Category: Backpacking

Conquering Mt. Whitney

Between semesters, I secured a permit that let me start at Cottonwood Pass/Horseshoe Meadows and exit via Whitney Portal. As the start date began to draw near, I turned my attention to the forecast. Unfortunately, the forecast for the first couple of days didn’t look good and was trending in the wrong direction. My plan was to leave San Diego early in the morning, drive to Lone Pine, park at the long-term parking lot that is run by the Chamber of Commerce, grab a sandwich, then take a shuttle up to Horseshoe Meadows. However, that would have meant starting my hike just as the predicted weather began to unfold. Hiking up and over a mountain pass is the last thing I wanted to do. I kept checking the forecast and talking with friends who have more backpacking experience. I know afternoon showers/thunderstorms are common in the Sierra in the summer, but this was more than I wanted to deal with. So I canceled the permit. However, another permit became available for Friday! I hopped on it as fast as I could. I made one small change: I added an overnight at Outpost Camp, just in case I needed to stop before I reached Whitney Portal. The rest of the trip remained the same.

Day 1: Horseshoe Meadows to Chickenspring Lake

I tossed my backpack and a change of fresh clothes for after into the car and set off in the pre-dawn toward Lone Pine. After a gas stop at Costco and breakfast from McDonald’s, I had little traffic as I drove northward. After picking up a sandwich from Jersey Mike’s, I then stopped at the Chamber of Commerce to pay my parking fee ($5/day). I met my shuttle driver next door at Elevation. If you’re looking to hire, text Daniel at 970-291-3980. We made the 40-minute drive up to Horseshoe Meadows. His partner, Daphne, is a photographer in Lone Pine with an amazing eye. We could see the effects of the rainstorm by the streaks of dirt running across the road. At the trailhead, I found a picnic bench to have my lunch. A couple from the Netherlands came over and asked if I was planning to use this site. I told them I was just borrowing the table, and they were free to start setting up their tent. We chatted a bit about our upcoming hikes. They were doing a section of the John Muir Trail (JMT). After I finished lunch, I bid them good luck and wandered over to the actual trailhead. I had backpacked up to Chickenspring Lake before, so I knew what the 4.5 miles had in store for me.

I cruised past the meadow, then over the creek before really starting to make my climb up Cottonwood Pass. I could tell the difference in my ability between my previous time and this one. Once at the pass, I took a break and soaked in the views to the east. I was now hiking northbound on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) toward Chickenspring Lake. Once there, I scouted a few campsites before finding one I liked. The forecast did have 10-15 mph winds, so I wanted something with some shelter. I even brought my REI QuarterDome tent to handle it better. As the sun began to sink, I ate my Chicken Tikka Masala from Bowl and Kettle while enjoying the view of the lake. I settled in for the evening, enjoying a chapter in my audiobook.

Day 2: Chickenspring Lake to Rock Creek

I woke around dawn and had my oatmeal and some hot coffee. Thankfully, the wind stopped at sunset and the entire night was peaceful. I broke camp and set off toward Rock Creek. The trail first climbed a bit, but it offered nice views of the lake, and I could easily see the campsites on the west side. For the next 9 or so miles, I mostly descended. One section was a bit sandy, but the recent rains made it a tad less loose.

 I took a short break for some snacks and electrolytes at about the 4-mile mark. Along the way, I could see various campsites that PCTers probably use. The challenge for me was that there was no water between Chickenspring Lake and Rock Creek, so I had almost 3 liters on me.

From time to time, I would meet some southbound PCTers (SOBOs). Some were section hiking, while others had started at the Canadian border. As the miles ticked away, I started to feel the effects of the day. I walked into Rock Creek, found a shady site, and made camp. I found a nice spot to have lunch, listening to the creek flow by. I was a bit concerned about my legs. This was also how I felt last year up here. Rock Creek was also my Go/No-Go point. If I continued, I was committed to hiking at least to Trail Junction, as I didn’t have enough food to turn back from Guitar Lake. A ranger station was here, and it was staffed. The ranger came by and checked my permit. We chatted about my situation, and he suggested that I try hiking up Guyot Pass in the morning. It is just under a mile, and I would probably know how my legs were doing. If they felt good, continue on. If not, he said to turn back and head to Soldier Lake instead of Chickenspring Lake. All the sites are on a peninsula, and it is closer as well. He also said I might be able to try for Mt. Langley instead. That gave me some solid options and lifted my spirits. I chatted with two hikers from the Czech Republic who were starting the JMT, and a gentleman from LA who was also doing the same route as me. I ate my dinner, stored some things in the bear locker, and drifted off to sleep.

Day 3: Rock Creek to Guitar Lake

I woke the next morning feeling pretty good, so I knew that I had just not drunk or eaten enough the day before. Since I was mostly descending, I incorrectly took it too lightly, forgetting the altitude and heavy pack. Another adjustment I made was to turn on announcements from my tracker to help keep me at a measured pace.

I crossed the creek without incident. Videos I watched from early-season PCTers showed them making a traditional water crossing. The trail wastes no time in beginning its climb. Thankfully, this trail is stock-graded, so it never became too bad. At the pass, I took a break and knew my journey would continue toward Mt. Whitney. However, I want to look at Soldier Lake for a future trip.

Today’s hike would have me steadily climbing first toward Crabtree Meadow, then onto Guitar Lake. More SOBOs passed me as I hiked along. I started to feel a bit off as I drew near Crabtree Meadow. I finally pulled out my phone to see how much farther I had to go, or whether I had my lunch here. I was close enough, so I pushed on and promised myself a longer break.

Before I made my lunch, I started filtering water. Unlike the day before, I had much more access to water and carried less today. But I wanted to make sure I stayed hydrated, and I was getting higher and higher, so I needed to keep drinking. I sat by a bear locker and ate my lunch under the shade of a tree. After lunch, I stashed my pack in the locker and used the “famous” Crabtree toilet.

Now my path would transition from the PCT onto the JMT. I had another 3 miles to reach Guitar Lake, my destination for the night. What’s interesting is that PCT hikers have to camp here, while JMT hikers or permit holders like me are allowed to continue. I also started to feel more of the altitude as I left the tree line behind. As I stared eastward, I began to see what tomorrow’s challenge looked like. I didn’t want to camp at Guitar Lake proper, but about 1/2 mile farther was a small tarn where I hoped to find a camp spot and water. As I reached it, I found an incredible spot and the tarn still held plenty of water. To my east stood Mt. Whitney. The reality of tomorrow’s hike was staring me in my face. A few others camped nearby, and I joined them for dinner with my Crawfish Etouffée, again from Bowl and Kettle, and chatted about our plans for the next day. I had decided I wasn’t going for a sunrise summit. Instead, I wanted to see the basin in the morning light and not worry about hiking the rocky trail under my headlamp. They said they were going to try for sunrise and would try to be quiet. I let them know I am partially hearing impaired, so no worries. Some clouds had drifted in, so I decided not to even try for any astrophotography.

Day 4: Mt. Whitney

I did hear them a bit, and the flash of headlamps passing by disturbed me, but I drifted back to sleep. I still wanted an early start, and my alarm went off at 4. I ate some oatmeal, filtered more water, and packed up. Like day 2, most of today’s hike would be dry, so I had a full water load on my back. While I was finishing filtering my last liter, I forgot to adjust the filter, and it was flowing extremely slowly. I opted to just strap the CNOC bag to the top of my pack and worry about it later. I glanced east and saw the glow of headlamps making their way toward the summit. In a few hours I hoped to be following in their footsteps.

Today’s hike could be broken into three parts: the 2.5 mile climb to Trail Junction, the 1.9 miles to the summit (and the 1.9 back to Trail Junction), and finally the long descent to Whitney Portal. Unlike my friends Rick and Andrea, who inspired this route for me, they didn’t exit via the portal; they hiked all the way back to Horseshoe Meadow. That meant they were going to leave all their backpacking items at Guitar Lake. Since I was going up and over, my pack was full. My plan was to pull out my pack liner and any gear I didn’t need for the summit push and leave it at Trail Junction. This is a very common practice. I adjusted my packing order to make this process easier.

The morning was cold, and a bit of a breeze blew as I set off under my headlamp. I wore a thermal layer under my pants, a beanie, a base layer, a fleece, and my puffy. I tucked away my regular sun gloves and wore full gloves to keep my fingers warm. The trail quickly started climbing, and I soon tucked the puffy into my pack. Water flowed on the trail in several sections, but was never deep enough to soak my shoes or socks.

Thankfully, the trail eased, and my anxiety did as well. Daylight began to spread across the basin, and I turned my headlamp off and stowed it. The clouds were a pink cotton candy, while the mountains had the alpenglow. The trail kept climbing; switchbacks carried me ever closer to my first milestone.

At Trail Junction, packs were scattered along the trail. I found a spot and pulled out my liner. I took a short break, but wanted to keep moving toward the summit. My pack felt almost weightless on my back. All I carried was my filtered water, snacks, and my safety gear.

As I made my way northward, the views to my west were stunning. I could see the tarn where I camped, as well as Guitar Lake. The trail to the summit was rocky, and I had to watch myself as I slowly pushed on. I met the folks I had dinner with on their descent. Soon I came to the windows, gaps between the needles. These sections are very exposed. Thankfully, the wind was light, and I had no issues crossing them. But I certainly could see where this could pose a problem for some. This was also the first time I could really see the eastern side. Way below me was Trail Camp, Consultation Lake, and the rest of my exit route. But no time to focus on that; I still had a summit to achieve.

Soon, I left the needles behind and headed onto the slope that would lead me to my destination. Before long, the Smithsonian Hut came into view, and I knew I had made it! I stopped in the hut for a moment, then went out onto the summit edge. I slipped off my pack and soaked in the view. I was now standing on the highest point in the lower 48! A few others were here, and I got my photo holding one of the metal signs.

I inspected the various benchmarks before settling down for a snack. It was a bit surreal to be here. The weather was almost perfect, just a light breeze, cool but not cold, and hardly a cloud in the sky. After about 45 minutes, I decided to head down, as I still had a long descent ahead of me. I signed the register and said my goodbyes. I thought of my sister and wished I could have shared this with her; her memorial patch would have to do.

Now it was my turn to step aside as hikers made their way up. Once back at Trail Junction, I repacked and had another snack. I still had enough water, and in a couple of miles access to more, so I dumped the liter of dirty water I had carried up. Unfortunately, leaving Trail Junction had a short climb to Trail Crest. Did this section hurt! After carrying a light pack for the past few hours, all that weight felt like it magically doubled. Thankfully, the Trail Crest sign came into view and marked the end of this torture. I was also entering the “Whitney Zone”. This is a section of Inyo Forest that requires a special permit. Since I had selected Whitney Exit, I could enter. 

Just past Trail Crest is when the famous 99-switchbacks begin. I opted not to count them and trusted someone else had done it for me. I passed the cables, which are about halfway down. This section of the trail has an overhang and often keeps snow and ice well into summer. That was not an issue today. I also passed the spring that was still flowing across a portion of the trail. If I was coming up from the Portal, I would have kept my water load lighter and filled here. I was in good shape water-wise, and continued on down. I had already shed all my top layers and even switched back to my lighter sun hoodie.

At the end of the switchbacks, I found some shade and took a break. I finally took off my lower layer, too. I passed through Trail Camp, and a few tents were scattered about. I turned back and looked back up the switchbacks, the needles, and toward the summit. The fact that I was just there had not fully registered. The trail was still pretty rocky, so I was having to watch my footing, especially with a backpack. Unfortunately, I misstepped and took a slight tumble. I scraped up my left palm and pinky (and a bit of pride). I was starting to feel a bit beat, and this didn’t help. I was also getting concerned about exactly when I might reach Whitney Portal and be able to get a hitch down to Lone Pine. My shuttle driver worked the second shift and couldn’t pick me up. So I decided to stay at Outpost Camp. I had included it in my permit, so that wasn’t an issue. While I didn’t have a proper dinner left, I had planned for plenty of snacks I could use earlier if needed. I found a spot off the trail and set up quickly.

I quickly got the water filtering and relaxed, reflecting on the day. The high cliffs made satellite comms troublesome, but I updated Anita and confirmed the shuttle. I finished the movie I had been watching and then turned in. Soon after midnight, the first glow of headlamps bounced by. Day permit hikers were beginning their journey. Around 5, I woke up and broke camp. I still had about 3.8 miles to go and hoped to reach the Portal store for their famous pancake. My shuttle was scheduled for 9, so I should be in good shape.

Day 5: Outpost Camp to Whitney Portal

I had hiked this far before several years ago, and it was starting to come back. The trail became less rocky, and I cruised along. I passed some backpackers starting their hike up to Trail Camp and some day hikers who didn’t want to start in the dark. I crossed the logs and knew that the end was coming soon. Although I could see the road for a while, the parking lot finally peeked out from under the trees.

As I passed under the trestle, I had completed my trek. After a stop at the facilities, I walked off to the Portal Store ready to order breakfast, only to discover they open at 9! I guess I’ll try the Alabama Hills Café later. I had a little signal and called Anita while I waited for the shuttle. I had some more snacks as I sat outside. Soon Daniel pulled up, and we headed down the hill. We chatted about being a shuttle driver, among other things. He dropped me off at the parking lot, and I thanked him for his help. Not worrying about a bear getting into my car at either trailhead made the cost worth it. I tossed my pack into the car and changed into some clean clothes before heading over for breakfast. I also stopped by the Chamber of Commerce and paid for the extra day. After a delicious meal, I turned the Outback south onto the 395 and headed home. While the trip had a challenge or two, I overcame them and finally summited Mt. Whitney!

SectionMileageElevation GainElevation Loss
Horseshoe Meadow to Chickenspring Lake
4.45
1,329
11
Chickenspring Lake to Rock Creek9.533152,111
Rock Creek to Guitar Lake10.22,838823
Guitar Lake to Mt. Whitney4.062,67426
Mt. Whitney to Outpost Camp5.89954,065
Outpost Camp to Whitney Portal3.8102,027
37.947,2519,063
Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I co-authored 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. I’ve also conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and both the Arizona-Winter and Arizona-Summer).

I look forward to exploring new summits and adventures across the Southwest. 

Backpacking to Pear Lake – Sequoia National Park

Back in 2024, I had planned to hike the Lakes Trail to spend the night at Pear Lake. Unfortunately, smoke from the Coffee Pot Fire blanketed the region, making the trip unhealthy. Fast-forward to 2026, and I won the permit lottery for the Rae Lakes Loop, another backpacking trip high on my to-do list. But life threw another curveball. Originally, I wasn’t planning to take any classes this summer, so I would have had time to travel from San Diego to Kings Canyon and spend five days/four nights doing the Rae Lakes Loop. But since I did enroll in a class, I could no longer afford that much time away from my studies. So I opted to try the Lakes Trail again, gambling on scoring a walk-up permit. I left Monday afternoon, drove to Bakersfield, and used some Marriott points to score a free room. The next morning I drove up to Sequoia National Park. According to the website, permits are released at 1 pm at the Wilderness Station at the Lodgepole Visitor Center, so I had a little time to explore some of the park before I headed over. I decided to rehike the Congress Trail and marvel at the giant redwoods. After enjoying the loop, I headed to the permit station and got a permit a bit early. In chatting with the ranger, I asked for his recommendation for the afternoon. He suggested that since the weather was pleasant, driving to Kings Canyon might be worth it. I needed to get my National Park Passport book stamped for Kings Canyon anyway, so that sealed the deal.

I drove up the Generals Highway, keeping an eye out for possible campsites I might try to secure for the evening. At Grant’s Grove, I stamped my passport book and had lunch at the restaurant before driving down into Kings Canyon. I felt a bit sad, as this was the same route I would have driven if I had started the Rae Lakes Loop. To the east, I could see clouds building over the mountains, forecasting classic afternoon thunderstorms. I wanted to hike Zumwalt Meadow again, but as I neared the trailhead, rain began to fall. So much for that plan. I got a second stamp from the Cedar Grove Visitor Center and made my way back toward where I would camp for the night. I considered hiking Buena Vista Peak, but decided to skip it and save my legs for tomorrow’s climb. I turned on Big Meadow Road (14S11) and began looking for a possible campsite. Since this was actually Sequoia National Forest, dispersed camping is allowed. I also knew there was a campground further down the road with first-come sites. I drove past the staging area for the winter trailhead, and followed the paved road for a bit. I passed a large motorhome parked at one spot, then another camper off to the side. I came to Horse Corral Road and turned there. I found one spot that looked fine, but decided to explore some more before setting up camp. I stopped at another one which was a bit more secluded, but since I had time I opted to drive some more. Then I came to a really nice one. It looked very level and had a nice eastern view. A nice rock fire-ring was there, so this became my spot. I started setting up camp, and that’s when I realized I’d left my stove at home. Since it was just a rock fire ring, there was no grate to set my pot on to cook my Trader Joe’s Jambalaya (recommend). Instead, I needed to burn down some of the fire so the coals could reheat my meal. With dinner sorted, I enjoyed my meal as the sun sank behind me. I built the fire back up and relaxed.

I woke in the pre-dawn, partly due to the excitement and partly because I didn’t have window shades. I might invest in a full set one day. As I finished packing, I saw the ranger had accidentally issued the permit for yesterday. Crud. So, now I had to decide: ignore it and plead with a ranger if I was stopped, or try to fix it. I wasn’t sure when the permit station opened, but I was aiming to start after 8, and the trailhead and the station were only about 2 miles apart. I decided to swing by to see when they opened and try to fix it before setting off. After some coffee and breakfast, I finished packing up, double-checking my campfire was completely out, and drove back to Lodgepole. I arrived just as they were opening, and the ranger adjusted my permit without issue. I thanked him and set off to the trailhead at Wolverton. After storing my cooler in one of the bear lockers, I strapped on my backpack and set off. This trail is also a popular day hike, so I knew I’d see a mix of folks along the route. My pack carried some different items than during my Yosemite trip: a bear can (my BV425), some rain gear, and my REI QuarterDome tent instead of my Gossamer Gear The One. I swapped tents for two reasons: the REI tent uses a traditional pole system, so I can set it up more easily on rocky surfaces, and being double-walled, it handles rain better.

The trail immediately began climbing from the parking lot. After 0.1 miles, it turns to the east and continues its climb under the shade of the forest. From time to time, the sounds of Wolverton Creek could be heard. Along the way, I met up with a group of day hikers taking a short break. I would wind up hiking with a lovely gentleman from Visalia all the way to The Watchtower. We would cross a few flowing streams, and a few wildflowers still remained in bloom along the trail. Our route turned more north-easterly as we approached The Watchtower. This trail is only open in the summer, as a portion becomes deadly from snow and ice. An alternate route, known as The Hump, exists, but I had no plans to take it on the way out to Pear Lake. A few backpackers passed us, returning from their stay. Soon, The Watchtower came into view. The Watchtower is a unique rock formation overlooking Tokopah Canyon. I slipped off my pack and took a break. While some do climb out onto its summit, I opted to just marvel at it from where I was. After about 20 minutes, I shouldered my pack and set off. The next section of the trail was narrow and exposed. It did not bother me, but I could only imagine how my friend Ted would have disliked it. The trail joined with the bypass, and soon I reached Heather Lake. For many, this beautiful alpine lake is their destination. I was still ahead of the day hikers, so the lake was mine. No camping is allowed here, but there are plenty of spots to enjoy a snack or even lunch. 

After a short climb, I then dropped down toward the next pair of lakes. Aster Lake came into view first. This lake sits north of the trail and a bit lower. This lake also has a no-camping policy. After passing the pit toilet, I came to Emerald Lake. This lake does allow camping, and I could see a few tents scattered about at the designated site. It turns out a bear had wandered through earlier that morning, so being bear-aware was more than an academic suggestion. This site had a bear locker, located right at the junction of the main trail and the trail that takes you to the campsites. I poked around the sites briefly. I still had about 500 feet of elevation left to reach Pear Lake, and the trail grew rockier as it neared the tree line.

I passed the junction to the Ranger Station, wondering if it was staffed. The views were stunning as the alpine terrain became more visible. Tiny patches of snow still clung to just a few spots high upon the northern nooks of the mountains. Before too long, Pear Lake came into view. This site was absolutely stunning. A blue alpine lake tucked in this bowl, surrounded by stark rocky spires. Some folks were already there as I explored the area for a possible campsite. A map of the designated sites was posted at the toilet. Since both of these lakes get enough visitors, NPS built composting toilets to minimize the impact. I found a good spot and tossed my poles down to claim it. Nearby, a hiker was relaxing, and I started chatting with him. He had camped at Emerald Lake and hiked up here this morning. I ate my lunch and enjoyed our conversation. He packed up to head back to his campsite, and I went over to mine to set it up. Once that chore was done, I slipped off my shoes and socks and enjoyed the surprisingly warm water for a bit. Some folks had brought bathing suits, and I wished I had my sandals to make wading less painful on my feet. I spent the rest of the afternoon alternating between relaxing under the shade of a tree, soaking up the views, and wandering around the lake.

Bowl and Kettle had gifted me some meals to try, and this time I brought their Crawfish Étouffée. I accidentally forgot the couple of rolls from Pyrenees Bakery, which I had hoped to pair with it. Oh well, I guess forgetting something was going to be a theme of this trip. I cooked up my meal, and thoroughly enjoyed it as I ate along the lake shore. It is a toss-up between this meal and their Chicken Tikka Masala as to my favorite (The Mexican Street Grits is also a yummy option). My phone’s battery was getting low. I went to grab my battery to charge it, only to discover I had left my cable in the car. At this point, I was the only person at the lake. I turned my phone off to save the remaining power. I didn’t need it for navigating back to the car, but I would like to take some photos along the way. I was more bummed that I wasn’t going to do any astro-photography. 

A father and son rolled into the lake; unfortunately, they did not have a cable. They opted to set up camp on the western side of the lake, up on the hill. There, they discovered that there was indeed a bear locker at the lake even though the map did not indicate one. Right around dusk, a group of 6 came in. I chatted with them, pointing out the various options that might work for a group of their size. This was their first night on a multi-day trip into Table Meadows. As the sun set, I bid them good night and crawled into my tent. It took a bit to fall asleep, but sleep finally did come. I woke up a few times, and once the moon had set, I powered my phone back on to snap a couple of photos of the Milky Way.

I awoke again in the pre-dawn and made breakfast by the lake shore. As I sat there in just my sun hoodie and pants, I reflected on how lucky I was to be able to experience all of this. I packed up and set off down the trail. I turned my phone back on, but kept my tracking disabled to conserve power. At Emerald Lake, I chatted with a camper retrieving his stuff from the bear locker. It turns out, he was the one who saw the bear yesterday, almost right where we were standing. After a good 10 minutes of chatting, I bid him farewell, as I still had some miles to cover and a long drive home. Those miles went quickly; a slightly lighter pack and a lot of downhill helped.

I stopped briefly at The Watchtower before continuing my descent. I started to wonder when I might encounter my first day hikers, and around the junction with The Hump, I did. Then, once I passed the junction to Panther Gap, hoards of trail runners came up the trail. I lost count of how many; I would put it over 50 stretched out along the trail. It was clearly some training run for high schoolers, with a few coaches/adults from time to time. I would step aside again and again as they passed. Some were polite, others not so much. Finally, after about a mile of this, the last runner passed me. I thought it odd that there was not a coach or some adult acting as sweep, just one lone girl plodding up the trail. I passed more day hikers, and even a trio of backpackers making their way up. Soon, I reached the junction to take me back to the Wolverton Trailhead, and my trip came to an end. I recorded my time, knowing I could recreate my return track once I got home. I changed into some clean clothes, retrieved my cooler, and began the long drive home. I stopped at the Giant Forest Visitor Center for another stamp in my passport book. I mentioned to the ranger the large group of trail runners and the hikers with a dog on the trail. He rolled his eyes and sighed. Being so understaffed meant there was little they could do about either issue. I thanked him for what he could do to preserve the park and headed down the road. I stopped at the Foothill Visitor Center to get my final stamp before leaving. Unfortunately, I did not realize until I was home that I needed to swap out my Junior Ranger badge for the new wooden one. After refueling both the car and my stomach in Bakersfield, I stopped at Benji’s to bring some Basque food home for myself. The rest of the long drive was uneventful, just a lot of podcasts to pass the time. The final stats were 12.8 miles in 6:55 and 2,749 feet of gain.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I co-authored 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. I’ve also conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and both the Arizona-Winter and Arizona-Summer).

I look forward to exploring new summits and adventures across the Southwest. 

Backpacking Yosemite High Sierra Camps

Originally, I had a permit to hike the Yosemite High Sierra Camp loop in July, but my summer plans changed, and I could no longer go due to classes. Thankfully, I was able to score one during my break between them. I drove up to Lee Vining, checked into my room, then made my way to the Whoa Nellie Deli for some fish tacos. Afterward, I watched the sun fade over Mono Lake. The next morning, I grabbed breakfast at Nicely’s, then checked out and grabbed a turkey sandwich for later. The drive up over Tioga Pass is always stunning. Bits of snow clung to the tops of some of the peaks. I pulled into the parking lot at the Wilderness permit station and quickly got my permit. The plan was to camp at each of the five High Sierra Camps; the ranger did caution me that the mosquitoes were bad at Sunrise and Vogelsang. I shouldered my pack and set off. Since I had hiked this section last year, I had less anxiety about what lay ahead.

As I reached the parking lot for Lambert Dome, some PCT hikers were looking for a hitch down the road. I inquired about how Glen Pass was, and they confirmed that it was not too bad, but you needed to tackle it early before it became slushy. I wished them well on their journey and continued on.

The hike down to Glen Aulin is pretty mellow, as it mostly follows the Tuolumne River. I stopped at Soda Springs, then at Parsons Lodge. Crews were doing some trail work nearby, and I thanked them for their efforts. From time to time, hikers passed me as they headed back to the meadow. After crossing the first bridge, I took a short snack break, watching the water flow by.

The trail worked its way past a few small waterfalls before finally reaching the bridge that would cross back across the Tuolumne and into Glen Aulin. I decided to see if the site I used last time was open, and it was. A couple from Florida was nearby, but I was respectfully far enough away. After setting up my tent, I ate that sandwich, then stored my pack in one of the lockers. For the afternoon, I relaxed and, after a short nap, wandered down to enjoy the views. A PCT thru-hiker joined me and a couple from Florida on the ledge and set up camp. He went by Casper and finally realized his dream of hiking the whole trail. Dinner was a Chili Mac meal, but I brought some homemade cornbread to have with it. With a full stomach, I turned in, knowing I had a modest climb tomorrow to the next camp.

I awoke around dawn and enjoyed breakfast before packing up. Crossing back over the Tuolumne, almost all of today’s hike would be a steady climb up to May Lake. Again, with less anxiety about the trail, I kept it at a more mellow pace. Some of the smaller streams were almost dry, but I still had a few stream crossings to make. I met another hiker making their way from May Lake. We chatted for a bit, and she confirmed that the bugs at Sunrise were awful, and some hikers actually left due to the mosquitoes. Great, not the news I wanted to hear. We wished each other well on our respective hikes.

I took a snack break at the same spot as last time, just being mindful not to lose my tripod this time. The trail becomes a bit more exposed, so that early start helped. I focused on my pace as the climb also became steeper. Before too long, I spied May Lake peeking through the trees. To my amazement, there were workers reassembling the actual camp! I wondered if they were going to reopen just this one or more? There were several large groups set up, so I scouted around for a spot that would give me a little space. Once set up, I enjoyed the area again. The bugs were minimal, so I could really just relax. The deeper question in my mind was the bugs at Sunrise (and the climb up to it). There actually is cell service here, so I let Anita know I might change plans and would keep her posted.

For dinner, I had Chicken Tikka Masala from Bowl and Kettle. They had sent me some of their meals to enjoy on this trek. I had this one before and could not wait to dive in. I also packed in some naan from Trader Joe’s to have with it. As I ate my meal, the sun slowly retreated behind Mt. Hoffman. After a hard day, I turned in and began debating my options for tomorrow.

I awoke again before dawn and quickly packed up. I decided to skip breakfast and just have a bar and some electrolytes before heading down to Tenya Lake. The early morning sun shone on Half Dome to the west. Once I reached the May Lake Trailhead, I dumped some trash before continuing on.

Once at Tenya Lake and the Sunrise Trailhead, I took a break and made breakfast. The parking lot was pretty full, as this trailhead is the one to Clouds Rest, a hike I have on my list. The trail stayed mellow for a while. Fresh bear scat was on the trail. I took a photo to denote the location for the rangers. Soon, the trail would begin its climb to Sunrise Lake. Even being very mindful of my pace, I actually caught some day hikers. At the trail junction for Clouds Rest, I took a snack break. Those day hikers caught back up, and some continued on to what I have heard is one of the most epic views in the park, while one pair headed on to the lake for some fishing.

I reached the first lake, and it was another stunning sight. After carefully crossing the outflow, I continued past the other two lakes before the last small climb. One tiny patch of snow remained on the trail just before I began my descent toward Sunrise HSC. I had chatted with some of the hikers passing in the other direction, and they validated the intensity of the bugs.

I crossed over a small stream to be rewarded with an incredible vista of the meadow and snow-capped mountains beyond. At a minimum, I knew this would be an outstanding lunch spot. As I ate, I debated whether to continue down to Merced HSC or hop on the John Muir Trail past Cathedral Lakes back to Tuolumne. Since the mosquitoes weren’t too bad at the moment, I found a nice site and made camp. It was just too beautiful not to try to stay. Plus, the lockers and pit toilet weren’t too far away. I slipped into my tent for a nap. When I awoke, there were certainly more mosquitoes buzzing around my tent. I ventured out to see the actual HSC and refill my water bottles.

I dove back into my tent, killing a few that snuck in. I slipped on my headphones and began catching up on some podcasts. Maybe I should have pushed on to Merced HSC? But it was a bit too late in the day to hike the 10 miles, plus I also heard it wasn’t exactly bug-free either. If I had had some company, it might have been easier to pass the time. For dinner, I had another meal from Bowl and Kettle, this time their Sweet Corn Grits. More mosquitoes were now buzzing about, so I ate in the tent. While I might have southern roots, grits were never my thing, but this dinner rocked!

I was glad I had downloaded some Netflix to watch as the sun slowly set. After another quick run to refresh my water and store my gear in the locker, I waited for the sun to dip behind the trees before turning in. A quarter moon was up and shining bright. I had to slip my beanie down to block the light. I still wasn’t sure about tomorrow’s adventure, so for now I just enjoyed the moment.

I awoke before dawn, in part to pack up before the mosquitoes came out. I took a moment to make breakfast and relish in the view. I finished packing, topped off my water, and set off. I had decided to exit. Spending the afternoon trapped in my tent was not my idea of fun at the next two sites.

Frost covered the meadow as I headed northward. While I had about 10 miles to get back to the car, it was mostly going to be downhill, except for a small climb over Cathedral Pass. The imposing Columbia Finger stood towering before me. Once over the pass, I soon passed Cathedral Lakes. The mosquitoes were back out, and other backpackers passed, some with bug nets on. I had mine ready just in case. Since the trail was mellow, I enjoyed my snack on the go to avoid being swarmed.

Once past the lake, I started passing more day hikers coming to enjoy it. As the miles slipped past, I reflected on the past four days and was pleased with the adventure.  Once back at the meadow, I headed to the store and grabbed a soda. I sat on the bench out front, watching the various PCT hikers milling about. Some repacked their resupply boxes, while others were enjoying a breakfast burrito. I still had a long drive home, so I did not linger any longer.

Back at the car, I tossed my pack in the back and changed into some fresh clothes before setting off. I hit Copper Top BBQ in Big Pine for lunch and Erick Schat’s Bakkerÿ for some bread. All told, even with the mosquitoes, this was still a fantastic four days exploring Yosemite. Maybe I can grab another permit once the bugs are less of a problem and do a point-to-point hike from Tuolumne to Vogelsang, then to Merced, and finally to the Valley. Just need a shuttle bus running or another way to get back.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I co-authored 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. I’ve also conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and both the Arizona-Winter and Arizona-Summer).

I look forward to exploring new summits and adventures across the Southwest. 

PCT – Apache Springs to Idyllwild

The winds did blow through the night, but unlike San Gorgonio, the tent held firm. I awoke just before dawn and enjoyed the colors over Palm Springs as I ate my oatmeal and had a cup of coffee. I gathered more water, being more careful not to kick up the silt. My filter was partially clogged, so it took some time to ensure I had enough water to reach Tahquiz Creek, the next water source.

Once packed up, I began the climb back to the junction. Sara had messaged me that she had just hit the trail herself. I said hello to some thru-hikers finishing packing up from their night up top. Apache Peak was right next to the trail, so I dropped my pack and followed the cairns to the summit. I found a sign and the register, but nothing to sign. The views were something, but I had a lot of miles to cover, and this section was almost all in the sun.

Since my filter was working so slowly, I hung the CNOC bag from my pack, and my mini M!GO bottle was attached. Unfortunately, a brushy section knocked the bottle free. I found it with most of the water still inside, thankfully. It was worth a shot. I had my sun umbrella with me, but hadn’t attached the straps to fix it to my pack, and I was not about to just hold it through this section of the trail.

As I neared Spitler Peak, I opted to skip it as I just did not have the legs for the steep climb to the summit. If you have ever watched some videos of hikers doing this section in the winter, you realize how dangerous this portion of the trail is. However, the views to my east were breathtaking.

I came to a small saddle, spied two packs just off the trail, and then I saw a man coming down from the nearby slope. I shouted “hi,” and he returned the greeting by crossing his arms and giving me an almost death-like stare. My “spidey-sense” went off the charts—there was something very wrong with this dude. I gave him a thumbs up and kicked it up a notch to hike away from him. I glanced back to see if he might be following me, but thankfully, he did not seem to be. Soon, I caught up with Sara. Turns out she, too, had an odd encounter with him, as did some other hikers. We hiked together for a bit, filling each other in about our evening and the day so far. Sara still hadn’t found her climbing legs yet, so she suggested I just find my groove and meet at the creek. Since I had skipped Spitler, I knew I was going to be skipping Red Tahquitz. I crested the saddle and knew the rest of the hike was all downhill with some shade.

I leapfrogged another hiker, who asked me about how my side quests were going. Hum, I might have just gotten a trail name…”Side Quest”. About 8 hikers were relaxing by the creek when I arrived. I filled my CNOC and slowly filtered my water while eating my lunch. About 30 minutes later, Sara rolled in. We all collectively chatted about the odd hiker, and I said that since I was headed down to Idyllwild, I would let the rangers know.

After a nice break under the shade of the pines, Sara and I headed off along the blue blaze toward Saddle Junction. Once there, a volunteer ranger was checking permits. Poor Sara didn’t have a tag yet, so she had to dig her paper one out of the middle of her pack. I had an updated email for mine, so I was good to go. Two other hikers were relaxing before they made their way down to town. Since Sara had just been in town, she was going to keep pushing north. We said goodbye for now, and I, along with the other two hikers, headed down the Devil’s Slide trail. Hopefully, my good friends Rick and Andrea had shuttled my car up to Humber Park. Partway down, a text came through that they had indeed parked the car for me. Not sure who was happier—me, not having to wait for my car, or the two ladies, who now had a ride into town.

We met a few folks heading up the trail on a day hike and one thru-hiker heading back. Soon, the parking lot came into view, and this epic adventure had come to a close. I dropped the ladies off at the post office and let Rick and Andrea know I had picked up my car. They agreed to meet for an early dinner at the Idyllwild Brewpub, and I filled them in on my trip. They were tackling San Jacinto from Devil’s Slide the next day, so an early dinner worked well for them, as they had a long day ahead.

The final stats for the two days were:

Day 119.0 miles4,667 feet13:03
Day 213.2 miles2,343 feet8:57
Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I co-authored 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. I’ve also conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and both the Arizona-Winter and Arizona-Summer).

I look forward to exploring new summits and adventures across the Southwest. 

PCT – Highway 74 to Apache Springs

I awoke just before the alarm went off and quickly got ready.  I was driving up to Idyllwild and picking up Sara to shuttle her back down to the Highway 74 trailhead before joining her once again on the Pacific Crest Trail. However, this time I would not just be day hiking; I would be backpacking this section of the trail all the way back to Idyllwild. I grabbed breakfast and coffee for Sara and me at the 24-hour McDonald’s in Temecula, then continued up the mountain to pick her up at the rental cabin she was sharing with some other thru-hikers. I got there right around 6 am, and Sara was soon in the passenger seat, ready to hit the trail once again. We pulled into the trailhead parking lot and quickly gathered our gear. We had a long, hard day of hiking ahead of us, and we wanted to get moving. Off to our north, we could see San Jacinto beckoning. We passed a stone monument with a map of the PCT and a memorial for Andy Elam, who, unfortunately, was murdered nearby back in 1989.

The trail started off mellow for a bit before the long climb began. We passed someone who had found a nice spot for the night. Sara continued filling me in on the events since I last saw her up on Mt. Laguna. Before too long, we came to the junction that one would take to summit Ken Point. While I was hoping to climb several side peaks on this trip, this summit was a bit too far for my liking. We enjoyed the views, mostly to the west. I tried to spot the peaks that I had climbed the week before. After a couple more miles, I came to the use trail that would take me to the summit of Lion Peak. This climb would be an out-and-back, so I dropped my pack off to the side of the trail and followed the cairns to the summit. I found the register and a nice wooden sign. I snapped a few photos, signed the register, and hustled back down. We still had a lot of miles to cover. Sara was waiting for me under the shade of a nearby tree.

About 1/2 mile later, we reached the junction with the use trail to Pine Mountain. I debated on this one, as the trip reports indicated it was a bit brushy and a bit further off-trail. In the end, I opted to skip it. The day was getting warmer, and I was trying to be mindful of my water and energy. Just to the north, Pyramid Peak was calling my name. Unlike the climb to Lion Peak, this time I kept my pack on, as the route made more sense to climb it as a point-to-point. The use trail to the summit was pretty well marked. Once at its rocky summit, I had some fantastic views. Found the benchmark, two reference marks, and the register. I took a short break and enjoyed a snack before heading down the north ridge, again following a good use trail.

Sara had passed me while I was on the summit, but we planned to rendezvous at the junction for Cedar Springs. I found her enjoying her lunch in the shade with some other thru-hikers. One had just returned from the mile hike down to the spring to refill their water, and others were getting ready to make the same trek. Our original plan was to hike down and camp there for our first day, but it was just a bit after 1 pm, and we both agreed it was too early to call it a day. We could certainly top off our water, but the thought of those 2 miles was not appealing. Instead, we opted to make the short hike to Eagle Spring and fill up there. Using the references in the comments on FarOut, we found the lone pine tree and the use trail that led to a trickling spring and a water trough. Sara used the spring, while I carefully filled my CNOC from the trough, trying to keep the algae away. Once we had filled our bottles, we climbed back up to the PCT and continued on.

Since we had changed our initial plans, I was also reviewing my peak bagging side quests. The next peak on my agenda was Palm View Peak. On paper, this looked to be the easiest of all the ones I hoped to climb. Very little elevation gain and barely off-trail. I dropped my pack and set off. Sara kept pushing northward, knowing that I would catch her on the big climb that lay ahead of us past Fobes Saddle. The hike over to Palm View Peak started nicely, with some nice shade from the trees, until I hit a wall of brush. I tried to match my position to the tracks I had saved, but nothing really indicated a route through them. Relying on bushwhacking talents, I picked my way through until I spied a small mound of rocks indicating the summit. The register was soaks, and the views were less than stellar. I snapped a few photos and pushed my way back out. 

The trail descended to Fobes Saddle, and the sun was slowly sinking behind Thomas Mountain. Spitler Peak loomed to my north. This was on my list, but there was no time to climb its steep slope and still make camp at Apache Springs. If I were solo and had climbed Ken Point and Pine Mountain, I probably would have made Cedar Springs later in the afternoon, so stopping there would have made sense. I knew there was a closer trailhead for this peak, so returning would not require re-hiking much of the PCT. I was now a good distance ahead of Sara, so we were coordinating digitally. I had some water left, so I did consider stopping short of Apache Springs for the night, then dropping down to it in the morning to fill up for the day. FarOut indicated a campsite before the junction with Apache Springs, but when I reached it, it seemed pretty full and exposed. So, I pushed on toward Apache Springs. At the junction, some folks had set up camp. I had been leapfrogging with some, so I asked them to let Sara know that I was headed down to the spring. 

Apache Spring sits about 0.6 miles off the PCT and has a 520-foot elevation loss. As I started down, I hoped there was a spot for my tent, since I was not keen on hiking back up to the junction. Partway down, I passed one tent just off to the side of the trail. I thought to myself, great, if someone is camping here, are there even any spots near the spring? But as luck would have it, there was no one camped there! I found a nicely sheltered spot, since I knew it was going to be breezy overnight (25-mph gusts were predicted). After I got my tent set up and secured, I walked the few minutes to the spring itself. It was getting dark, but I thought I had enough light, so I left my headlamp behind. I gathered some water and hauled it back to the campsite. Once there, I saw how slity it was. When I scooped up the water, I disturbed the silt. I let it settle some before dumping out a portion and starting to filter it. I was pretty beat and decided not to spend the time or water on cooking dinner. Instead, I ate my Walking Tamale, a beef stick, and my mini-apple pie for dinner, then turned in for the night under the glow of the lights from Palm Springs. I had gotten a message from Sara that she had reached the junction and was camping up there. With that, I turned off my headlamp and drifted off to a well-earned sleep. I covered 19.2 miles in 13:03 total time and an elevation gain of 5234 feet.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I co-authored 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. I’ve also conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and both the Arizona-Winter and Arizona-Summer).

I look forward to exploring new summits and adventures across the Southwest. 

Overnight to San Gorgonio

They say the third time is the charm, right? I wanted one last hard hike before Ted and I attempt to summit Mt. Whitney. I debated between hiking up Ontario and Bighorn or doing San Gorgonio as an overnight trip. With the water sources on San Gorgonio slowly drying up, I figured I should take that option. I pulled into the familiar parking lot and quickly gathered my gear. It was a bit warm, but there was enough of a breeze to offset it. I drank my liter of water and crossed over the road. I opted to only carry 1/2 liter of water and another 1/2 liter of electrolytes. My plan was to possibly filter at the crossing of the South Fork of the Santa Ana River if needed, and really load up on water at Lodgepole Spring. Instead of camping at Dry Lake, I decided to aim for camping further along at the Trail Flats campsite. The first part of the hike went quickly, and I, of course, made a stop at Poopout Hill for a photo. Soon, I reached the junction with Dry Lake Trail and Dollar Lake Trail. I crossed over the side streams and continued to the river. When Ted and I were here last August, it was flowing enough to make us cross cautiously. This time, I could simply rock hop across the water. I still had plenty of water and was feeling good for the next section. The next 1.6 miles would climb about 850 feet, and be a good workout. One difference from my last time here is that I weigh about 25 pounds less! I cruised through this section, and soon Dry Lake came into view. It certainly was smaller than last time. I took the trail along the north side over the spur trail to Lodgepole Spring. The spring was still flowing, but I had to go a bit further to find a good spot to fill up and filter. The plan was to fill both bottles, as well as my 3L CNOC bag, and haul all that up to Trail Flats. My light backpack just got heavier.

I continued looping around the edge of the lake until I rejoined the main trail and started the climb to camp. From here on out, the trail would be new to me. Over the next mile, I would climb over 500 feet. While the pack was about 10 lbs heavier, I felt good. I spotted the campsite sign attached high on a tree, and began to survey my options. I quickly found a nice flat spot and began setting up camp. I opted to bring my REI QuarterDome SL1 this time, since there would be no moon in the night sky, and I could lie in the tent and stare at the stars above. 

I made dinner, watching the sun slowly dip behind the ridge. I hung my Adotec food bag and crawled under my quilt. The stars slowly began showing themselves as I continued to listen to The Two Towers. When it was dark enough, I was going to do some astrophotography, but my iPhone had offloaded AstroShader, so I could only use the built-in camera. Since I was hoping to reach the summit for sunrise, I set an alarm for 3 am. Some night hiking will also be good practice for Whitney.

The alarm went off, and I broke camp. I had debated leaving most of the gear here and hiking lighter to the summit. But in the end, I just packed up everything and set off. It was cold, and I was wearing my sun hoodie, my camp shirt, and my puffy, but quickly shed the puffy. The trail was easy to follow under the light of my headlamp. I ate a bar at Mine Shaft Saddle and pushed on under the starry skies.

The trail climbed at a nice grade along the east side of the mountain. The faint glow of the coming sunrise started to show off to the east. I passed the C-47 crash site without seeing it. It started to get colder as I kept gaining elevation, and I finally stopped and put the puffy back on. The lights of Palm Springs also came into view as I worked my way up a series of switchbacks, before the trail turned westward. The sun’s rays illuminated San Jacinto’s summit to my south, letting me know I had mistimed my attempt. Oh well, the night hiking was still good practice. The trail turned northward and reached the junction with the Vivian Creek Trail, just 0.4 miles from the summit. I remember how hard it was this last time I was here. Now I felt pretty good, with just a small headache.

I reached the summit and spotted a tent set up in one of the wind shelters. I took some photos with the summit signs before heading over to the tent. The occupant had come out and he gave me a wave. He had arrived at the summit around 9 last night via Vivian Creek and said it was cold and windy overnight. I fired up my stove, made a cup of coffee, and ate my oatmeal. We chatted for a bit while we each ate our breakfasts. The small headache faded away, and I assume it was either the need for some caffeine or a bit more fluids. 

As much as I enjoyed our conversation, I knew I had quite a few miles left to hike to get back to the car. I debated whether I should return the same way I ascended, or loop around and come back via Dollar Lake. I opted to try the Dollar Lake route, as it was a bit shorter. I bid him farewell and set off back down the trail. I paused at the junction back to Dry Lake and mulled it over once again, but decided to stick to the plan. The trail split again, the left fork heading down to Vivian Creek, and the right fork heading toward Dollar Lake. I guess there are enough people not paying attention that a warning sign had to be added to keep people on the right track.

Another reason that I opted to take this route was that the trail passes by several Hundred Peak Section peaks, and I was considering adding them to the adventure. I didn’t do any advanced planning, so I only had whatever the topo maps showed me and what my eyes actually revealed about each summit. The sun had started to warm things up, and I stashed my puffy back into my pack. I was also right near Jepson Peak. I looked over the map, and it looked like it was a 0.2 mile jaunt off-trail to the summit, with almost 300 feet of gain. The legs were feeling good, so I went for it. I zig-zagged up the side of the peak until I reached its summit. There was no marker here, and I skipped signing the register. I did have a nice view of San Gorgonio off to my east as a reward. I then followed the ridgeline over to a small bump to the north, before working my way back down to the trail. Once back on the trail, I cruised along. Santiago and Modejska Peaks could be seen off to the southwest, rising above the marine layer. As I neared Dollar Lake Saddle, I decided that climbing Charleston and Little Charleston Peaks would have to wait. If I had brought an extra liter of water, I might have considered it. The rest of the hike would now be sunny and warm, so I wanted to conserve my fluids, as I still had almost 6 miles to go.

The trail did become both more exposed to the sun and rockier in nature as it worked its way downward. I put on my headphones and resumed my audiobook. I was at the part of the story when Merry and Pippin meet the Ents. Seemed perfect timing as I walked through the wilderness. After 2.3 miles, I again reached the junction to Dry Lake. I took a break under the shade of some lovely trees. I still had enough fluids to get me back to the car, so I did not wander over to the nearby creek to filter some additional water. The last 3.6 miles went quickly, passing backpackers making their way up to their campsites, and a day hiker or two. Soon, I passed the cabins at Horse Meadows and knew my adventure was drawing to a close. I am extremely happy to have climbed San Gorgonio again and to have done it as an overnight adventure. The entire hike was 22.41 miles, with 5,116 feet of gain. My hiking time was 3:59 from the trailhead to camp, 2:38 from camp to summit, and finally 4:45 from summit back to the car. Now to rest up and start packing for Mt. Whitney!

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I co-authored 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. I’ve also conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and both the Arizona-Winter and Arizona-Summer).

I look forward to exploring new summits and adventures across the Southwest. 

Backpacking the Yosemite High Sierra Camps

The adventure began with kissing my wife goodbye, patting our dog, and setting off toward Lee Vining. I had said goodbye to my son, who recently moved home to become the Youth Director at our synagogue, the night before.  The first stop was at a Starbucks, as a large coffee was needed for the long drive. I was meeting Rick to borrow a small tripod, as both of the ones I ordered to replace the one I lost when hiking Sawmill were delayed in arriving. With Rick’s tripod now in hand, I began the drive north. Traffic was not too bad, and the podcasts passed the time.

My first stop was the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine. I had a question about our upcoming permit to climb Mt. Whitney, and wanted to swap out a plastic Junior Ranger badge for a wooden one. Unfortunately, I arrived during their lunch break, and they were closed. I did, however, see some runners racing in the Badwater 135, and support cars were parked throughout the town.

My next stop was Manzanar National Historic Site, again to obtain a Junior Ranger badge. Sadly, due to staffing issues, the Visitor Center is now closed from Tuesday through Thursday. Ted and I will have to return when we come back for our Whitney attempt. I already knew that the Copper Top BBQ was closed, and found Mountain Rambler Brewery as a replacement for my lunch stop. After a fine burger and a tasty flight, I made a quick stop for gas and continued northward. As I neared Mono Lake, I saw a sign saying there would be a Ranger-led walk at 6 pm. I certainly had time for this, but after checking into the motel and unloading my gear, I drove over to the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center to confirm that the walk was still scheduled. The kind volunteer said it was. I also inquired about any Junior Ranger badges, and they indeed had one for the Inyo National Forest! I made the 15-minute drive back to the south shore of Mono Lake and waited on a bench.

Our walk was led by a staffer from the Mono Lake Committee, Ana. She had recently started working there and was full of enthusiasm about the lake. About 15 of us walked the Loop Trail, stopping at various points to learn about a wide range of topics. I left toward the end, as I was getting hungry and wanted a good night’s sleep.

Dinner was the “world-famous” fish tacos at the Whoa Nellie Deli. The mango salsa one was outstanding, and the ginger coleslaw was good as well. I watched the sun set on the lake and headed back to the motel. Earlier in the day, I made the 30-minute drive into Yosemite National Park to pick up my Wilderness Permit, as well as a Junior Ranger booklet. I figured I could work on it that evening in the motel, which I did. With that task complete, it was time to turn in for the night. Tomorrow would begin 6 days of backpacking through Yosemite’s backcountry.

Day 1: Tuolumne Meadows to Glen Aulin

After a fairly good night’s rest in the motel, I took my last shower for almost a week. I walked down the highway to Nicely’s for a good breakfast to start off this adventure. Given that the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center did not open until 9 am, I was not in a rush. I swung by the Whoa Nellie Deli again to grab a ready-made sandwich for my lunch. The drive back to the park was uneventful, except for the dead deer on the side of the highway. I pulled into the parking lot for the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center and stored my backpack in a nearby bear locker. I went in and presented my completed Junior Ranger booklet. After a little chat with the Ranger, I was sworn in as a Junior Ranger for Yosemite. On her suggestion, I opted to park back at the Wilderness Permit Station. I checked back in with the rangers there in case something had changed. They reported all was good, just a few mosquitoes at spots. With that, it was time to hit the trail. I stepped onto the PCT and followed it westward. The trail paralleled Tioga Road for a bit before crossing it and following the road to the Glen Aulin Trailhead. Along the way, I was stopped by a woman assembling her backpacking gear, and she had a question about the parking for Glen Aulin. I told her where I had parked, but I was planning on doing the whole loop. She thanked me, and we parted ways.

The first point of interest was Soda Springs. This is a naturally carbonated spring that sits on the edge of the meadow. You can take a taste, which I did. It was slightly fizzy, with a bit of a metallic tinge.

The trail was mostly downhill for the first day, and with 6 days of food on my back, I was thankful. I took a short break and watched the waters of the Tuolumne River flow past. There I met a lady day-hiking to Glen Aulin, and we hiked down the trail together. We crossed the first bridge over the Tuolumne and saw some PCT hikers grabbing a few photos. We continued on down the trail, chatting about the state of our parks and public lands.

About 5 miles in, we met a Ranger on patrol. We chatted a bit, and I presented my permit. She commented on how small my pack seemed. I replied that I was leveraging the bear lockers at each site, so I left my heavy bear can in the car and was storing my food in my new Adotec bag. She said it was perfectly fine, given that each site does have lockers. If I were adventuring elsewhere, then an approved bear can would be needed.

Soon, the sounds of a waterfall began to fill the air, and this meant we were drawing close to Glen Aulin. The bridge that crossed the Tuolumne River into Glen Aulin had been destroyed due to high snow a few years back, but thankfully had been rebuilt. Once across, we took a second bridge over Conness Creek into camp. She found a nice spot to have her lunch, and I did a quick tour of the backpacking site. The High Sierra Camps are built in two parts: the actual camp and its associated infrastructure, and a section for traditional backpackers. The camps were not open this year, so the various tents and other structures were not assembled. Continuing on to the backpacking area, I skipped the first collection of sites, as several spots were already taken, and continued on. I found a set of sites up on a granite ridge, all of which were unclaimed. I left my poles on a site that looked perfect, and returned down to also have my lunch with my hiking companion. When done, she headed back up the trail. I then tossed my food into the bear locker before making the short climb to my campsite. I decided to change which spot I picked upon closer inspection of the slope. Soon, I had my tent set up and was good for the evening. I wandered down to the river’s edge to fill my CNOC water bag, so I could filter some water later.

I found a nice shady spot and took a short nap. Once refreshed, I wandered around camp, including taking advantage of the composting toilet. I chatted with some of the other campers: a few PCTers, an Outward Bound group, and eventually the woman I met at the beginning of the hike. I sauntered down the trail that parallels the Tuolumne to explore some of the falls downstream for a bit. There I saw my first Marmot, but didn’t have time to snap a photo. I returned to camp to have dinner. I found a spot far enough away from my tent to make and eat my pasta. After cleaning up and storing the rest of the scented items, I turned in. I was tired from the day’s hike, and lying in my tent listening to my audiobook for a bit was just what I needed. A full moon would be rising soon, so that would put a damper on any stargazing or astrophotography. I turned my phone off to save some battery and drifted off to sleep. I forgot to mention, I did check in with Anita and let her know that I was safely at camp.

DAY 2: Glen Aulin to May Lake

Sleep was about what I expected. I was actually a tad too warm, but this is one of the lower elevation sites, so I might still want my better quilt at the other camps. I awoke at first light, but fell back asleep for another 30 minutes. I packed up my gear, made a pit stop, then gathered my food and scented items from the locker. I went down to the river’s edge and had my breakfast of oatmeal and a cup of coffee. I properly re-packed my backpack and set off. Today’s journey would be hiking about 8 miles up to May Lake. According to one guide I read, I would be gaining about 1,400 feet of elevation. While this would almost be trivial back home, I had a fairly full backpack and was starting at 7,880 feet.

I crossed back over the Tuolumne River, the morning light shining through the mists from the waterfall, and made the steep climb to the junction with the trail to May Lake. This trail heads mostly southward, first toward McGee Lake. The mosquitoes were out in force, so the bug net quickly came out. The trail initially worked its way upward through the forest. The views were stunning, and occasionally I would dart off the trail to explore a possible viewpoint. About 3 miles in, I took a break and, since I had a clear view of the sky, sent a check-in message back home. I shouldered my pack again and set off. There was very little breeze, so it was a tad warm.

Just after one steeper section, I took another break under the shade and to soak in the views. I then began a series of switchbacks, and after about 10 minutes, I went to grab the tripod, and it was missing! It must have fallen off my pack where I took my break, so I turned and hiked back. At the rest stop, it was nowhere to be found. Ugh! I gave up looking there and started back up the trail, and just after the first switchback, I spotted it on the trail. I had walked right over it on the way down. Crisis averted. I tightened the strap I had been using to hold it on my pack and kept climbing. This section was very sun-exposed, so I was feeling the sun’s rays upon me. I took another break and adjusted my socks and shoes. Before leaving, I again checked that the tripod was still secure. Soon, I crested a small saddle and began the short and gentle descent to May Lake. Its waters were a welcoming sight. I had forgotten to “camel up” before leaving Glen Aulin, so I drank more than I planned for during my ascent. I passed through the closed camp’s foundations and buildings before finding a spot for the night. It was only about noon, so I had a lot of time to kill.

I again stashed my food in a locker, filtered some water, and, under the shade of the trees, ate my lunch. I drank some electrolytes to replace those that I sweated away. I then found another shady spot and took a well-earned nap. My tracker recorded the climb as over 1,930 feet of gain. Quite a difference from what I had read earlier. That would explain the tightness in my calf. I certainly was hiking faster than I would have had I done a better job in understanding this section of the trip. I explored the area some more, stretching the calf, trying to get some relief. I went back down the water’s edge and soaked my feet in the cool waters. I opted for a second nap, because why not? I started considering my options. The next day’s hike was listed as “very strenuous” with about 1,600 feet of descent over 3 miles, followed by an ascent of almost the same amount but in just over a mile. The following day was a long descent, and then the day after that was the climb over Vogelsang Pass. If my calf worsened, I would be in for some long days. Knowing I had plans to attempt Mt. Whitney later in the month also weighed on my mind. I sat under the shade and considered my options. I took my phone out of Alpine mode and discovered that I had two bars of signal. I guess we had a line of sight into Yosemite Valley. I spoke with Anita, and I decided to let the descent tomorrow be the judge. If the calf felt ok, then I would continue my trek. If not, I would cross Tiagoa Road and should be able to get a hitch back to my car. With a plan in place, I cooked up my dinner and watched the sun dip behind the mountains. 

Day 3: May Lake to Sunrise Trailhead

I awoke just after 5:30 and quickly packed up. The calf did not cramp overnight, but I could still feel it as I broke camp. Instead of making breakfast, I tossed a few bars into my hip belt pocket and set off. I figured the sooner I got to the road, the better I might find a hiker driving in for a day hike. 

The descent went smoothly, and from time to time, I could see Half Dome in the distance. When the grade was steep enough, I could feel the tightness in my calf, validating my decision to end early. I reached the first May Lake Trailhead and tossed the trash I had been carrying. From there, I continued on the High Country Highway, according to the information sign. Bits of the asphalt were visible as I hiked along.

I did spy a bear print in the sand, just a reminder that there is a reason for all those warnings. Upon reaching the road, I crossed over and cruised on toward the Sunrise Trailhead. I figured I would have a better chance getting a hitch there than just on the side of the road with no place to pull over. This section was nice and flat, and my calf was thankful. I was bummed not to be continuing, as, except for that issue, everything else was going pretty well. The parking lot was filled with cars and hikers getting ready to head out. This is the primary trailhead for Cloud’s Rest, an epic hike that takes you to a view of Yosemite Valley from the east end. It is one that is on my list as well. I stood with my thumb out, and after a few cars drove past, two ladies in a Jeep pulled over and offered me a lift. Turns out they were backpacking down to Glen Aulin, so I filled them in on everything I just did. They dropped me off at the Lambert Dome parking area, and they headed down the side road to find parking. I cruised back to the car. Once back at the car, I tossed my backpack in and was going to stop off at the permit office, but the line was out the door.

I had tickets to see Alison Krauss and Union Station back in San Diego that night, so I was on a timetable. I purchased those tickets before I won the lottery for this trip. We had been trying to sell them, but had no luck. I stopped off at the small market and bought a cup of coffee to go with another bar I was eating. At the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center, I took advantage of the real restroom to change out of my hiking gear and into something comfortable to make the long drive home. Since I did not get my Yosemite patch when I was at the Visitor Center on Wednesday, I had to wait for them to open at 9. Once they did open, I grabbed my patch and a couple of other items, paid for them, and hit the road. I fueled the car back up in Bishop. Unfortunately, I would be passing through Big Pine too early to stop at Copper Top BBQ, so I would have to settle for something quick in Lone Pine. I did make another stop at Manzanar and got both my Junior Ranger badge and an Eastern Sierra Pear that was grown nearby. The rest of the drive was as exciting as you might imagine. I made it home in time to shower and make it to the concert, which I enjoyed, and my wife tolerated. Now to let that calf recover for a few days, then keep focusing on Mt. Whitney!

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I co-authored 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. I’ve also conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and both the Arizona-Winter and Arizona-Summer).

I look forward to exploring new summits and adventures across the Southwest. 

Backpacking Barker Valley

After the closure of the Palomar Divide Truck Trail a couple of weeks ago, which forced me to pivot to backpacking Noble Canyon instead, I secured a new overnight permit for Barker Valley. The road had reopened, so that hurdle was no longer in front of me. However, we had some unseasonably warm weather forecast for the start of my trip. Since I was not planning on starting until mid-afternoon and most of the 3 or so mile hike would be descending from the trailhead to Barker Valley, I was overly worried. I made the very familiar drive through Ramona and then Santa Ysabel. After a quick stop for gas at the tribal gas station, I passed on through Warner Springs until I reached the turn-off onto the Palomar Divide Truck Trail. After 8 miles of driving, I reached the trailhead and pulled into a spot off to the side of the road. It was warm, but a nice breeze helped it feel less oppressive. I read over the trailhead kiosk, which I had seen numerous times on my drives up to Palomar High Point, before setting off down the trail.

The trail gently worked its way down, following the contours of the mountain. Sweeping views of Lake Henshaw to the south, and both the Observatories and the Lookout Tower to the north. The trail was slightly overgrown in spots, but nothing too bad. I might return with some clippers to do some trail maintenance, if I felt like making the drive up again. Wildflowers still lined the trail from time to time. Footprints could be seen in the sandy sections of the trail, so it does see some traffic occasionally. About a mile in, a rock arrow pointed the way. This area had a couple of nice campsites on either side of the trail.

After about 1.8 miles, another large rock arrow pointed the way for the trail, which now made a sharp left turn, leaving the ridgeline it had been following. On several maps, a trail is shown continuing along the ridge line, but it appears that it is becoming overgrown. The trail was also starting to become a bit more rocky, so a little more care was needed with my footing as I worked my way down toward the valley. The overgrowth also increased a bit, but nothing a quick push of a trekking pole could not handle. Soon, I found myself in the valley and near the West Fork of the San Luis Rey River. Now I needed to find a campsite and access to water. I carried enough to get me to the campsite and back if things did not work out, but not enough for dinner and breakfast. I passed one campsite, which might have worked, but continued along the trail that paralleled the stream, looking for other camping options as well as water. I came upon a nice campsite near a very large downed oak tree. I had a choice between under the shade of an oak tree or on the open dirt. I brought my REI QuarterDome, so I could lie inside the mesh walls and enjoy the night sky, so the choice of where to pitch my tent was obvious.

I dropped my pack, grabbed my CNOC water bag, and set off to find water to filter. At first, I found a large pool of water with bits of algae floating on top of it. No worse than what I have seen used by those on the Arizona Trail, but I decided to keep exploring before settling on this as my water source. Soon, I heard the sounds of flowing water and made my way back to the edge of the stream. I placed my bag into the gently flowing stream and had 3 liters in a matter of moments. I trekked the 0.3 miles back to the campsite and began to set up camp. As the sun was beginning to set, the mosquitoes were starting to come out in force. I had my bug net, but I forgot to bring any repellent, so I retreated to my tent (killing the few that had snuck inside). I relaxed, staring at the trees around me and the dance of the bugs on the tent’s mesh. I figured this was good practice for my Yosemite backpacking trip. After the sun had set, I ventured out of the tent and made my dinner.

I listened to my audiobook while I enjoyed a freeze-dried lasagna and waited for the stars to come out. Once it was dark enough, I again worked on some astro-photography before turning in. It actually became quite chilly, and I was glad to have my warmer quilt with me. I woke up around 5:30 and made a cup of hot coffee. It was a bit nippy, so I checked my Govee thermo-hygrometer, and it said it was 31°F! Being in a valley meant the cold air had settled here overnight, hence the temperature difference between the summit forecast and my location. I boiled some more water for my oatmeal and began packing up. Around 6:30, I was ready to head back up the trail.

The climb back to the trailhead went fairly smoothly, I only stopped to remove my fleece and adjust my socks. After about 1:30, I again reached the metal gate, and my backpacking adventure in Barker Valley was over. I tossed my gear into the Outback, changed into a clean shirt, and decided to drive on up the High Point. The road became a bit rougher, and I drove the last 5 miles to the summit. The road to the trailhead is doable in most cars (just drive slow and keep your eyes open), but after the trailhead, I would only recommend something a bit more off-road-friendly (like my Outback). Near the summit, I could see the results of the controlled burn that had been performed recently. The tower was staffed, so I was able to drive all the way to the top. I wandered around the summit, snapping a few photos. It was too windy to have a discussion with the two rangers staffing the tower, so I set off back down the road and home.

The final stats for this adventure were 6.9 miles with 1055 feet of gain (most of it on the way back). My descent time was 1:30 (with some filming time included), and 1:27 for the ascent (less time filming). The video of the trip will be on my YouTube channel soon, so go there and like and subscribe!

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I co-authored 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. I’ve also conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and both the Arizona-Winter and Arizona-Summer).

I look forward to exploring new summits and adventures across the Southwest. 

Overnight in Noble Canyon

My original plan was to backpack Barker Valley near Palomar; however, about an hour before I was set to drive out, I decided to check the status of the road to the actual trailhead, and it was closed! According to the Forest Service website, the Palomar Divide Trail was closed, meaning I could not get to the trailhead. Not to let a fully packed backpack go to waste, I considered some alternatives; Sitton Peak, Arroyo Seco, and Noble Canyon were options that quickly came to mind. I did not have the ability to quickly get an overnight permit for Sitton, so it was out of the running. Arroyo Seco was possible, but Noble Canyon was closer to the overnight I had planned for Barker Valley. After stopping at the ranger station in Alpine to pick up my permit, I drove on up to the Penny Pines trailhead. I gathered my gear, hung my Adventure Pass (not sure I needed to, but better safe than sorry), and walked through the gate onto the trail. Around the picnic table, 6 PCT thru-hikers were chilling in the shade. We chatted a bit and I learned two were from New Zealand, two from the Netherlands, and two were Americans. I shared some local trail knowledge before wishing them all luck on their journey and set off down my trail to the west. I cruised along, glad to be doing this hike on a weekday and not being worried about getting run over by mountain bikers. Some clouds hung in the air, offering some shade from time to time. Off to the north, I could spy Garnet Peak and Pine Mountain as I worked my way toward Noble Canyon proper.

At about 3.5 miles in, I passed a nice campsite under a large oak tree. I didn’t have any planned camping spot, so I was playing it all by ear. I kept working my way down the canyon, and soon, flowing water could be heard. I came to another campsite, this one larger, but the ground was not nearly as flat as the first one, so I passed on it. After about 5 miles, I threw in the towel and turned back; that first campsite (32.885492° -116.499558°) was going to be my home for the evening.

I set up camp quickly as the sun was starting to dip behind the hill to the west. After dinner, I retreated into my tent to listen to my audiobook before turning in around “hiker midnight“. The nearly full moon shone through the benches and made an interesting pattern on my tent.

I remembered to bring the new pillow this time, and it worked well. I still need to add a bit more loft, but that was to be expected. Around 5:30, I woke up and crawled out of my tent. According to my thermometer, it was about 40°F. I made a cup of coffee and began to break camp. I decided not to have breakfast here, but to head back to Mt. Laguna to hopefully enjoy some tales from PCTers and have a hot meal at the Pine House Café. I made good time back to the car, even doing some filming along the way. At the trailhead, I chatted with some local day hikers getting ready to make a loop up to Garnet Peak. Once their friends pulled in, I said farewell and set off for breakfast. The Kind bar was enough for those 3 miles, but I now needed a real meal. The Café was closed when I arrived, and a few PCTers were milling about, waiting for it to open. Normally, they are closed on Thursday, but the owner decided to open anyway. I shared a table with a gentleman who has hiked the PCT multiple times. We had a fantastic chat over coffee and our meal. The common thread was “taking advantage of the time you have”. With our stomachs full, we bid goodbye, he continued walking northward and I drove back home. I am going to need to find the time to hike Noble Canyon from the other trailhead and see if there are campsites in that section.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I co-authored 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. I’ve also conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and both the Arizona-Winter and Arizona-Summer).

I look forward to exploring new summits and adventures across the Southwest. 

Backpacking at Granite Springs

As I am working on completing the 100 Peak Challenge for a second time, I needed to climb East Mesa – Peak 5178. When I did the challenge in 2019, I climbed East Mesa High Point, as Derek did not define which East Mesa to summit. He later clarified that the correct peak is East Mesa – Peak 5178. Rather than simply hiking out and bagging the peak, I opted to camp at Granite Springs Primitive Campground, which is just a short distance from the peak. I bought my overnight permit from the kiosk at the Green Valley Campground (Friday through Sunday, the kiosk is staffed), then drove the short distance to the Sweetwater parking area. I grabbed my pack and headed up the Harvey Moore Trail. The trail starts climbing right from the trailhead, so the light breeze that was blowing was welcomed. After about 0.7 miles, the grade lessened, and I kept cruising along. Oakzanita stood off to my right, and Cuyamaca and Cush-Pi (Stonewall) stood far off to my left.

As I passed through East Mesa, I spied East Mesa – Peak 5178, and considered climbing immediately after I set up camp, but I wanted to secure my camping spot first. Soon, the water pump came into view, and I had arrived at the campground. There were three sites here, so I went down the trail past the pit toilets to view my options for the evening. I settled on site #1, under the shade of some large oaks. The other two sites looked fine, but this one also had some nice logs to sit upon and relax. I set up my tent without issue. I had wanted to try a new pillow on this trip, and accidentally brought my old one instead (I actually brought both, but did not see the one I wanted to try until the next morning!). Since it was still Passover, I could not eat a dehydrated meal, so I had packed other food for my time out there. I also decided to bring my own water and not treat the water from the pump.  The sun soon dipped behind Peak 5178, and it began to cool down. I slipped into my tent and relaxed, listening to an audiobook until I drifted off to sleep. I got up once during the evening and grabbed a few night shots before huddling back under my quilt.

Around 6, I woke and had my breakfast. That hot coffee sure hit the spot. My thermometer said it dropped to 38°F overnight. I went back down the East Mesa Fire Road for a short distance before heading cross-country toward the southern slope of Peak 5178.

Initially, the slope was covered in simple grasses and ankle-high brush, but as I worked my way up, the vegetation began to change. With about 40 feet of elevation to go to the summit, I now had to bushwhack my way through the last 100 yards or so. The brush was thick, and more than once, I would try one path, only to reach a thick wall. With a little luck (and a few drops of blood), I reached the summit. A small rock cairn denoted the peak. I could see the fog below me, which made for a unique view. Once I had taken in the view, I whacked my way through the brush and back onto the southern slope. As I cruised along the Harvey Moore Trail once again, I began descending into the fog. I stopped and slipped on my jacket before continuing. Soon, I was back in my car and ready to head home after a great overnight trip. The hike out was 3.9 miles with 979 feet of gain. The side trip up to Peak 5178 was about 300 feet of gain and took about 35 minutes. I think I will find the time to explore the other primitive campground, Arroyo Seco, before too long.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I co-authored 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. I’ve also conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and both the Arizona-Winter and Arizona-Summer).

I look forward to exploring new summits and adventures across the Southwest.