Up atop Viejas Mountain

With Ted away at his youngest son’s “Family Weekend”, I went out with Becca to help her slowly work through her 100 peaks. We had some time constraints, so we settled on Viejas Mountain. I picked her up bright and early; thankfully, we got an extra hour of sleep due to the time change. As we drove to the trailhead, we caught up on our recent adventures — her trip to Seattle to visit her best friend and my attendance at the California Outdoor Recreation Partnership meeting in Carmel Valley. Approaching the trailhead, various signs warned of trespassing on private property and the threat of towing. I pulled up my OnX app and confirmed that the trailhead and the trail were in Cleveland National Forest land. I later learned that the issue is around the road itself. The property owner maintains the road that cuts through the CNF section, and that is the source of the conflict. After the government shutdown ends, I plan to ask CNF about the issue.

Becca remarked, “How would you know there is a trail here?” I said, “Research on doing the various hiking challenges,” and we set off up the rocky trail. The trail scales the west face of the mountain, working its way upward at a steady but steep grade. The trail wasn’t too rutted, but still as rocky as I remembered. The upside of this time was that the skies were clear and the rocks weren’t slick.

When we reached the ridgeline, a fellow hiker and her two dogs were returning from the summit. We chatted a bit about the signs at the trailhead, and she said she had spoken to CNF about it, and they weren’t going to tow. She headed back down, and we continued along the ridgeline to the summit.

At the summit, we posed for a few photos, and I looked again for the actual benchmark. The last time I was here, it was half-covered by the wind shelter. This time, I could not locate it at all. Since we needed to be mindful of the time, we did not linger and began our return. Becca had never learned that you should extend your trekking pole length on a descent, and realized how much adding just a touch of length really helped. Finally, the car came back into view, and our adventure was drawing to a close. Back at the car, we were glad we started early, as the day had warmed up. This hike offers no shade except when the sun is behind the mountain. I recorded us hiking 2.9 miles with 1,455 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!

In 2019, I became the third person to complete the San Diego 100 Peak Challenge. Not stopping with that accomplishment, I set my sights on the harder San Diego Sierra Club 100 Peak list, which I completed in 2021. In addition, I have conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and both the Arizona-Winter and Arizona-Summer). I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

Exploring Garland Ranch

After crossing the Carmel River, we passed a nice visitor center as we got our bearings. Four of us headed along the trail with Scott Ammons from the Catalina Conservancy as our guide. We made a left turn toward the Maple Canyon trail and began our climb. Fallen leaves were scattered along the trail, and poison oak lined it as well, as the trail kept working its way up the ridge.

We chatted about various things as we passed numerous trail junctions. This preserve has a nice collection of trails, so we had to be mindful of our route. Unfortunately, we did not have the time to climb all the way to the ridge, so we followed the hillside to a nice meadow and took a short break.

Now we began our return down toward the trailhead. Along the way, we passed a seasonal waterfall. Unfortunately, it was dry, but it must be quite the sight when flowing. Soon we were back along the side of the creek, making our way back toward the visitor center and the trailhead. It was a pleasant 3.7-mile hike with a healthy 666 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!

Second breakfast on Cerro Alto

After a fairly restful sleep, except for the owls hooting around 3 am, I ate some oatmeal while I broke camp. In this instance, “breaking camp” mostly meant deflating the air mattress. I brewed a cup of coffee and made sure I had everything squared away before heading out for the next adventure, hiking Cerro Alto Peak. This was another peak on the Lower Peaks Committee list, and given how far away it is from San Diego, it was one I wanted to get on this trip. Before leaving Los Osos, I stopped at Carlock’s Bakery for a nice cinnamon roll and some milk. I have been listening to The Lord of the Rings, so why not get a second breakfast? I made the short drive to the campground and paid my $10 day-use fee. The campground sits along a narrow ravine, with campsites scattered on either side. The day-use area is at the end of the road. Pit toilets and water are available, so I topped off my water bottles before heading out.

There are two trailheads you can take to the summit: the Canyon Trail, which is almost next to the day-use area, or the Bridge Trail, which is about 30 yards back down the road. I opted to take the Bridge Trail up. After crossing the bridge, the trail steadily worked its way upwards. The trail was mainly in the shade from the mountainside, but I was comfortable in just my sun-hoodie (my fleece was in my pack if needed). The hills had started to turn green again after a recent rainstorm, and from time to time, Morro Rock could be seen off to the west.

Signs marked each junction, so navigation wasn’t an issue, except for one spot. OnX showed one trail as the recommended route, but a clear trail marker pointed to the other trail. I opted to listen to the marker. The trail started to get a bit rockier, but nothing too bothersome, as it still climbed at a comfortable grade. Finally, I came to one final junction; the sign said 0.25 miles to the summit. Once at the summit, I took in the sweeping views. Unlike yesterday’s summit, today I was rewarded with clear views all around. Morro Bay and its famous rock stood almost directly to my west. I slipped off my pack and enjoyed that cinnamon roll and milk. After my snack, it was time to head back down.

I had made good time, so I opted to take the longer Canyon Trail back to the car. Along the way, I met several groups of hikers working their way to the summit. This trail had some lovely shade, and without the effort of climbing, I almost started to get a chill. A few sections were steep, in contrast with what I thought was an almost steady grade on the other trail. I crossed over the lightly flowing creek and, before too long, found myself back at the day-use area. It was a nice way to start the day.

The loop was 4.63 miles, and I did it in 1:58, with a gain of 1,640 feet. That was my 19th LPC peak, just 68 to go!

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!

Into the fog atop Valencia Peak

I was headed to the 4th annual California Outdoor Recreation Partnership Basecamp in Carmel, CA. With the drive being so long, I decided to break it up by stopping in Montana de Oro. I had hoped to stop by the Channel Islands Visitor Center to get my passport stamp and patch, but the government shutdown put that plan on hold. I made good time, had lunch in San Luis Obispo —a tri-tip sandwich, of course —and then made the short drive toward Los Osos. Since I had a virtual meeting with one of my professors, I hung out near the library for the call. Once that was over, I headed into the park to hike up Valencia Peak. I skipped this summit when I was here for the Central Coast Six Pack of Peaks challenge, and since it is on the Lower Peak Committee list, I still wanted to climb it. Rather than take the same trail I used on my hike out to Alan Peak, I opted for the Badger Trail.

Clouds hung low, and I knew I was not going to be rewarded with a summit view, but that was ok. The scent of the eucalyptus trees mingled with the salt air as I made my way up from the parking area. After a short climb, one of the three primitive campsites was off to my left. The trail continued gently toward the peak, following the contours of the terrain as it climbed. Soon, it joined the trail I had used out to Alan Peak. I stayed on it for a bit, until I reached another junction. Here, a sign pointed the way toward the summit.

The trail began to make its climb in earnest, and switchbacks from time to time helped ease the effort. While there were still clouds, I had some lovely views of the coast and the Pacific Ocean. The uplift of the rocks is very clear throughout this section, making it a bit hard to hike across, so take some care if you do this climb. After crossing along a short ridge, the final push to the summit began and before too long, I stood atop it. A picnic table sat there, and on a clear day, the views must be something.

I wandered about the summit for a bit, looking for a benchmark or register, but no luck. I retraced my route back from the mountain, greeting other hikers as they made their way up. As I neared the campsite again, I wandered over to the picnic table and food locker. What a campsite, with a wide open vista onto the Pacific Ocean! I would like to consider this spot next time I visit.

Back at the car, I tossed in my pack and poles, then walked across the road to stroll down to the bluff and enjoy some of the ocean views a bit closer before heading to my campsite for the night. I bought some firewood from the camphost, and quickly set up my site. It took a bit to get the fire going, but it eventually lit. As I ate my dinner under the glow of the crackling fire, I reflected on the events that had led me here and the new journey I was on. The hike up Valencia Peak was 4.05 miles, in 1:42 with 1,257 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!

Atop Guatay Mountain

Looking at Ted’s remaining peaks on the 100 Peak Challenge, we settled on Guatay Mountain. We pulled into the Pine Valley Creek Trailhead, and as we stepped out of the car, we were greeted by the cold. I quickly slipped my fleece on, and Ted debated his layering strategy. Once we were settled, we headed toward the trailhead. After passing through the gate, we followed the trail westward. A few bits of poison oak lined the trail, but it was all avoidable. By the time we reached the left turn at the metal barrier, it was time to shed our layers. The trail now began climbing in earnest and was as rutted as I remembered.

Once at the ridgeline, we again turned westward along the trail and started to hear gunshots off to the south. I assume they were hunting doves or other fowl, given the season and time of day.

The trail continued climbing over several false summits and had some steep rocky sections, just like I remembered. Soon, the real summit came into view, and we were atop it. The day had warmed up nicely, and the skies were clear. Familiar mountains stood all around us. I signed the register, and we snapped photos with the summit sign before heading back down. The descent went quickly, and soon we were back at the car. It was still too early to stop at McKinley’s in Alpine, so we opted to hit Board & Brew in Scripps Ranch. Ted now has 18 remaining peaks for the challenge. With a little luck, maybe by Spring 2026, he can complete it! The hike was 5.7 miles in 2:47, and a nice gain of 1,711 feet. Happily, we were 25 minutes faster than my last time.

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!

Strolling through Cuyamaca

I met up with Larry Edmonds for his “Hike of the Month” at the parking area near Trout Pond, and finally had the chance to meet Jim Wick. Jim is a fellow Peakbagger who joined us for this hike. Six of us made our way eastward towards the Los Caballos trail. It was certainly fall, as it was chilly, but once we got moving, the temperature was perfect.

We crossed over Hwy. 79 and continued southward toward the Paso Pichaco campground. We skirted it as we turned westward and onto the Azalea Glen Loop trail, while the smell of early morning campfires filled the air. Jim, Larry, and I swapped peakbagging stories as we cruised along the trail.

We stopped at the morteros, filled with water from the recent storm. Acorns lay scattered around under a massive oak tree. Once we regrouped, we would begin climbing up toward Azalea Springs Fire Road. Our route then turned north and met Milk Ranch Road. We took a short break here, in part to marvel at the shell of a very old oak, and the new oaks growing inside of it. I had some coursework to attend to, so I bid farewell to the group and headed back along Milk Ranch Road.

Since I needed to drop off some book-related cards at Kit Fox Outfitters, I took the route through Julian and Wynola. Something was happening in Wynola, as the line of cars coming up the hill must have been 1.5 miles long! All told, the hike was 6.35 miles, in 2:51, and had a healthy 780 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!

Alone on South Fortuna

For some reason, I had the desire to climb the South Fortuna Stairs, so I pulled into the San Diego River Crossing Staging Area and grabbed my gear. I headed down the service road to the river crossing. The river was almost completely stagnant as I walked across the small weir. From there, I followed the San Diego River Crossing Trail under the warm sun up to the junction with the Suycott Valley Trail. Now, to lose that elevation that I just gained to connect with the South Fortuna Trail. Being early afternoon on a weekday, there was not another visitor to be seen.

After a short climb onto the ridge, the stairs started to come into view. While it’s not the Manitou Incline, it is still a good, challenging climb. Once I got past the stairs, I still had a bit to go to the actual summit. It was a nice, clear day, so the other peaks of Mission Trails were standing proudly. Maybe someday I will finally do them all in one day…

After a quick break, I continued northward toward the Fortuna Saddle. I opted not to climb North Fortuna today and descended back down to Suycott Valley Trail from the saddle. Along the way, I passed a small memorial for someone who I later learned recently died there in a mountain biking accident. Throughout the hike, the buzz of small planes and the occasional military aircraft filled the air, but I also heard a helicopter. Looking off to the east, I spied Rescue 1 flying toward the Climbers Loop. It appears a climber had taken a fall, and a rescue was underway. I never found out more about the incident. When I arrived back at the trailhead, Mission Gorge northbound was closed. The entire hike was 5.2 miles, in 2:34, with a healthy 1,265 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!

A loop through Arroyo Seco

I pulled into Green Valley Campground and paid my $10 day-use fee. Since the Cuyamaca Endurance 100k was happening, I found parking near the entrance rather than closer to the trailhead, which was being used by the racers. I gathered my gear and set off. I was also trying on my new Ridge Merino hoodie for this hike.

I planned to hike to the Arroyo Seco Primitive Campground, then continue up to the ridge and back down to the trailhead. The hike to the campground follows the Arroyo Seco Fire road. The grade is pretty gentle, so if you have a heavy pack or this is your first overnight adventure, it won’t feel like you are summiting Mt. Everest.

The campground has three sites. Site 1 is back behind the water pump. This water is intended for horses traveling through this area, so please bring your own. Just past this spot, you will see signage to sites 2 and 3, as well as the horse corrals and the path to the pit toilets. Both sites 2 and 3 have picnic tables and enough room for a tent.

After my survey, I continued along the fire road for a bit. When I arrived at the Fox Trail junction, I noticed that the racers had stayed on the fire road, so I took the Fox Trail. This single-track trail worked its way up the slope. I was sweating a bit, as my new shirt was keeping me a bit too toasty. Once it really starts to cool off, it is going to be perfect. Once on the ridge, I turned eastward and followed the West Mesa Trail back down. Since I was going to pass right by Airplane Ridge, I had to hop off the trail and bag that peak again. Unfortunately, it appears that the register is no longer there.

Once back on the main trail, I kept motoring on. I debated making the side trip to the Airplane Monument, but decided to skip it and follow the Monument Trail instead. From time to time, I had some sweeping views off to the east. Soon, I found myself approaching the campground as I passed the amphitheater just before reaching the parking lot. It was a nice loop for my first fall hike of 2025. I logged it at 5.28 miles in 2:07 with a gain of 999 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!

Adventures in Mt. Rainer National Park

Our first hike in Mount Rainier National Park was the 0.4-mile Twin Firs Loop Trail. Sadly, the namesake firs are gone, but we had a nice stroll through some old-growth forest.

After a quick stop at the visitor center in Longmire, we took a nice saunter along the Trail of the Shadows. There we saw some mineral springs and an old cabin.

We then made a short stop at Christine Falls to admire both the falls and the bridge that spans the narrow Van Trump Creek canyon. Next on our journey to Paradise was Narada Falls. This required hiking down about 200 feet of elevation to really get a good view of the cascading water.

Once we reached Paradise (aka Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center), we found some parking and set off on another hike, this time along the Nisqually Vista Trail. While the entire trail is paved, the 1.2-mile loop gave us some great views of the mountain. Once done with the loop, we took a connector trail to the visitor center. We both were getting hungry, so we first checked out the offerings at the Tatoosh Cafe in the Paradise Inn, but nothing struck our fancy. The main dining room was not open, so that option was out. So, we strolled back to the grab-and-go place in the visitor center.

After our lunch, I got my Junior Ranger badge. While the air quality wasn’t great, I still wanted to get in a more strenuous hike. I grabbed a KN95 mask and set off up the Skyline Trail while Anita stayed and relaxed at the visitor center. While initially paved, the trail wasted no time in gaining some elevation. Thankfully, the grade eased, and I cruised along. The views of Rainier were stunning, with the various glaciers scattered about its face. At Glacier Vista, I marveled at the waterfall spilling off Wilson Glacier.

Since I had made good time, I continued along the Skyline Trail to Panorama Point. There, my views turned southward. I could see the haze hanging in the air, and was again thankful to have my mask on. I debated doing the whole Skyline Loop, but opted to mostly retrace my ascent but take an alternative route to climb Alta Vista. I continued down to the visitor center and found Anita comfortably sitting inside. I bought a few small souvenirs and we headed out.

Although we had some delays due to road construction, we stopped at Reflection Lake for one last stroll. I knew the air quality would mean that hiking up to Pinnacle Saddle would not afford the views of the mountain that I would want, so with that, we headed out of the park and checked into our hotel.

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!

A “berry” good time at Kanaka Flats

The parking lot was empty when we arrived. It was just after 7:30, and Ted and I were hoping that our early start would let us avoid some of the forecasted heat. We cruised down the wide trail/road, with the occasional cow or two off to the side.

After crossing the creek, we began the climb up toward Kanaka Flat. Once there, we turned north, then left the main trail and followed a well-used cow path that led us up to the ridge. The path faded into the grasses, but we pushed southward along the ridge. I found the rock pile again, and after double-checking our position on Peakbagger, we had reached the summit.

We snapped a few photos and then discussed our descent. Option 1: retrace our route. Option 2: follow a path down toward the east and rejoin the trail there. Option 3: Continue southward along the ridgeline until we rejoined the main trail. We chose option 3. We were soon back on the main trail and headed back to the trailhead. We met a few other folks heading out while we hustled back to the back. Along the way, we stopped and picked a few blackberries growing along the side of the trail. While some were tart, a couple were nice and ripe. Once back at the car, we tossed in our gear while a nearby horse trailer was being unloaded. The car said it was already 82°F! This longer loop was 6.7 miles, and we covered it in 2:25. Our total elevation gain was 912 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!

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