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.

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.

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.

Hiking the Canyon Oak Trail

My wife and I drove up to William Heise County Park to attend a hosted star gazing event later that evening. After paying the $5 day-use fee, we parked near the meadow. Anita and our dog, Rocky, hung out there while I set off for a short hike. I originally was going to hike the Desert View Trail, but I was feeling the double whammy of my hike earlier in the day and the drive back up to Julian. So, instead, I opted to do the Canyon Oak Loop instead.

The 1.6-mile trail works its way up the nearby slopes to the northeast part of the park. I had some lovely views along the loop. Some high clouds were rolling in, and I hoped they cleared before the skies turned dark. Along the way, a couple of benches had been installed for those who might want a breather or to soak in the views. I made my way back down, taking the alternate trail to the campground.

Back at the meadow, Anita and I enjoyed a nice picnic dinner before wandering up to where the telescopes had been set up. We chatted with their owners, and as the skies darkened, those high clouds had faded away. Through the viewfinders, we saw Jupiter and the Galilean moons, Saturn, and the double star in the Big Dipper. It was a nice event, and all three of us enjoyed ourselves. The hike was a 1.65-mile loop from the trailhead and had 320 feet of gain.

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…)

Exploring Gonzales Canyon

Continuing my theme of hiking new places, I decided to explore Gonzales Canyon. While I had hiked the Torrey Pine Loop Trail some years ago, this time, I wanted to hike the entire Lagoon Trail. I found street parking near Solana Ranch Park. That park is attached to an elementary school, so parking there is not allowed during school hours. I followed the trail back under the road to the west.

After about a mile along the service road, I came to the junction with the Lagoon Trail and the Sword Trail. I took the right fork onto the Lagoon Trail. This trail stayed on the northern side of the canyon as it continued westward. Signs warned of the encroaching poison oak that would line the trail in the shadier sections. The trail turned northward and made a few small climbs until I neared a collection of horse properties. At the access point for some power lines, I decided to begin my return.

For my return, I opted to follow the Sword Trail, which runs along the south side of Gonzales Canyon. I passed by the connector to the Torrey Pine Loop Trail and continued eastward. I learned that this canyon is named after Levi Gonzales, a Portuguese farmer who owned the land in the 1800s. It is thought that his homestead was likely near one of the groves of eucalyptus trees. I continued cruising along the wide, flat trail, occasionally passing others enjoying a morning hike. I soon passed another trail junction, this time with the Cathedral Trail. This trail heads southward through a canyon toward Cathedral Catholic High School, of which I will need to come back and explore at a later date. Soon, the bridge came back into view, and my hike was over. I logged this hike at 5.3 miles and covered it in 1:46.

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.

Up to Vallecito Mountains High Point

With the successful summit of Kay Benchmark behind me, I headed into Borrego Springs for a burrito. After that, I drove over to Center Market and got a sandwich for dinner and then headed out for McCain Springs. This was the planned camping spot, before hiking to Vallecito Mountains High Point. I had ridden out here a few months back in my friend Dave’s Rubicon, scouting if the trail conditions could be handled by my Subaru. Overall, we felt it looked doable. So, I left the paved road and headed down Fish Creek Wash. This section gave me no worries, as I had driven it multiple times, but as I passed the spot where my son and I had car camped, the uncertainty rose. I continued on, recalling a few of the slightly touchy spots. One obstacle did take two attempts to get over, but the rest was smooth sailing. Soon, I reached the junction to McCain Spring and drove to the end. I had feared that the site might already be taken, but I had it to myself. I set up camp, in no rush as I had plenty of daylight. Enjoyed my sandwich and beer, and as I looked across the desert, it was peaceful as the sun set behind the hills. I set out to make a fire for the evening, but in chopping the wood, the axe nicked my finger. Thankfully, I had taken the “Stop the Bleed” course from Kit Fox Outfitters and handled the minor wound. With that issue addressed, I finished preparing the fire and sat back and enjoyed the flames. As the fire burned itself out, I crawled into the Subaru for some well-earned rest.

I awoke around 6:30 and enjoyed a hot cup of coffee, some oatmeal, and a cold bottle of OJ. Once I had repacked the car, I gathered my gear to set off toward the peak. As I climbed over the small saddle, I soon found the ridge that I would follow for a bit, again dodging and weaving around the cacti towards another saddle. Following the route our group used last time, I ascended a boulder-filled slope. I actually spotted a few cairns at the beginning but quickly lost them, so it was a typical “choose your own adventure” type of ascent. Once up and over, I worked my way down toward the wide flat before me and onto the drainage path.

Now the hike moved into cruise mode for a while, as I headed north toward the next section of the climb. As the drainage came to an end, I stared at the rock-filled slope, trying to scout a route up. Vallecito Mountains High Point is hidden behind a false summit, so even as I drew near to the top of this peak, I knew I was not done with my climb. I worked my way down toward the saddle, then began the real climb to the summit. Soon, I was standing atop Vallecito Mountains High Point. I signed the register and enjoyed a well-earned rest. I snapped a few photos and geared up for my descent.

Carefully, I worked down the face of the peak, occasionally having to back-track if the route became unclimbable. Slow and cautious was the order of the day. Soon, I was back on the drainage and once again cruised along. Now, I had a choice to make: follow the same route Carefully, I worked down the face of the peak, occasionally having to back-track if the route became unclimbable. Slow and cautious was the order of the day. Soon, I was back on the drainage and once again cruised along. Now, I had a choice to make: follow the same route back, which included another “fun” climb, or explore following the drainage all the way out. There were no reports of anyone trying this route on Peakbagger, but the satellite imagery made it appear doable, with just one section in the middle that might be an issue. At the spot where I would have made my U-turn to follow my ascending route, I continued on the drainage. I spotted some footprints in the sand, so someone tried this route not too long ago.

Initially, the route stayed the same as it turned westward. After a bit, I reached that rocky section that I spied from the satellite imagery. I worked my way through the rocks, usually staying along the main drainage route. Occasionally, I took a short slide down the smooth, water-worn rocks. I was glad to be descending through this section, as it was nice to have gravity on my side. After a while, the drainage opened back up, and I was once again cruising on the sand. When the drainage turned south again, I made a short climb over a small rise, then crossed the flat desert back to the road. Soon, I saw the sun glinting off my car, telling me that I was almost done. The entire loop covered 6.2 miles in 4:45 with 1,185 feet of elevation gain. As to whether the route through the drainage was better, I am not sure, but I do know that I would not use the drainage for the ascent portion.

Up to Kay Benchmark

With desert season drawing to a close, I decided to try to get another San Diego Sierra Club peak crossed off my list. I decided on attempting Kay Benchmark, which is just to the west of the Anza-Borrego State Park Visitor Center. I arrived a bit after 8 am, paid my $10 day use fee, and took advantage of the freshly cleaned restrooms. After a short walk across the desert floor, it was time to ascend the ridgeline that I would follow. A faint use trail guided me through the early section of the climb, and about a 1/2 hour later, I was standing atop Ode Benchmark. Ted and I had climbed this peak back in 2019 but did not venture past it. I actually have never climbed up to Kay Benchmark, as my only “ascent” was when I hiked over from Ranchita.

After a quick check-in at Ode, I descended toward a small saddle before continuing my climb. It was here that, during Greg Gerlach’s last summit, he exited the ridge and returned via the drainage to the north. I might consider that option upon my return, but for now, my focus was on the steep climb ahead of me.

I would dodge and weave around cacti and look for more friendly routes up the slope. A slight breeze helped keep things pleasant from a temperature point of view. As I neared 3,400 feet in elevation, the ascent became more difficult, and I was now faced with some serious rocks to pick my way through. That section was not going to be fun upon my return. I worked my way through them, and the summit was almost in view.

As I reached it, a sense of accomplishment came over me. When I last stood atop this pile of rocks, I had just down-climbed some serious terrain. While the ascent had a few challenges, nothing compared to that. I took in the views and had a nice, relaxing snack. Unfortunately, I forgot to pack any electrolytes, so I hoped that wouldn’t be an issue on the descent. I still had plenty of water, so I was not worried about that at least.

Now for the long descent. I carefully worked my way down past that steep rock face, only having to retreat once from a route that was not safe. Once that section was behind me, I could feel my anxiety level drop. Now, it was mostly standard desert ridgeline hiking. I just needed to take care and dodge and weave around the cacti and find solid footing.

Once at the saddle, I looked up at the climb to pass over Ode Benchmark and said to myself, “Greg had the right idea”. So down a side ridge I went, and soon I was in the wide drainage leading back to the east. While a bit rocky, it was still easier than continuing on the ridge. Before too long, I spotted the flagpole at the Visitor Center, and not much later, I was back at my car. I tossed my gear in and headed into the center for information about my next adventure: Vallecito Mountains High Point. They did not have a lot of information, but it was worth checking. After grabbing lunch in town, a well-earned burrito, I also grabbed a sandwich for dinner later. For Kay Benchmark, my stats were 4.51 miles in 5:31 with 2,860 feet of elevation 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.

Seeking Paradise Mountain

The original plan was for us to tackle Goat Benchmark, San Ysidro East Peak, and The Sirens as an overnight adventure. However, checking the forecast Friday morning quickly put an end to that plan. Winds between 25-30 mph, with predicted gusts up to 50 mph. None of us wanted to camp in that, especially in an exposed open flat, so we began looking for alternate hikes. The high winds scuttled anything out in the desert. Rick and Andrea suggested an interesting loop in Mission Trails, and I offered up doing either Mt. Gower or Paradise Mountain (both of which Ted needs). We settled on Paradise Mountain and agreed to meet at the trailhead at 8. Ted and I arrived first, and just before 8, Rick and Andrea pulled into the parking lot. The skies were overcast, and the summit of the peak was obscured by the clouds as we set off down the trail.

The trail almost immediately began to descend 300 feet down to Hell Creek. After the simple water crossing, the trail became mostly flat before beginning the climb to the summit. We chatted about all sorts of topics as we motored along the fairly well-maintained trail. The clouds had lifted, and the summit stood above us.

When we reached the junction, we all agreed that we should do the loop in a clockwise fashion. We pushed upward, pausing a few times to link back up. A side trail took us over to Viewpoint A, as labeled on Peakbagger. It did offer some nice views from there, but we did not linger. Once back on the main loop, we quickly reached Ditch Benchmark and stopped for a few photos. Someone had incorrectly left a summit sign for Paradise Mountain there. We tucked it into my pack and carried it over to the proper summit, about 1/2 mile to the east. We stopped for a snack break and to soak in the views.

Once refueled, we set off down the trail. Unlike our steep ascent, the descent was a gentler grade, which made everyone’s knees happier. Before we knew it, we were crossing back over the creek, starting the climb back to the trailhead. Along the way, a horse and rider passed us, heading down the trail. Once back at the trailhead, five more horses were getting ready to take their riders along the trail. We quickly cleaned up and headed out for a well-earned lunch at Burger Bench. I logged the hike at 8.25 miles in 4:31, with an elevation gain of 2,080 feet. The only negative was that I did find a tick on me later. It was still crawling, so I removed it and crushed it. Rick found one on him while hiking, so we’re keeping an out for any more.