Shaking on the Desert View Loop

I decided to return to William Heise County Park and hike up to Glen’s View. I had hiked up to this replacement peak a couple of years back on one of Larry Edmond’s Hike of the Month trips. That hike explored more of the surrounding trails. This time, I was interested in just the Desert View Trail, as my foot was not quite 100%. I drove out and used the QR code to pay my $5 day use fee, then drove over to the trailhead parking that was further in the park and not the one next to the entry kiosk.

Starting on the Nature Trail, I began working my way up toward the summit. Various markers helped identify the plants and trees that line the trail. After about 0.3 miles, the Nature Trail meets up with the Desert View Trail. I turned right to enter that trail and really started my climb. With my foot being a bit off, I took my time climbing the over 400 feet of elevation to the viewpoint. The viewpoint sits off a small marked spur. There is a beautifully built monument that stands with a viewfinder mounted atop it. I took a moment to peer through it, aiming at the marked locations on its base. After enjoying the view and a refreshing drink, I began my return. This trail is a loop, so when the viewpoint spur rejoined the Desert View Trail, I continued my counter-clockwise route. This section was not quite as steep as the route up, and offered some nice views to the west. My son, who was visiting his girlfriend in Chicago, called, so I chatted with him while I continued my descent. While still on the phone with him, I heard a very loud rumble and almost immediately, the ground shook violently. I hung up with Ben and took stock of the earthquake that had just happened. I had never experienced one outside, and it was different, seeing everything moving around me. I continued back down to the car, staying aware of things around and above me, not knowing if a larger quake might be still to come. Back at the car, I discovered that the calculated epicenter was very, very close to me! I pulled up the USGS website and submitted my observations for their citizen data collection effort. A ranger drove by, and we chatted a bit before he went to inspect the restrooms for any damage. On the drive home, I did see rocks that had fallen onto the roadway at a couple of spots.

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. In 2019, I became the third person to complete the San Diego 100 Peak Challenge. Not stopping with that accomplishment, I set my sights on the harder San Diego Sierra Club 100 Peak list, which I completed in 2021. In addition, I have conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and Arizona-Winter). Beyond attempting the San Diego Sierra Club 100 Peak list a second time, I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

A peak in Kanaka Flats

In my effort to complete the 100 Peak Challenge a second time, I needed a few of the replacement peaks that Derek had added after I had completed the challenge in 2019. One of those peaks was Peak 4292, out on the Kanaka Flats near Santa Ysabel. I have hiked out in the Santa Ysabel East Preserve numerous times, sometimes for the San Dieguito River Foundation’s Coast to Crest Challenge and sometimes just with friends or family. The peak lies off the main trail, so I would have to purposely alter my route to climb it. After waiting to bypass some road construction, I pulled into an empty parking area. The grasses along the trail were still green, and tiny flowers dotted the grassy carpet. The actual trail had just been graded as part of a fire prevention measure, making it very easy.

I crossed the flowing Santa Ysabel Creek and began the climb up to Kanaka Flats. At the junction of the Kanaka Flat Loop, I turned left. Shortly, I spied a cow trail that led up to the small hill that sits toward the eastern end of the flats. Following it up the slope, I then turned southward along the hill’s ridgeline to the “summit”, again trying to stay on one of the existing cow paths. Checking my location on my phone, I located the marked summit. There is no benchmark or register, just a grand view of the area.

Due to a timing error on my part, I did not have a good pre-hike breakfast, and I was getting hungry, so I retraced my route back down from the peak and onto the trail. The day was warming up, and I was glad to be heading back to the car. Once back at the car, I decided to avoid the long delays on Wynola Road due to that construction and to loop through Julian proper. By the time I got to Santa Ysabel, it was too late for a full breakfast, so I opted for a cinnamon roll from Dudley’s to quell my hunger. The entire hike was 6.26 miles, and I did it in 2:00:59. I have just 8 more peaks left to finish Derek’s list (I wonder if I will finish it a second time before he finishes…)

Along the Old Coach Road…

I wanted to explore some more new-to-me trails, so one afternoon, I decided to finally hike the Old Coach Trail in Poway. I pulled into the empty staging area just north of Espola Road and set off to the north. Initially, this trail (technically “Justin’s Trail” for this section follows the road for 1/2 mile. Then, on the other side of the road is a signpost for the Old Coach Trail. My route now skirted the edge of a neighborhood, following an old dirt road along a riparian stream bed of Sycamore Creek. The Old Coach Trail served as the route for Butterfield Stage service between Poway, Escondido, and San Diego in the late 19th Century before being replaced by the coastal railroad and the rise of automobiles.

I climbed up and down, winding through another of those fine old oak groves which, according to the City of Poway, are some of the oldest in the city. After crossing a very fine bridge over Sycamore Creek, I could see the Maderas Golf Club off to the east. I even found an errant golf ball on the trail (I mean really errant!). It was now I would begin a good climb toward Heritage Drive.

The trail made a turn to the east along this road before turning northwest again onto a paved fire access road. I made my way down the steep grade, with a view of the Highland Valley before me. Once at the bottom, I passed around the border of the AQUA 2000 Research Facility, which was an experimental aquaculture water treatment facility that is currently inactive. From there, I hiked through the nursery, following the signs until I reached Old Coach Staging Area on Highland Valley Road. I grabbed a quick snack and retraced my route. Beyond one lone mountain biker, I had the trail completely to myself. Due to a miscommunication with a friend, I had to hustle the last mile and a half to make it back for a dinner engagement. With that said, this was still a great hike with 7.75 miles and a healthy 1,125 feet of gain.

Looping around Van Dam Peak

Originally, I was planning on hiking out to Eagle Crag with the Sierra Club, but the spring storm that was blowing through the area made that 18-mile hike a bit unappealing, to say the least. Maybe I will do that peak later in conjunction with Agua Tibia and camp? I wanted to get in a hike for the Oboz Trails for Trees challenge, so I decided to hike up North Van Dam Peak. Since this would be my fourth time doing this peak, I wanted to try it from the Iola Way trailhead. The trail begins from the end of a cul-de-sac. Actually, there are two trails; one leading directly west that stays low and one to the right that climbs up the south side of the peak. Under a mix of clouds and sun, I followed the right trail as it steadily climbed toward one of the minor bumps that surround the summit. Along the way, a mountain biker was making their way down the trail. This area is heavily used by mountain bikers, so one does need to be a bit more cautious while hiking these trails.

The trail turned northward and crested that minor bump. I considered bushwhacking over to Van Dam Peak, but it is North Van Dam Peak that is on Derek’s 100 Peaks list. Soon, the concrete slab came into view. I checked out the graffiti, which now has a Bluey and Bingo on it, before continuing on.

Beyond starting a new trailhead, I was going to loop around the area and explore the eastern portion of the peak. I had created a route in OnX Backcountry and followed it as I came to the various junctions I encountered past the summit. From time to time, I would pass jumps that had been built by riders, reinforcing my need for awareness on this trail. The descent went quickly, and I soon found myself back in the neighborhood, walking along the sidewalk to my car. This was a pleasant loop that covered 3.5 miles and 724 feet of gain.

Camping on Corte Madera

When I awoke and saw that it had rained overnight, I wondered what the conditions at Corte Madera might be like. I checked the forecast, and it remained as before: a high in the mid-60s, a forecasted low in the mid-40s, and a light breeze. After lunch with Rick to discuss an upcoming trip, we tossed my gear in the car and set off under still cloudy skies. I needed a wilderness permit, so I stopped at the Ranger Station in Alpine and picked one up. The Ranger had never heard of anyone camping back there, so I filled her in on the details from my last trip. With my permit in hand, I drove out to the trailhead. As I neared the Laguna Crest, the clouds stopped, and a warm sun shone down. Once at the parking area, I quickly shouldered my pack and set off. I cruised along the road to the turn-off to the Espinoza trail and began working my way up toward the Espinoza saddle. As I neared the saddle, I could see the clouds covering it. Once there, the views to the west were completely socked in. I hoped that the campsite would be above them. I turned onto the road and headed toward the next junction. Thankfully, I quickly did rise above the cloud layer, and the sun once again shone down.

I climbed up the steep trail, testing out the grip of my new shoes and enjoying their lightness with every step. Unlike last time, where I needed to stop at one of the overlooks, I felt great and pushed on. The manzanita is beginning to encroach on the trail, so long pants and long-sleeved shirts are highly recommended. Corte Madera finally came into view, sitting above a blanket of clouds below. I cruised over to the same campsite I used before. Since I was filming this trek, I set up my camera and recorded a time-lapse of setting up.

Once set up, I hiked the 0.1 miles over to the summit. After enjoying the view and reflecting on recent events, I headed back to camp. Initially, I had hoped to sleep without the rain fly, but some fog rolled in, and I reluctantly added it. I cooked my dinner as the sun sank beneath the clouds. Retreating to my tent, I listened to some podcasts for a while. The fog had retreated, and the stars shone in the moonless night sky. I spent some time taking photos, adjusting various settings on the iPhone’s camera, and taking advantage of having a tripod.

I woke before sunrise and made a cup of coffee, which I enjoyed in the tent. I headed back over to the summit to watch the actual sunrise. There was a peace in my heart and a sense of comfort as its rays spread across the vista before me. Returning back to camp, I finished packing up and headed out. The return went quickly, as a warm breakfast was waiting for me in Alpine. One of the questions I had was how much water I would consume during this overnight. I carried out 4.25 liters and only used about 2.25 liters. If I had made a proper breakfast, then I probably would have been closer to using 3 liters. I also drank a liter before leaving, so that reduced my water usage as well. With that, only two more peaks to climb to finish the 2025 San Diego Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge.

Completing the CRHT

When blisters forced me to end my thru-hike of the California Riding and Hiking Trail in Joshua Tree, I began thinking of options to complete the last 11 miles. Initially, in mid-March, I had planned to hike the Eagle Rock Loop in Arkansas in conjunction with my grand-niece’s 3rd birthday. Unfortunately, my sister’s condition worsened, and she was placed on hospice. So, I decided to reschedule that backpacking trek until the fall. That also meant that I would have the time to spend the two days I needed to finish off the CRHT. We flew back to Little Rock for the birthday, but my sister took an unexpected turn and passed away late Saturday evening. My wife and I arrived home in San Diego very late on Monday. When it was just a visit, just the party and time with family, I penciled in doing the CRHT on the Wednesday and Thursday after we returned. I talked it over with Anita, and she said I should still go. Some time alone out in the wilderness will be good for you, plus Mindy always loved my adventures. It let her “get out” when she no longer could. So, on Tuesday, I assembled my gear and was ready to set out for some healing time on the trail.

My plan was straightforward: Start from the North Entrance Trailhead, hike to the Geology Road Trailhead, then make a U-turn and hike back to the car. The drive out was pretty uneventful. This time, I made sure I had my hiking shoes. Actually, two pairs of hiking shoes. After the blisters for the first attempt and an issue during my hike in Borrego Palm Canyon, I decided to switch to Altra Lone Peak 9’s. This hike would be their maiden voyage on my feet. I did bring my Merrell Moab 2’s just in case I found that I did not like the new shoes, I might be able to return to the car and switch my footwear. I planned two water caches; the first was two 1-liter bottles at the Arch Rock Trailhead (1 liter for the hike out and the other for the hike back), and the second cache was at the Geology Road Trailhead, where I left one 1-liter bottle. Like before, I carried two 1-liter bottles on the sides of my pack and a .75-liter bottle in my shoulder pouch.

I parked at the trailhead and gathered my gear. The weather was perfect, with just a light breeze. I brought my tripod again, this time hoping for more filming along the way. The trail heads mostly southward and gently gains in elevation. After just 6 miles, I spotted Belle Campground and made a slight detour. I used the pit toilet and found an empty picnic table to sit at and enjoy my lunch. After some tuna, oranges, and a Kit-Kat bar, I set off toward the Arch Rock Trailhead. There, I picked up one of the water bottles and slipped it into my pack.

The trail now turned eastward. As my shoes crunched on the desert floor, my thoughts turned to my sister. My mom had given her up for adoption before I was even born (11 years to be exact), and I did not learn of her existence until 2000 (by accident). Finally, in 2018, we discovered one another and had seven wonderful years together. Soon, I spotted the recommended campsite and found a perfect spot to pitch my tent. After setting up camp, I looked at the time and was feeling good, so I changed my plans. Initially, I had planned to hike out to Geology Road to pick up the water cache in the morning and hike the 11+ miles back to the car. Instead, I decided to go ahead and hike over, get the liter, and hike back, making it closer to the original plan in February. I left the trekking poles behind as they were holding up my tent and headed out. It was so weird to hike without them, I didn’t know what to do with my hands… Soon, I saw the glint of sunlight on a windshield and knew the trailhead was close. I reached it in no time and gathered my water. I reflected on the difference—the last time I was here hiking, my feet had blisters, and I was completely defeated. This time, while my heart was filled with sadness from the loss of my sister, the rest of me felt great, including the feet in the new shoes.

Once back at camp, I relaxed in the chair I brought and watched the sun sink lower over the horizon. I made dinner and soon crawled into my tent to drift off to sleep. Initially, there was to be a SpaceX launch out of Vandenberg around 11, but I had a cell signal and learned that the launch had been delayed, so I deleted that alarm from my phone. During the night, I did wake up and try for some photographs of the incredibly starry night I was sleeping under. I really need to find some good tutorials of how to adjust the settings to get better night photography.

I woke around 6, before the sunrise. As I packed up, I kept an eye out toward the east to capture the first rays of the rising sun. After a quick breakfast of oatmeal and a cup of coffee, I was ready to head out. While yesterday was fairly easy, today was even easier as it was almost all downhill. I spent more time reflecting on my sister, letting this journey be a part of my grieving and healing process. Some formal events were planned, but I needed time for myself. I picked up my remaining bottle and kept on cruising. I again made a bio-break at Belle Campground and dumped my trash. I passed a few folks starting their journey as I drew nearer to the end of mine. Once back at the camp, I was happy to have hiked the entire trail, and while not all in one go, it was still a continuous footpath. After a stop at the Visitor Center for some stickers and a patch, I enjoyed a good burger and a well-earned beer in Joshua Tree. As for the shoes, they worked pretty well, although I did develop one blister. I suspect it might be my pace again. For both legs of the hike, I held just over 21-minute miles, which is really fast. I think if I just went slower, my feet would be fine. The final stats were 23.3 miles in 9:27 and 1,700 feet of gain.

Oakzanita Loop

My good friend Becca is going to be hiking the Trans-Catalina Trail in May and wanted to start upping her hiking miles. I offered some options for her and she decided that doing the Oakzanita Loop sounded just right. Ted Markus joined us as well for this adventure. It was a brisk 44 degrees when we arrived at the parking area. Once geared up, and a group selfie taken in front of the trailhead sign, we set off along the Lower Descanso Creek Trail. The trail was still a little damp from the showers we received on Friday, but thankfully not muddy. The creek was still dry, making the stream crossings trivial.

Once we reached the East Mesa Fire Road, we took it around the bend to then join the Upper Descanso Creek Trail. Now the trail would begin to noticeably gain elevation. Partway up, we stopped to shed our respective layers. We had yet to see or hear another soul, despite there being a few cars at the trailhead. I wondered if they were backpacking out at Granite Springs? The trail reached the Oakzanita Peak Trail which would take us up to the summit.

Soon, I passed the two hitching rails and then found myself on the summit. As I waited for Becca and Ted to arrive, I got my camera ready to capture their arrival. We had a quick snack and soaked in the views. As I pointed out various peaks in the distance, another hiker briefly joined us but hustled off to make it to the all-you-can-eat pancake fundraiser at the Descanso town hall.

We finished our snacks and cruised back to the junction with the Upper Descanso Creek Trail and the Oakzanita Peak Trail. Everyone was feeling good, so we opted to continue along the Oakzanita Peak Trail until it connected with East Mesa Fire Road. This portion of the trail is pretty mellow, and we all chatted away, sharing updates about our various children.

Back on the fire road, we motored back until the junction with the Lower Descanso Creek trail. We kept a good pace and soon we began to see evidence that the trailhead was close. Back at the car, we stopped our various tracking devices and noted the slight difference in recorded mileage (I logged 7.5 miles, while Becca logged 7.6 miles and Ted logged 7.7 miles). It was a good training hike for Becca, her longest to date. We opted to skip the traditional post-hike food and drink, as we would probably be overeating while watching the “big game”.

Hiking Big Rock to Cowles Mountain

I decided to hike up Cowles Mountain via the Big Rock Trail. Believe it or not, I have actually never taken this route up Cowles as I generally take the Baker Way route when I care to climb this peak. I pulled into street parking and gathered my gear. It was still a bit chilly and the first part of the ascent would be on the northern slopes of the mountain. The trail passed by the dog park and the empty paddleball courts. Then the trail split, and the left fork climbed a short hill, while the right path skirted it. Off in the distance stood the communication towers next to the summit of Cowles Mountain.

The trail crossed a dry creek before beginning its real climb and I cruised along the fairly well maintained path. As the trail worked its way upward, I was afforded some nice views to the north – Woodson, Iron mountain and El Cajon Mountain were all standing tall.

I soon came to the junction with the Mesa Trail but stayed on the Big Rock Trail. Once it reached the service road, the warmth of the sun was enough to have me shed the light fleece I had been wearing. I had a short flat stretch before the road began its fairly steep climb to the summit, as it is designed for trucks and not hikers. As I reached the summit I took a moment to soak in the views. It was a very clear day, and standing atop the highest point in the City of San Diego offered up some nice vistas. After snapping a few photos, I extended the length of my trekking poles to assist with the steep descent and headed back down.

The return went quickly, and I gave friendly nods to others as they made their way up. As I neared the paddleball courts, they were now filled with players. I collapsed my poles and turned off my tracker. It recorded the trip as 4.8 miles in 1:56 (including the time at the summit).

Hiking Volcan Mountain

After hiking up Woodson Mountain earlier in the day, I drove out to Volcan Mountain to cross my second peak off the 2025 Six Pack of Peaks Challenge. As I turned on the Farmers Road, I could see this trail was going to be busy. However, just as I neared the actual trailhead, a car left, and I was able to grab a parking spot right at the start. The day had warmed some, but there was a slight breeze. I decided to leave the fleece behind, as I wasn’t planning on hanging out at the summit for any real length of time.

The legs still felt good after my 5 miles up Woodson, and I motored along the trail. I decided to skip taking the 5 Oaks Trail, just save a little distance this time. New Year’s greetings were exchanged as returning hikers passed me. Soon, the summit and its navigation tower came into view. Some hikers were enjoying their well-earned snack at the picnic bench, while I snapped another summit badge photo. I stopped by the benchmark and chatted with two other hikers before heading back down from the summit.

More and more folks, many with their dogs (did I miss the “bring your dog to Volcan Mountain” memo?) were working their way toward the top. I kept cruising down the trail, and as Farmers Road came back into view, there were a lot more cars parked along it. Back at the car, I changed into a dry shirt and headed home. I made a quick stop at Don’s Market for a cold soda before making the rest of the drive. As I passed the trailhead for Woodson Mountain, the side of the highway was now completely jam packed with cars. I could only imagine the line to climb onto the ‘Chip’. It was a great way to kick off 2025, with hopefully a lot more adventures to come.

New Year’s Day on Woodson Mountain

I decided to kick off 2025 by tackling Woodson Mountain. Driving to the Fry-Koegel trailhead, I was surprised at the lack of cars parked along Hwy. 67, especially as the Iron Mountain parking lot was packed when I drove past. It was a bit chilly, and much of the hike is on the northern side of the mountain (aka in the shade), so I slipped on a light fleece. I knew I would warm up as I began my climb, but I thought it was still just a tad too cold to not have on an extra layer. This route is now my preferred route to ascend Woodson Mountain. As I passed the houses at the beginning, the smell of a fire in a fireplace filled the air, along with the scent of bacon….

I did start to heat up, so I shed that fleece, and motored on up the trail. After joining the Poway Trail, I drew closer to the summit. I could see a modest crowd milling around the Potato Chip, snapping their photos. I stopped for a short break, snapped a photo with this year’s Six Pack of Peaks badge in front of the iconic landmark, then left the crowd behind. I made a quick stop at the true summit (I did not scale the boulder) before beginning the steep descent on the paved service road. I remembered to bring the rubber tips for my trekking poles, in order to protect their metal tips.

As I cruised down, scores of folks were huffing and puffing their way up. Several had the look of “how did I get talked into this?” on their faces. Once at the bottom, I returned to the car, tossed in my gear and headed off to Volcan Mountain for my second summit of the day!