Returning to Santiago Peak

Since the Maple Springs Road and portions of the North Main Divide Road were recently reopened after the Airport Fire, I knew that I should take this opportunity and knock out Santiago and Modjeska Peaks. The drive up from Silverado Canyon was uneventful with just a few folks walking along the paved section, getting their morning exercise in. The north side of the mountain was untouched by the fire, so it was still nice and green. As I neared the ridge, I could start to see the fire damage. When I was atop Sitton Peak a few days earlier, the extent of the fire was clear to see. I parked at my usual spot, at the junction with the road to Modjeska and the road that continues onto Santiago Peak. A water tanker was parked here. Since the road was in really good shape, I assumed it was here to help keep the dust down during the road work. I was surprised to find another car there this early, but it turns out they had driven up the night before and had camped there. After I gathered my gear, I chatted with them a bit. They said that they counted 30 cars driving up to the summit last night. I said my farewell and set off down the road. The landscape was devoid of the trees and brush that lined its slopes. While wildflowers were blooming and some green grasses were taking hold, it was a strange sight. I could easily see the trail I typically took to the summit of Santiago and the connector trail that I used for Modejska.

Once I reached the junction with the Joplin Trail, a warning sign told of its closure. With the Holy Jim Trail also closed, either a very long hike up an active road or starting partway up were the only options (sans just driving to the top) to summit this peak. A bit further down the road that had clearly been rebuilt, I passed the saddle between the two peaks. It is here that the trail breaks away from the road. I knew that no work had been done on it, so I was not too keen on using it. I did find that someone left a summit sign here, so I snapped a quick photo before continuing along the road. Looking back to the south, I could see the damage to Modjeska and also spied a landslide that had passed over the trail. I can recall that section of the trail before the fire as one that seemed a bit unstable. After a few turns, the summit came into view. Along the way, two SUVs passed me. They parked off next to one set of the towers, while I made my way to the summit. I snapped a few pictures before walking to the south end of the area to see the damage. I can recall watching the live video from the tower cameras as the fire raced over the summit.

Since today was a federal holiday, I wanted to get back down before more traffic headed up the mountain. I again thought about taking the trail down, but it was getting warmer and I wanted to summit Modjeska as well. I hustled back to the car, as taking that connector trail was not an option. Back at the car, the boys who had camped had packed up and left, and I stopped my tracker, as I wanted to have a Modjeska-only track recorded. I was up and down in 2 hours flat, covering 6.29 miles with 979 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.

Sweating up Sitton Peak

I pulled off Ortega Highway across from the now-closed Candy Store. I guess with the nearby campground closed due to the Airport Fire, there wasn’t enough business to keep it open. It was going to be a warm day, so I wasted no time in getting moving. This was going to be my 6th time up this peak, so I cruised along the very familiar trail. I snapped a few photos along the way, as there were still flowers blooming. When I reached 4 Corners, I noticed one of my sand baskets had come off my trekking poles. That happened on this trail once before. I kept hiking along, knowing I would be retracing my route rather than taking the Bear Ridge Trail that I had planned.

I powered up the last steep section to the summit and finally took a break. I did not stay too long, as it was getting even warmer. After grabbing some photos and mixing up some electrolytes, I set off. There actually was more shade than one would think for this hike, and I was thankful for that. As I cruised back to the car, I kept scanning the trail for my missing sand basket (and danger noodles), and as luck would have it, I found it! Soon, the highway came back into view, and my trek was drawing to a close. The car’s thermometer read just over 90°F, and I would believe it (it left my Govee at home, so I did not record the actual trail temps). Including the time at the summit, I clocked this hike in at 3:51 for the 9.4 miles. Not too bad!

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!

Conquering Humphreys Peak

With Bill Williams Mountain (9,256 ft.) and Kendrick Peak (10,418 ft.) climbed earlier in the week, it was time to attempt to summit the state’s highest point, Humphreys Peak (12,633 ft.). Having taken a rest day with a quick trip to the Grand Canyon, I was ready to finally set a new altitude record for myself. Afternoon rainstorms were not predicted, so I would not have to worry about any weather issues. I pulled into Lot 1 at the Arizona Snowbowl and gathered my gear. A few cars were there when I arrived. Unlike the faster paces I held on the other peaks, I planned to keep myself to a more measured pace.

The trail cut across the ski slope before entering the trees and beginning the climb toward the summit. I made my way along the western slope of Humphreys under the shade of the trees. Unlike Kendrick, the trail had more tree roots to be mindful of. Off to the south, some snow still remained, and the now dormant chairlift was visible. The trail made a steady climb toward the Humphreys-Agassiz saddle, my first real milestone for this hike. After 4.1 miles, I reached it! I stopped for a bit and took in the vista. Humphreys used to be about 4,000-5,000 feet taller, before it explosively blew its top long ago. To my east was the bowl that was created after that eruption. A few patches of snow were scattered about, but from recent trip reports, nothing was still on the trail.

The saddle is almost at the tree line, so for the last mile to the summit, I would be hiking under the Arizona sun. The trail also changed, as I was now hiking across mostly exposed rock. Wooden branches helped serve as trail markers to the summit, which lay to the north of the saddle. As I carefully made my way along the trail, the conditions reminded me of many of my hikes in Anza-Borrego, just not at 11,000+ feet. I passed two small snow fields as I continued my journey upward. Soon, I spotted the summit sign and knew I had made it. There was another hiker there when I arrived. He was getting ready to descend, but before he did, I asked him to snap a few photos of me at the summit. I wished him well on his descent, and he said to enjoy the almost calm summit. I found a nice spot to relax and enjoy some snacks. I marveled at the views from 12,633 feet. I could make out the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (although a nearby fire did make it a bit hazy) and the red rocks around Sedona to the south. Both Bill Williams and Kendrick were easily spotted to my west.

After a bit, another hiker reached the summit. Since I was almost ready to descend, I hurried up to allow him to also enjoy the solitude. The route down to the saddle went fairly well. As I neared the saddle, I started to encounter a few more folks making the push to the summit.

I saw that the two state high-pointers I passed during my ascent were still pushing along. I gave them a quick trail report before parting ways. The rest of the descent was uneventful, and I soon found myself crossing back across the ski slope and to my car. I know spending time in Flagstaff and doing those two other peaks helped me prepare for this ascent, but I was really happy at how well the entire hike went. After tossing my gear into the car and putting on a dry shirt, I drove back to Flagstaff and headed to Lumberyard Brewery for some well-earned food and drink. I tracked this hike at 10.2 miles in 6:07 (excluding time at the summit) and 3,369 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 Kendrick Peak

I awoke about 3:30 in the morning to dead silence, as the power had gone out. I fell back to sleep until my alarm went off an hour later. Today I was planning to climb Kendrick Peak, about an hour’s drive from Flagstaff. I grabbed breakfast at McDonald’s and set off. After about 30 minutes, I turned off the highway and onto the forest road. The dirt road was in great shape. I could spot various campers tucked away in the forest. If I weren’t staying with good friends, I might have done the same. Pulling into the park area, there was one car parked, but being a Monday, that did not surprise me. The trailhead has pit toilets, but no water. I gathered my gear and set off. Since there were a few afternoon showers yesterday, and the possibility of some today, I wanted to have this early start.

The trail was in pretty good shape, with just an occasional tree to step over. This area had a forest fire back in 2000, and the forest is making a comeback. I had some nice views off to the west, I could even spy Bill Williams Mountain off in the distance. Just before the cabin, I met the owner of the car as he was returning from the summit. We chatted briefly before continuing on. I skipped visiting the cabin on the ascent, saving it for after my primary goal.

The trail made a series of switchbacks just before the summit, and soon the abandoned fire tower came into view. Unlike the tall tower atop Bill Williams, this lookout tower is low, and you can walk up the flight of stairs and walk around the outside. The interior of the tower is closed, but you can look inside to see what it was like for someone to staff it. I took in the sweeping views, lingering on Humphreys off to the southwest of me. In two days’ time, I planned to climb it. I picked a spot on the tower’s walkway to sit and enjoy a snack. Being mindful of the chance of showers, I did not linger too long. However, my rain shell did make a nice cushion while I took that break.

With the primary goal achieved, I made a short side trip to look at the cabin. The Kendrick Mountain cabin was built in 1912 as a place for fire lookouts to stay while watching for wildfires. The cabin was constructed atop Kendrick Mountain in a location that took advantage of the high elevation and provided commanding views to aid in wildfire detection. Firefighters wrapped the historic 1912 lookout cabin and the ruins of a smaller cabin with fire-resistant material. Helicopters doused the lookout tower with fire retardant. Both the historic cabin and lookout tower survived, but fire burned the smaller cabin ruins along the Pumpkin Trail.

When I was done looking at it and noting a nearby tent site, it was time to make my way back to the car. I slipped my AirPods and began flying down the trail. At one point, I met a hiker working his way up, so I removed my AirPods to be able to chat with him. After a short conversation, he continued up, and I headed down. As I slipped the AirPods back into my ears, the left one fell out. I immediately stopped and began looking for it. But it was nowhere to be seen! I tried having it play its location tune, which I could hear, but not well enough to actually locate. After 10 minutes of looking, I gave up. It must have bounced off the trail and gotten lost in the brush. Ugh! The rest of the hike went smoothly, and I was back at the car before I knew it. After tossing my gear in the car, I saw a sign for the Lava River Cave about 2 miles past the junction I took getting to the trailhead, so I decided to check it out.

I pulled into the parking lot, and it had a few more cars here. Along the way, I saw even more campers scattered through the forest. I unfortunately did not have a proper flashlight or headlamp to explore it beyond just what the natural light allowed. Something for the next visit to the area. For the actual hike, I did the 9.2 miles in 4:05 (including looking for that darn AirPod), with 2677 feet of gain. I think I will be ready to tackle the highest peak in Arizona in two days…

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!

Climbing Bill Williams

After an uneventful night in Kingman, I made the drive eastward toward Williams, Arizona. The first peak on my itinerary was to hike up Bill Williams Mountain again. I had done this one back in 2021 and enjoyed it. The parking area had about 5 cars in it as I gathered my gear to set off on the straightforward hike up to the summit. The trail worked its way past the Ponderosa Pines and oaks that dominate the start of the hike. The trail mostly heads along the nouth side of the mountain. The stream that was flowing the last time I hiked here was now dry.

I reached the junction with the Bixler Trail and knew that the summit was drawing near. The trees also changed, and while the Ponderosa Pines became bigger, Douglas Fir, Spruce, and Quaking Aspen now also lined the slopes of the mountain. Soon, the trail reached the service road, and I remembered to use the trail to avoid some of the road walking I did the first time I summited.

The various communication towers stood above me as I headed to the closed fire lookout tower. A mom, her son, and their dog were just leaving as I climbed the ladder to soak in the views. The actual tower is closed, so stopping at one of the landings would be the best I could do. I found a couple of the reference marks, but the benchmark is long gone. After a snack and some filming, I set off back down the mountain.

The descent went smoothly, and I greeted a few other hikers along the way. As I drew near the trailhead, my thoughts turned to lunch in town. My friends who I would be staying with recommended the Grand Canyon Brewery, and I certainly wasn’t going to say no to a post-hike beer! Just as I got back to the car, a few drops of rain began to fall. It is the start of that weather pattern, so early starts were going to be the rule for this trip. I recorded this hike as 7.9 miles, with 2392 feet of gain. Excluding the time at the summit, the total time was 3:45, which was dramatically faster than the time before. I will take that as a good sign, as I have two hard peaks planned.

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!

National Trails Day – Penasquitos Canyon

Originally, the National Trails Day hike was going to be in Tecolote Canyon, but construction work on the sewer line that runs through the canyon prevented me from hosting it there. So, I moved the hike to Los Peñasquitos Canyon, but from the west end. Between the overcast weather we had been having and this last-minute location change, I expected a low turnout. As Ted and I waited, two hikers arrived to join us on our hike to the waterfall and back. Rick and Andrea missed the email and went to Tecolote Canyon, along with one other participant.

We passed under the road and hiked along the south side of the canyon until we reached the Sycamore Crossing. From there, we continued west until we reached the waterfall. While just past 9 am, it was busy. Once we were done enjoying the view, we retraced our route, but continued westward until the Wagon Wheel Crossing. One thing to be said about the west end of Peñasquitos Canyon is that the bridges are cooler. Before too long, we were back at the car. Our two hikers took some 52 Hike Challenge swag and some beverages from Athletic Brewing. Rick and Andrea had driven up to this trailhead and parked next to me. I left some swag on their car, but they arrived from their hike about 5 minutes later. After chatting for a bit, I headed out, as I was driving to Kingman, Arizona, to kick off my Arizona Summer Six Pack of Peaks Challenge.

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!

Hiking the Tahquitz Peak Loop

As I left San Diego under drizzle, I hoped the forecast I read for Tahquitz Peak was correct. Luckily, as I crossed into Temecula, the clouds and rain faded away, and I had clear skies. After grabbing a biscuit and coffee from McDonald’s, I continued the drive up to Idyllwild. Since I was planning on hiking the Devil’s Slide trail, I knew I needed to get a permit from the Ranger Station in town. Since this was a weekday, I could obtain one of the self-issued permits for this hike. Otherwise, I would have had to either get one in advance or wait for the station to open. After filling out the permit and slipping the white copy into the slot, I made the short drive up to Humber Park. A few cars were here when I arrived. Again, the upside of doing this on a weekday. I hung my America the Beautiful pass from my mirror, as either that or an Adventure Pass is required. The air was cool, but once again, I knew once I started hiking, I would be shedding my layers in 5 minutes, so that fleece once again stayed in my pack. The plan was to hike up to the fire lookout tower atop Tahquitz Peak and then loop back through Tahquitz Valley.

The trail begins as a climb straight from the parking lot. Thankfully, the grade is not overwhelming. I suspect it is the altitude that gets hikers as they work their way up. Off to the left, you have a stunning view of Suicide Rock (another trail I need to do). I passed by two springs that were barely flowing. As I neared Saddle Junction, I met a PCT hiker from the Netherlands who was having to hike back down to Idyllwild to get a package. We chatted a bit, she did her first 20-mile day the day before, so she felt she was finally getting her “hiker legs”. I wished her well on her journey. At the junction, I took a right and joined the PCT myself, as I hiked southward toward Tahquitz Peak. The section was a lot more gentle than the 1,700 feet of gain I made coming up from Humber Park. After about 1.4 miles, I came to the spur trail that would take me to the lookout tower. The tower was another 0.4 miles further. Unfortunately, the tower will not be open in 2025 due to structural issues and budget concerns. I climbed the stairs up the tower and began taking in the sweeping views, while enjoying a well-earned snack. A fellow hiker and his dog joined me on the summit, and we chatted for some time before they set off back down. I lingered a bit more, doing some filming before I too set off.

Back at the junction with the PCT, I continued east along it for about 0.7 miles until I left it and started heading north toward Tahquitz Meadow. The creek had already dried up for the season, but the meadow was still beautiful. When I reached the Caramba Trail, I joined it to return me back to Saddle Junction. Once there, I mixed up some electrolytes and broke open a bag of trail mix to enjoy on my descent. I passed a few hikers making their way up the trail. Then I spotted the familiar colors of a ranger hiking up the trail. We stopped and chatted for some time, and she did indeed ask for my permit, which I had. She continued up, and I continued down. The call of some Mexican food in Idyllwild was getting strong. The entire loop was 9.8 miles with 2604 feet of gain in 4:13 (including the stops with the PCT hiker and the Ranger).

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!

Tackling Cucamonga and Etiwanda Peaks

I pulled into the Ice House Canyon parking lot just around 6:30 am. Given this was a Monday, I did not have any trouble finding a spot, as there were only about 8 other cars here. It was nippy, but I knew that once I started up Ice House Canyon, I would be shedding that fleece layer in no time, so it stayed tucked in the pack. Next to the trailhead, work has begun on the new Heroes Project retreat. This is the organization that holds the Climb for Heroes event up Mt. Baldy, which I have done in the past. I had already gotten the free permit online needed to hike Cucamonga, so I skipped filling out the paper one and set off. The creek was flowing nicely as I passed by the cabins in the canyon. Just a few wildflowers remained along the side of the trail. About two miles in, the sun finally rose over the ridgeline. I stopped and got a photo for Ted, as he does enjoy a good sunrise. The trail continued its climb toward Icehouse Saddle. At the junction with the trail from Cedar Glen Campground, a trail runner was standing in front of the sign with a puzzled look on his face. I inquired about where he was trying to get to, and he replied, “Cucamonga”. I told him to stay on this trail and then look for the sign toward the east once you were at Icehouse Saddle. He thanked me and began jogging off. I shook my head at how unprepared he was. Before too long, I reached the saddle and took a well-earned break.

After enjoying the silence, I set off along the Cucamonga Trail toward the summit. From time to time, I had some great views of the high desert to the northeast. I stopped at the Bighorn Mine for a quick photo, but did not venture inside either tunnel. I reached the Bighorn Saddle and got ready for the 1,200 or so feet of gain that lay ahead of me. A few trail runners had passed me earlier in the climb, and they were now making their return as I climbed the switchbacks. I asked about that trail runner I helped earlier to find out if he got on the right trail. They said they did see him, so I didn’t have to worry about him heading the wrong way.

Partway up, I met two backpackers making their return from camping on the summit. I asked what their water load was for their trip, and they replied 6 liters. They had filled up at Columbine Spring, so they did have all that water weight from the beginning. We wished each other a safe hike and continued on. Soon, I spotted the wooden post indicating the side trail that you use to reach the summit, and I remembered the struggle up this section the last time I climbed Cucamonga. Thankfully, it was a bit easier this time around. As I reached the broad summit, I looked around for anyone else, but it was deserted! Slipping off my pack, I pulled out my tripod to be able to take the classic photo standing on the rock outcropping. I was glad I had the foresight to bring it, just in case. After snapping some more photos, I found a nice spot to enjoy an early lunch. A chipmunk chirped nearby as it tried to work its way over to grab some crumbs. As I was finishing my PB&J, two pairs of hikers joined me on the summit. We swapped cameras for some photos, and then I set off for my next destination, Etiwanda Peak.

Sitting just under a mile to the east of Cucamonga Peak is Etiwanda Peak, which is on the Sierra Club Hundred Peaks Section list. The trail mostly follows the ridgeline until a nice-sized cairn marks the junction with its side trail to the summit. After a short but steep climb, I stood atop the white quartz that sits at the top of the summit and soaked in the views. Unlike Cucamonga, I had a full 360° view of the area. After a quick snack, it was time to make my way back down.

One of the pair of hikers who joined me at the summit was also making their way to Etiwanda, and I let them know the cairn for the side trail was very visible. At Bighorn Saddle, I briefly thought about climbing the ridgeline and summiting it as well, but I plan on climbing Ontario again, so I opted to save it for that trip.

Back at Icehouse Saddle, I paused for just a bit to rearrange some snacks for the hike down the canyon into one of my hip pockets. I cruised along, making good time on the descent. I passed a couple of backpackers making their way up to Kelly Camp for the night, and a few folks exploring Ice House Canyon. Before too long, I started passing the cabins again and knew the end of the trail was not far off. Once back at the car, I tossed in my gear and changed into a dry shirt. After a well-earned meal from In-N-Out, I hit the freeway home. The hike was 14.48 miles in 7:04 with 4770 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!

Returning to Glen’s View

My friend Becca needed a short hike to help break in some new shoes, and since she has got the peak-bagging bug, I suggested a couple of options. We settled on hiking up to Glen’s View in William Heise County Park. Ted also tagged along, as he also needed this peak in his effort to complete the 100 Peak Challenge. A good friend had a 60th birthday party the night before, so we left at a more reasonable hour than usual. We pulled into the parking lot for the trailhead, passing all sorts of campers enjoying their time outside. Grabbing our gear under slightly overcast skies, we set off along the Nature Trail.

We cruised along, making our way to the first junction, where we took a right turn and continued our climb. Before too long, we reached the short spur trail to Glen’s View. A family was enjoying the view when we arrived, but they soon headed back down, so we had the summit to ourselves. We played “Can Chris name the summits?” Yes, he can.

Our discussions now turned to an important matter: lunch. As we made our way down, we enjoyed the wildflowers that still lined the sides of the trail. When we reached the junction with the Canyon Oak trail, Becca’s shoes were still feeling good, so we opted to add on a bit more trail time. A few other campers and their dogs passed us along the way. I showed Ted and Becca the “Observatory”, two sloped benches that allow you to lean back and enjoy the night sky. Shortly thereafter, we returned to the campground and back to our starting point. Tossing our gear back into the car, we began our drive home. Dudley’s won out for our lunch spot. Unfortunately, as we approached Mt. Woodson, the highway was closed due to a fatality, so we had to take an alternate route home. All told, we hiked 3.3 miles, with 633 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!

Climbing Mt. Willson from Chantry Flats

Finally had the chance to hike Mt. Wilson from Chantry Flats, as this route had been closed since the 2020 Bobcat Fire. So, with a very early morning start, I made the drive up. Pulling into the nearly empty parking lot just after 6, I gathered my gear and got ready to head off. From what I have read, this parking lot becomes packed on the weekends, much like Ice House Canyon’s parking area can be. For now, my Outback was one of only about 8 cars. I was planning on doing the hike as a loop, up the Gabrielino Trail, with a side hike to Sturtevant Falls, and returning to Chantry Flats via the Winter Creek Trail.

I followed the dirt road down into San Olene Canyon and made the first of many water crossings. To the left was the Lower Winter Creek Trail, and to the right, the Gabrielino Trail continued. Due to budgeting issues, the toilets at this junction were closed. I now entered the East Fork Santa Anita Canyon and began following the Big Santa Anita Creek. Here I passed by the Big Santa Anita Canyon Cabin Tract. These historic cabins were built by private citizens on Forest Service land under a Special Use Permit over 100 years ago. They are still owned by local families, many of whom are descendants of the original owners. As I continued past these cabins, sill dams lined the creek. The goal of these dams was to keep silt and other debris from impacting the main dam further downstream. After about 0.7 miles, I came to the junction with the side trail to Sturtevant Falls, and I hustled along it for about 0.3 miles. After a simple water crossing followed by a short scramble, the 50-foot falls stood before me. I enjoyed a bit of solitude, and I can only imagine what it is like on a hot weekend. I returned to the last junction and began my climb in earnest. I was thankful to have the “May grey” in effect. While I had my AirPods with me, the sounds of the flowing water were just too enchanting not to be my hike’s soundtrack for a while. The trail was in pretty good shape, with just one or two spots to watch my footing.

Soon, I came to Spruce Grove Trail Camp and saw that someone had made the trek here to spend the night. A small hot spot was forming on my right foot, so I stopped briefly to address it with some KT tape. I also took this as a good time for a snack before continuing. Shortly thereafter, I came to Sturtevant Camp. Apparently, you can rent cabins here on the weekend. Not sure if I can convince my wife to make the hike up to them. Just past here is the connector trail over Mt. Zion. Signs cautioned hikers that while the trail is open, it is still being rebuilt and to use extreme caution if they choose to hike it. I stayed on the Gabrielino Trail and continued my ascent toward Mt. Wilson. The overcast skies I had previously were gone, so I could feel the warmth of the sun.

The trail had a good amount of shade, so it wasn’t too much of an issue. In fact, for the most part, I kept my sun hoodie down. Checking my map, I saw I was getting close to the summit, which was good, as I was in need of a break. Being so close, I pushed on for the last 1/4 mile. As I reached the top, I turned right to the viewpoint on Echo Rock to snap my summit selfies. I did not linger as I really wanted to sit in the shade at the Cosmic Café and eat my lunch. As I strolled along the road, past the various domes and other astronomical items, I ran into another hiker about to make his way down the Gabrielino. We swapped a few bits of trail beta and then went our separate ways. Once at the Café, I slipped off my pack, took off my shoes and socks to give my feet a rest, and broke out my lunch. Being a weekday, the café is not open. On the upside, there wasn’t another person there, so I ate my PB&J in blissful silence. I drank a liter of water and mixed up some electrolytes for the descent. I carried up 2.75 liters, but next time I will probably carry less and maybe pack my water filter if I am really concerned.

After walking over to the benchmark and the plaque honoring Wilson (who I am distantly related to), I stepped onto the Mt. Wilson Trail. This section of the trail was completely burned over by the Bobcat fire. After about 0.6 miles, this trail joins the Mt. Wilson Toll Road. I thought about taking the side road up to Mt. Harvard, but opted to skip it. While this used to be an actual road, large rocks have now fallen onto the roadway. With the sounds of flowing water long since gone, I slipped my AirPods on and enjoyed an episode of Backpacker radio. In 0.5 miles, the Mt. Wilson trail again leaves the Toll Road. Since the Toll Road is still closed from the fire (a large sign informs you of such), I made my left-hand turn back onto the trail. I hiked down the trail toward Manazanita Ridge. Here, a nice bench offers some respite for hikers needing a break from their climb. The Mt. Wilson Trail veers to the right, but it is also still closed due to the fire damage. Instead, I followed the Winter Creek Trail down. After about 1.2 miles, the sounds of Winter Creek began to fill the air, and I put my AirPods away. How often do you get to hike next to flowing water in Southern California?

At Hoegee Trail Camp, where a few more private Cabins were, along with 13 primitive campsites, the trail splits. The Lower Winter Creek Trail follows the creek back and connects with the Gabrielino before Chantry Flats. While the Upper Winter Creek Trails return you to Chantry Flats proper. My routes that I had loaded onto my phone did not properly sync overnight, so I was hiking a bit in the blind. Since how often do I get to hike next to a flowing stream, I opted for the lAt Hoegee Trail Camp, where a few more private cabins are, along with 13 primitive campsites, the trail splits. The Lower Winter Creek Trail follows the creek back and connects with the Gabrielino before Chantry Flats. While the Upper Winter Creek Trails return you to Chantry Flats proper, my routes I had tried to load onto my phone did not properly sync overnight, so I was hiking a bit in the blind. Since I don’t often get to hike next to a flowing stream, I opted for the lower trail. The trail crisscrossed the stream 5 or 6 times. I passed the other end of the Zion Trail, along with the same warnings posted. After 1.5 miles, I came back to the junction with the Gabrielino Trail. There were now other folks on the trail, and a crew from the Forest Service doing some work. I made the 0.6-mile, 390-foot climb back up to the parking area, all the while questioning whether the stream was worth this climb. Once back at the trailhead, I walked over to the Pack Station and bought a cold Coke and a Snickers and enjoyed them on the patio. After tossing my gear into the car and putting on a dry shirt, I began the drive home, hoping the LA traffic wouldn’t be too bad. I logged my loop at 15.23 miles, in 6:39 (turning off the tracker at the Café) and 4,808 feet of gain. That was my first peak for the 2025 SoCal Six Pack of Peaks Challenge.

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!