No Knob!

Originally, I had planned to hike up to Rosa Point and Mile High on Sunday, but one set of friends had to back out, and another let me know that his legs were a bit worn from climbing Sawtooth (the one on the SD Peak Club list). So I suggested that Robert and I explore and see if we might be able to climb Knob Benchmark from Sheep Canyon. At worst, it would be another great hike out to Sheep Canyon, and we’d probably have some wildflowers to enjoy as well. We met around 7 at the parking lot next to Jilbertos and transferred into the Outback. Robert and I drove out to the gate at the third crossing. We parked, gathered our gear, and set off. There were quite a few more flowers than last time as we hiked along the stream.

After the climb over Boulder Alley, we met a group of Boy Scouts returning from their overnight. Earlier, we had met a couple of bike-packers. As we got closer to Sheep Canyon, we could see where the recent rains had traveled across the desert sands. We walked over to the campground where another group of backpackers was milling around a picnic table. I assumed they might be WBC course participants, since a lecture was being held. Even with the closure, this is still a busy place. We found another table and had a quick snack break. Now onto the real adventure—could we find a route through Sheep Canyon, then onto Knob Benchmark? The route I had taken before is no longer available, so I was exploring alternatives.

As we headed into the canyon, the sounds of flowing water began to fill the air. A really good flow poured through the brush. That is a good sign for us if we can get in a backpacking trip to attempt SquareTop, as we will need to haul out very little with us. Maybe we could bring some firewood instead? We began slowly, picking our way through the brush and rocks, crossing the creek a few times. After almost an hour of pushing through the increasingly dense growth and only covering about 1/2 mile, we called it. We felt the canyon was going to get thicker and harder. Knob Benchmark is going to require a different route. We got back to the campground and had another snack before heading out. The day had warmed some, an indication of the warmer forecast for the coming week. We cruised back, stopping at the marker again. As we neared the gate, there were a lot more folks out enjoying the flowers. We drove back into town, grabbed a couple of sodas, and enjoyed our lunch at a picnic table under the shade of a cottonwood. While we never got close to the peak, it was still a fantastic day in the desert with some good company.

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, coming in Spring 2026!

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.

Returning to Coyote Mountain

Decided to tackle one of Ted’s remaining peaks on his 100-peak list today. Given his time constraints, Coyote Mountain seemed to fit the bill perfectly. Our drive out had us under overcast skies, but as we dropped down to the desert floor, we left the clouds behind. Unfortunately, not the wind, as it was breezy as we got out of the car. We had the same issue the last time we tried to climb this mountain. The winds were not as strong, and we decided to at least get on the ridge and see how we felt. We crossed the rocky desert floor to the ridge that lay off to the west. As we drew near, we spied some cairns.

Once on the ridge, we could feel the wind, and it was strong enough to move our trekking poles, but nothing beyond that. We decided to continue; however, this was to be a silent climb, as we certainly were not going to be chatting over the wind. The route was almost overmarked with cairns, as well as the fairly well-defined use trail that followed the ridge. For the most part, we kept our heads down to avoid our hats being blown off, and pushed upward. The route goes mostly north, before turning westward to the summit, with a couple of short flat sections. The last time I climbed this peak, I needed to rest from time to time. For this climb, we kept hiking, except to snap a photo here and there.

We reached the wide, broad summit, found the register and benchmark. I signed us in and opted not to enjoy the can of Coors that was in the ammo box. After a quick snack and various photos, we headed back down as the wind was still blowing and there was nothing on the summit to act as a windscreen.

After a few minutes descending, the winds ceased. Since we no longer had to keep our heads down, we could enjoy the expansive views to our east, and we could have a conversation. Along the way, we met two other hikers taking a short break on their ascent. We chatted for a bit before parting ways. Once at the base of the ridge, we followed more cairns that took us farther east than the route we took on the way in. We passed an old water tank, then finally back onto the road, and then our car. We tossed our gear in and changed into some dry shirts, then drove along the road to inspect a structure near the edge of the dry lake bed. This is a small shack labeled as “The Peace House”, and it was quite interesting. Since it is wildflower season out in the desert, here are the various flowers we spotted along our adventure:

After grabbing some Mexican food in town, we headed home. I logged 5.4 miles, while Ted had us at just under 6. Our total time was 3:43, about 45 minutes faster than my last time. The entire climb was 2,573 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, coming in Spring 2026!

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

Returning to Goat Benchmark

The plan was to hike out to Goat Benchmark with Rick & Andrea, and if I was feeling up to it, I might push on to The Sirens and San Ysidro East. With the access closure from Lease Road, the only real option for us to hike to Goat Benchmark was to start from Montezuma Valley Road. I had hiked portions of this route, as far north as White Benchmark, but not between that point and the route I had taken before on my trips into Hellhole Flats. I arrived a bit early and saw the sunrise was really putting on a show, so I continued past our meeting point and drove farther along Montezuma Valley Road to a couple of turnouts to capture it. What a sight!

We were meeting at 7, so I turned around safely and met them at the fence line of Anza-Borrego State Park. The general plan was to head north, following the fence line (and the terrain), then link up with the gully descending toward Hellhole Flats. I was almost over a cold, so I wasn’t sure I had the energy to make the whole trek, but I carried enough to do so. At a minimum, I would have eyes on that new section that I would have to traverse at least once more with Ted to hike up to San Ysidro Peak. The recent rains made the ground a bit soft and damp. The brush was low, so our pants should remain dry. This new route adds about 1.5 miles to the junction of the routes and about 1,000 feet. We worked our way northward, following small use trails and trying to avoid unnecessary climbs. As we approached White, the route options became more complex, with more boulders and steep sections to contend with. We tried to follow the contour lines, but eventually opted to head up toward White Benchmark and a gap to its north. In hindsight, I think it would have been easier just to follow the slope south toward White, then cut across near the summit to that gap. That is what I did upon my return, and that is the better route.

After passing White, we tried to stay on the east side to avoid the property line. A small bump sits just to the north of White, and we found ourselves unable to continue. We debated heading straight east and down a steep slope, then up toward Goat from there, but we opted to try the west side and hug the property line. After a couple of downs and ups across some minor gullies, we turned onto one that would eventually link with the gully that I have used in the past. Once in it, we cruised along. At one point, we had a bit of flowing water that appeared briefly, then faded back underground. I kept a mindful eye for the turn off to Goat. I spotted a familiar landmark, just a small bump, and knew we were getting close. One thing I remember about Goat is that it is not the pile of rocks you think it is, nor the next one… Once there, we took a short break, and I pulled out my wind shell, as it was chilly and breezy. We had been adding and removing layers throughout the hike. We signed the register and snapped a photo of the benchmark. Rick and Andrea were hoping to continue and make it to Webo. I kept debating about my options. I had broken down the various sections for my attempts, and it seemed too much, as we had lost some time on the way out. Plus, the weather was supposed to worsen in the afternoon. I made the call that I was going to retrace our route. I then suggested, since they would be at Webo, why not just take the ridge down rather than slog back the way we came? I could drive down to the parking area and shuttle them back. So, that became the new plan. I gave them a few navigational pointers, and we parted ways.

I found some nice use trails to return me to the main gully, then to the side gully to begin my journey south. I was able to follow our route in with no issues. As I approached White, my right knee began to ache. Not sure if it was cold, or overused, but I was not happy. I wondered if the soft terrain had put some stress on it… Since I was so close to White, I opted to climb it formally. As I mentioned earlier, our route out almost took us to its summit. I climbed the rocks to the top, and then took a quick break for a PB&J. Both Rick and I had cell coverage, and they were atop Webo hunting for the benchmark and the register. They found the benchmark, but the register could not be located. The same was true for me. I could see a pile of rocks on top where one might have been, but no more. I did not look that hard to see if it had been relocated. I then headed southward, not following any particular track, letting the terrain guide me. Since my knee was hurting, I skipped climbing some of the other benchmarks scattered along the way. It had gotten colder and windier, so I was wearing all my layers. Ignoring my knee, I suspected I made the right call to not stay out longer.

Back at the car, I changed and drove on down to Borrego Springs. I grabbed a cold soda from the market and played on my phone a bit while I waited. I got a check-in message from Rick, and eventually made my way over to the parking lot for Hellhole Canyon. I relaxed for a bit until I spotted two tired but happy hikers emerging from along the trail. They tossed their gear in the back, and we made the drive back up to Ranchita. As we drew near where we started from, rain was falling! Boy, did we all make the right choice. It would have sucked hiking back in that! I tracked my hike at 8.3 miles over 6:15 with 2,087 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, coming in Spring 2026!

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

Out to Bernard and Little Berdoo

I awoke just before sunrise. After a nice warm breakfast, I drove down Geology Tour Road to the start of the hike. The road was in pretty good condition, except for two rutted spots that were muddy and had been “enjoyed” by others. At marker 14, I turned off the road and parked. I left a note in the window, grabbed my gear, and set off.

I worked my way eastward toward the wash, which I would follow southward for about 1.5 miles, when it split into two forks. Here, a large cairn marked the exit from the wash, and the climb would begin in earnest. My route took me up a gully and toward a small saddle. A lone boulder just to the east of it helped give me a target to aim for. Once along the ridge, it was now a “simple” process to follow it in a generally southward direction, ever climbing. The route would alternate from mild to steep. After a very convincing false summit, the true summit of Bernard Peak came into view. I scrambled to the summit. A light breeze helped temper the day’s warmth. I found the benchmark and a reference mark. I signed the register before setting off for the next peak (Little Berdoo) after addressing a hot spot on my foot.

I dropped down to another saddle, sad to lose some elevation, but I did pick up an excellent use trail for a while. My route arched over to the summit. Here I found the benchmark, reference mark, and the register. The Coachella Valley was spread out before me as I enjoyed a snack and some electrolytes before heading back.

My route back went well with a few drifts off track, but I quickly corrected my navigation. I enjoyed a Walking Tamale, a new trail food for me, during one of the mellower sections to keep my energy levels up. Way off to the north, I could see the volcanic rocks of Malapai Hill and Geology Tour Road, as I kept descending. Soon, I passed that lone boulder again and down to the wash. Initially, I planned to follow the wash back to the road, then to my car, to avoid the open desert portion again. With a quick check against the saved GPX track I had been using, I saw that I was drifting to the east, so I was going to have some last open desert hiking before reaching the road.

Once back at the car, I enjoyed some cold water, as the day was now in the mid-70s. The thought of hiking up volcanic rocks to the summit of Malapai Hill on a warm day with some tired legs was not something that appealed to me. Tonight’s campsite was down at Cottonwood Springs, so I had a bit of a drive to recover from the day’s efforts. I stopped at the visitor center to ask about the road to the Monument Peak trailhead. The rangers said that up to that point, an AWD car would have no issues. Past that, well, you’d better have a real 4×4 with recovery gear. I got the same campsite as I had last year. The light pollution is a bit worse here, so astrophotography wouldn’t be as good. I quickly set up camp and started cooking while I started a campfire. Unlike last night, there was no breeze, so it was an enjoyable night to enjoy a nice beer and watch the fire.

I awoke slightly before dawn and captured a short time-lapse of the sunrise.

After some oatmeal, OJ, and hot coffee, I decided not to attempt Monument Peak. My legs were still spent from the past two days, and as I still needed to climb Malapai Hill, I knew I had a return trip to Joshua Tree in my future. With that decision, I headed home very satisfied with the hikes and camping. The entire multiple peak hike covered 8.7 miles in 5:44. The total elevation gain was 2,221 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, coming in Spring 2026!

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

A Veterans’ Day hike up El Cajon Mountain

Saturday was the County of San Diego Parks and Recreation’s 10th anniversary warrior challenge hike up El Cajon Mountain. Ted and I had done the same challenge on Memorial Day, and by repeating this hike for Veterans Day, we earned some additional patches and challenge coins! We found one of the last spots along the northbound Wildcat Canyon road and gathered our gear. At the trailhead, we signed in with the rangers, each grabbed our carabiner, a snack, and a photo together, then set off. The carabiners would be used to collect knots from each station along the route. Since we both had hiked this peak multiple times, we just threw it into cruise mode and motored along. We would pass fellow hikers from time to time, and even a couple already returning from the summit (we assumed they had timed their hike to enjoy the sunrise). The aid station at the one-mile mark wasn’t staffed yet, so we would have to grab our knot on the way back. We kept a solid pace as we pushed on toward the next station at the three-mile mark. That station was also not staffed yet, so we would also need to stop here on our descent.

The day was warming up, and that early start was a wise choice. Soon we passed that rusting truck, and thereafter the saddle between El Cajon and El Capitan. We had a quick break before the final steep push to the summit. The familiar green trail markers led us up the slope. A few hikers were milling around the summit, and I recognized James Alvernaz. I had met him a few weeks back at the parking lot at the Idyllwild Ranger station; he was headed up toward Tahquitz and I was off to the summit of San Jacinto. We recognized each other and chatted for a bit. After some snacks and grabbing a few photos, it was time to head down. Plus, there isn’t a lot of room at the summit, and it can get crowded up there.

The initial descent was a bit slow, as many other hikers were making their way up. But once we reached the saddle, the trail widened and we could usually pass without needing to stop. At the three-mile station, now staffed, we grabbed our knots, some snacks, topped off our water bottles with some cold water, and continued our descent. As we neared the one-mile station, we noticed a hiker in some distress, and stopped to see if we could help. Another hiker had been cruising down with us, and between the three of us, we got him some electrolytes and some quick energy gels. He had a companion with him, so we let him rest and let the electrolytes start to take effect. Just a few minutes later, a ranger drove up in a small cart, and we let him know there was a hiker in distress by the nearby kiosk. We later learned that they gave him a lift back to the trailhead.

At the one-mile station, we got our final two knots and a few more snacks. Now the conversation turned to essential matters—lunch. We mulled over the options as we continued down. Once at the trailhead, we collected our patches and coins and thanked the rangers and volunteers for their hard work. Once back at the car, we had settled on Board & Brew as our lunch spot. We hiked the 10.8 miles in 5:27. And remembering how we commented on the heat, the thermometer in the car read 88°F!

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, coming in Spring 2026!

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

Ascending San Jacinto

With the Palm Springs Aerial Tram closed for its annual maintenance, I had three options to ascend Mt. San Jacinto: via Marion Mountain Trail, Devil’s Slide Trail, or Deer Springs Trail. I had done the first two routes, so I decided to try taking the Deer Springs route to the summit. Initially, I had planned to do this as a backpacking trip staying at Little Round Valley, but the weather forecast called for a 40% chance of snow showers, so that was not going to happen. Instead, I opted to just do it as a long day hike instead. I pulled into the Ranger Station in Idyllwild and found that the only permits were for overnight trips. Given the government shutdown, it did not surprise me that the day-use permits had run out. So, figured I would hike without having one (they are free). From there, I made the short drive to the parking area for Deer Springs Trailhead. I shouldered my heavy pack and set off. I opted to carry 2.75 liters of water, as well as my Sawyer filter. According to SacJacJon.com, there should have been some water flowing at various spots along the trail, and the rains from the day before should ensure the flows were good. The temperatures were in the mid-50s, and the skies were partly cloudy as I set off up the trail. I knew I had a long, hard day ahead of me and tried just to keep a steady pace. I mentally broke the hike down into sections, from each trail junction to the next. My first milestone was the turn off to Suicide Rock about 2.1 miles in. Here, I made sure to have a quick snack while I continued my climb. The next up was Strawberry Junction, 1.6 miles later. There, I would now join the Pacific Crest Trail for a while.

When the PCT met with the Marion Mountain Trail, I decided to take a break and have another snack. A Sierra Club Los Angeles outing also arrived just as I did, and also took a short break. It was still cool, and I had worked up a sweat, so I slipped on my fleece to keep from getting a chill. I chatted with some of my fellow hikers. Their plan was to climb Marion Mountain and Drury Peak, two of the several Hundred Peak Section peaks scattered around San Jacinto. I stashed my fleece and set off up the trail toward the junction with Fuller Ridge. However, the breeze was a bit stronger on this side of the mountain, and I quickly stopped and put my fleece back on. Deer Springs was flowing quite nicely, so if I returned this way, I knew I had a solid water source to rely on. The Sierra Club hikers stopped at the Fuller Ridge junction, and I continued, leaving the PCT behind. After about 1.2 miles, I came to Little Round Valley. Some hikers were milling around the creek that was flowing just before the campground. If I had been able to camp here, I would have had a good water source. I looked over some of the campsites. While you can’t reserve them, you are supposed to camp at one of the designated locations. There is a simple outhouse here. Now, it was time for the final push to the summit. I had about 1.2 miles and over 800 feet of gain to reach the junction with the Peak Trail. I could start to feel the effects of the trail as I worked up the steep slope. I was over 10,000 feet up, and I could definitely tell.

I realized I should have had another snack in Little Round Valley, but opted to continue on. Initially, I had planned to stop at the junction for lunch, but the wind made things a tad chilly, so I decided to head for the Emergency Hut that sits just below the summit. I stepped inside, slipped off my pack, and stretched out on one of the bunks. I mixed up some electrolytes and ate my PB&J and oranges. I had a touch of cell service, so I checked in with my wife and let her know my status. Feeling much better, I shut the door to the hut and made the short scramble to the summit proper. The hikers I had passed in Little Round Valley were mingling around. I grabbed a few photos for myself and took a few for them. According to my Govee, it was 48°F and probably 10-15 mph winds, with some stronger gusts. I made the right call to enjoy my lunch in the hut.

With that summit, I completed all 12 peak options on the Six Pack of Peaks Challenge! Now for the long descent back to the car. I debated whether I should retrace my route or head back via Wellman Divide, then over to Strawberry Junction. Since I had never hiked the section from Annie’s Junction to Strawberry, why not? I still had enough water on me, plus I would be passing the Wellman Cienaga if I needed to refill. The descent went smoothly, partly because I brought my rubber tips for my trekking poles, which made them extra grippy through the rockier sections. I stopped at Wellman Divide for another snack and to drink some more electrolytes before continuing down. I also stashed my fleece, as the winds had almost died down completely. At the cienaga, I filled my CNOC bladder with about a liter of water. I did not need it then, but I could not fully remember if I had any remaining water crossings below Strawberry Junction (Narrator: There was one). At Annie’s Junction, I left the Mount San Jacinto State Wilderness and crossed back into the San Jacinto Wilderness. As an added bonus, I rejoined the PCT. The Strawberry Cienaga was dry, and I hiked past it. After getting slightly off the trail a bit due to my wandering over to enjoy a vista, I stopped at the Strawberry Campsite. The campers had their tents set up, ready to enjoy their overnight stay. There was another site off to the west that I might have to come back and enjoy next season.

Back at Strawberry Junction, I saw a trail runner I had seen at the summit. It turned out he missed the turn-off at Annie’s Junction and headed down toward Humbler Park via the Devil’s Slide. He opted to retrace his route rather than continue, but it had added another 6 miles to his already long day. I would have continued down and hitched a ride. I offered some water or food if he needed any. He declined both. We opted to hike the remaining 3.6 miles together, chatting about a myriad of things. Once back at his car, he thanked me for the conversation, saying it had helped distract him during the descent. I then checked my tracker and saw it had stopped a bit after Strawberry Junction. I took a screengrab to record what had been logged, along with an approximate timestamp. With a bit of work, I filled in the missing data. It was now just a touch after 6 pm, almost a full 12 hours on the trail. I let Anita know my status and when to expect me home. All told, I hiked 19.2 miles, with a moving time of 10:10 and an elevation gain of 5,240 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, coming in Spring 2026!

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

Bushwhacking to Middle Peak

Ted & I decided to work on another one of his remaining San Diego Sierra Club peaks. We had a few to choose from, but in the end, opted to go up Middle Peak. We arrived just after 8 am at the Trout Pond parking area, gathered our gear, and set off down Milk Ranch Road. There was a closure order posted for a portion of the trail, but I did not think we would pass by it. We turned right onto the Middle Peak Fire Road and began working our way toward the summit. We did pass the equipment that was being used for the restoration work, but being Saturday, they sat idle. As we neared the top, I began looking for the cairn that would indicate where to leave the fire road and begin the slog through the brush to the summit. I found it and we set off.

I remembered how much I hated this portion of the ascent. We slowly pushed past the overgrowth, trying to spot any cairns, either referring to my past track or just guessing for a bit. We climbed across slowly rotting trees, and as it had recently rained, they were a tad slippery. I can see why this peak was removed from the 100 Peak Challenge. Unless some maintenance is done for this portion, in a few years, it will become impassable. We pushed forward and reached the summit.

There was a register and a summit sign. The mediocre views I remembered from last time were gone, as the brush had grown over my head. After a quick snack and some water, we beat our way back down to the road. Instead of retracing our route, we continued on the fire road until it reached the Black Oak Trail. We followed it down to Milk Ranch Road, then eventually back to the car. It had warmed up, so we were glad to be done. Just 18 to go for Ted. The stats for the hike were: 6.2 miles, in 3:02, with an elevation gain of 1,197 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, coming in Spring 2026!

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

Back atop Mount Elden

I awoke before dawn and quickly packed up my campsite. Today was going to be the final peak in my Arizona Summer Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge. I drove back down toward Flagstaff and pulled into the trailhead. Along the way, I caught a beautiful sunrise through the overcast skies. A few cars were in the lot when I pulled in. With the showers that hit Flagstaff yesterday, I was mindful of the skies as I set off. The trail started off mellow before really starting its climb to the summit. If you are familiar with the hike up Mt. Baden-Powell from Vincent Gap, you know that you get to enjoy a lot of switchbacks.

I climbed from one to another, enjoying the views of the east side of Flagstaff. Partway up, I started to feel a few sprinkles coming down. I stopped and stored my electronics in a ziplock bag in my pack and continued on. After a while, I pulled my phone back out to continue taking photos of the hike. Soon I was passing through more Aspens, and I knew the summit was drawing near. A hiker and his dog, who had run past me earlier, were making their way down. He congratulated me on having a strong hike. That made my day! This past year has been one of a lot of transformations, and the weight loss and its benefits have been so welcomed.

The lookout tower was now before me, and the wind was blowing at a good clip. I found some shelter behind a building and ate a quick snack. I grabbed some summit photos and began my descent, as visitors are not allowed up this tower. The descent went quickly, with my thoughts shifting to the long drive home. I passed a few other hikers making their way up the trail. Before too long, the switchbacks ended, and the end of the trail drew near. I did the 5.15-mile climb in 3:06, with a healthy 2,300 feet of gain. More meaningful was that I was 2 hours faster than last time. I am still processing that fact. Also, that peak completed the Arizona Summer Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge (and my 5th different challenge overall).

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, coming in Spring 2026!

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

Climbing Ontario and Bighorn Peaks

After dropping my son off at the airport for his early morning flight to Chicago, I took advantage of being awake at that hour and drove up Icehouse Canyon to hike Ontario and Bighorn Peaks. The parking lot had some cars in it when I arrived a bit after 7 am. I grabbed my gear, filled out my day-use permit at the trailhead, and set off up the canyon. I have said this before, but it is such a treat to hike in Southern California and hear the sounds of flowing water. As I made my way steadily upward, I passed several folks hiking up with their goal of reaching Icehouse Saddle, and a father and son who were headed to Cedar Glen to camp for the evening. At the saddle, I took a break behind a tree, as a steady breeze was flowing. Given it was going to be another warm day, that breeze was welcomed. After mixing up my electrolytes and finishing my snack, I set off toward Ontario Peak.

Since I hoped to also climb Bighorn Peak afterwards, I kept a close eye on the terrain around where the side trail should be. I found enough visual landmarks at the junction that I felt confident I would find it upon my descent. After finding the turn off, I continued along the ridgeline, pushing past the bushes that bees were busy pollinating. Soon, the peak came into view, and the final push to the summit. As expected, I had the peak to myself. I sat down and enjoyed my PB&J and some of those electrolytes. I planned ahead and bought my tripod to take some better summit photos. When those “chores” were done, I packed up and headed back down.

At the junction, I left the main trail and started toward Bighorn Peak. I caught a glint from the peak, so someone was up there. The trail to the summit was not as used as the main trail and I had to cross over several downed trees. Partway up the mountain, I met the hiker who had been on the summit. We chatted for a bit before parting ways. At the summit, I had another snack and took in the 360° views of the peaks around me: Cucamonga, Ontario, Baldy, Timber, and Telegraph peaks. This was my 50th peak on the Sierra Club Hundred Peaks Section list!

I now took the trail heading east, toward Cucamonga, until I found the trail that would generally follow the ridgeline back toward Icehouse Saddle. It was steep and a bit loose at times, but soon rejoined the Ontario Peak trail, not far from Icehouse Saddle. I continued my descent, stopping for a while to chat with a hiker taking a break. She was training for an attempt to climb Mt. Whitney later this month. I shared what I knew and offered her as much encouragement as I could. While I had enough water for the rest of the descent, I stopped at Columbine Spring to filter some extra. That cold water felt great, as the day had become quite toasty. The rest of the descent went quickly, with just a few flies bothering me from time to time. I got back in the car, changed shirts, and headed home. When I went to look up the actual recorded stats for the hike, Runkeeper lost the track. OnX Backcountry routes out the hike at 11.7 miles with 4,185 feet of gain. Using timestamps on my photos, I did the route in about 7 hours, 20 minutes. Just one more peak, San Jacinto, to climb to finish all 12 of the SoCal Six Pack of Peaks!

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, coming in Spring 2026!

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

Up the Baldy Bowl Trail

With a cup of hot coffee, I set off for the 2-hour drive to Manker Flats. The goal of today’s hike was to first climb Mt. Baldy, then climb Mt. Harwood as well. While 4:00 am comes awfully early, I certainly enjoy the lighter traffic on the freeways going to my various trailheads. After grabbing McDonald’s along the way, I pulled into a parking space at Manker Flats. While I have climbed Mt. Baldy twice before, those ascents were always during the Climb for Heroes hikes, and they use the Devil’s Backbone route both up and back. Today, I wanted to climb to the summit via the Ski Hut route. I quickly grabbed my gear, made sure my America the Beautiful pass was hanging from my mirror, and set off. My route initially was on the paved road that provides access to some of the cabins along the creek. As the pavement ended, I could see San Antonio Falls streaming down before me. This was another landmark that was new to me. I opted to save hiking over to it upon my return, and continued my climb on the now dirt road. Soon, the sign marking the Baldy Bowl Trail came into view. At the trail register, I signed in, then continued on.

From time to time, I would pass other hikers as I kept climbing. Views of the Baldy Bowl would appear through the trees, as did views of the LA basin to the south. Thankfully, the area was saved from the recent fire. I caught a glimpse of the famous ski hut up ahead of me, and before too long, I reached the small spur trail leading to it. After walking around, I took advantage of the toilet behind it. This would make a lovely rest stop, but I was feeling good, so I pressed on. The nearby spring was flowing nicely. While I had my water filter with me, I did not need any additional water.

The trail turned west, then crossed the base of the Baldy Bowl. Once past that section, the trail turned northward and began the ascent along the west side of the bowl to the peak. The trail would split apart from time to time, but it would always come back together. It was more of a “choose-your-own-adventure” type of experience. Occasionally, signs would help guide me along the route.

I could tell I was nearing the summit just by looking across to the east and seeing my position relative to the bowl. Soon, the rock shelters came into view, as did the metal plaque. I had reached the summit once again! There were a couple of others enjoying the views and the relativel quiet. This was quite the contrast to what the summit looks like during the Climb For Heroes (or probably most weekends).

I enjoyed some snacks and electrolytes under the cloudless skies. After taking a few photos, I began my descent via the Devil’s Backbone. My next goal was to climb Mt. Harwood, which sits just to the north of the main trail. This peak is on the Hundred Peaks Section list and was to be my 49th. Unlike during the Climb for Heroes, I was under no time pressures. A use trail took me up and over to the summit. There is no register or benchmark, just rewarding views.

After rejoining the main trail, I navigated the Devil’s Backbone without issue. I opted to take the straighter route down to the Notch, and my knees were not happy. Once at the Notch, I found a table in the shade and enjoyed my PB&J while staring back up at the peak I just climbed.

While the ski lift was running, which had some appeal, I grabbed my poles and set off down the service road. Soon, I reached the spur trail to the falls and made my way over to them. A few folks were there enjoying the cool water. I grabbed a few photos, dunked my hat under the falls, and headed back to the car. After my miscalculations about Mt. Whitney, doing this hike felt redemptive. I covered the 10.3 miles in 6:08 and recorded over 3,899 feet of gain. That leaves just two more peaks left to complete all 12 peaks on the Six Pack of Peaks Challenge-SoCal.

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, coming in Spring 2026!

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

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Bring the Outdoors to Your Inbox

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