and set off. The air was cool, almost cold, from the storm that had passed through. My route took me up a well-graded road to the Morton Peak Lookout Tower. While the lookout tower is closed, a sign on it says they hope to restore it and reopen it for visitor use. Low clouds diminished some of the views, and I did not linger before setting off for my second summit of the day, Cram Peak.

This peak sits off to the west along a descending ridgeline. I found the use trail and set off. This use trail has not seen much traffic and can become a bit overgrown from time to time. The grasses were still wet, so soon my shoes and lower pants were soaked. What was either an old firebreak or an actual road would also appear as I continued hiking along. Whatever it had been, it had been modified with what could best be described as moguls, which made for a lot of zig-zagging. Soon, the peak was finally ahead of me. Some of the clouds had burned off, so I could now see some of the lightly snow-capped mountains around me. This area suffered some damage from the Line Fire back in 2024, and burnt pages from the register lay scattered about. After a few photos and a snack, I set off to begin my climb back up toward Morton Peak.

The return went fairly well. Some wildflowers were still blooming, adding some color to the scenery. My podcast kept me entertained, and before too long, I was back on the service road. Along the way down, I passed two other hikers making their way up the road. Once back at the car, I set off to find some lunch. Since I was near Redlands, I picked up some cookies from my daughter’s favorite bakery, Cookie Co., to freeze and bring with me when I visit her in late May. The entire hike was 7.5 miles, with 1,458 feet of gain, and I took 3:39.

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.

Along the Coast to Crest Trails…

I parked along Farmer Road just before sunrise. Slipping on my fleece, I set off for what I hoped to be the first of five hikes that would complete this year’s San Dieguito River Foundation’s Coast to Crest Challenge. A rooster announced the coming daylight as I made my way toward the junction with the Five Oaks Trail. I cruised along the trail, watching the sun reach out across the mountains. When the Five Oaks Trail rejoined the main trail, I turned back down to the trailhead instead of continuing onto the summit. I must admit it felt weird skipping the summit, but I had a lot of miles to cover today. The descent went quickly, and I was back at the car, ready for hike number 2, the Santa Ysabel Nature Loop.

I parked at the Visitor Center and set off along the trail. I opted to do the loop counterclockwise to get the climb over with first. Being mindful of my pace, I cruised along the loop. The hills were still green, and a small pond still held water. Once down from the ridge, I turned back toward the visitor center. Grazing cows were scattered about as I hiked along. Back at the car, I put on a dry shirt and first stopped at Don’s Market for a cold drink and then at Dudley’s Bakery for a tasty cinnamon roll before driving to San Pasqual Valley for hikes 3 & 4.

I pulled into the parking lot for the longest hike of the challenge, San Pasqual Valley to Mule Hill. The actual challenge is two hikes, but since I was trying to do this in a single day, I planned to link them. I had scouted the trail about a month earlier and knew it was almost completely flat.

I cruised along the farmlands, enjoying a podcast and the smell of fresh soil. As I neared Santa Maria Creek, I saw a sign saying the trail was closed due to herbicide spraying. Darn it! Why wasn’t this posted at the trailhead? I turned back; so much for doing all five sections in a day. While I didn’t do all of it, it was still a great day on the trail.

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.

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!

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.

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