Hello and welcome, I’m Chris Griffith, aka SDPeakbagger. I started this site to chronicle my attempt to complete the San Diego 100 Peak Challenge. Since then it has grown to log my other hiking adventures, mostly around other hiking challenges. While not a collection of turn-by-turn guides, my trip reports and photos should give you a good sense of the hike and the route you can follow. See you at the summit!
Recent Hikes
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Ontario Peak
I needed one more peak to complete the SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge for the year. With Mt. Baldy and Santiago closed until 2025 and Mt. Baden-Powell restricted, that left me only 4 options; San Gorgonio, San Bernardino, Cucamonga, or Ontario. I choose the latter as it is the easiest. I knew I needed to…
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Rattlesnake Benchmark
I was in need of some time on the trails and wanted something with a bit of solitude. Looking over my options, I settled on a hike to the top of Rattlesnake Benchmark. I pulled into the parking lot for the Sunrise Trailhead and gathered my gear. It was cool and a tad windy, so…
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Sunrise on San Jacinto…almost
Time for what is now turning out to be an annual trip, backpacking San Jacinto. After checking in at the Ranger Station, I made the short hike up to Round Valley. I had hoped to camp at Upper Chinaquin, but someone beat me to it, so Buckthorn it was. I was doing this trip a…
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El Cajon Mountain
The original plan was to take advantage of the cooler temperatures in Anza-Borrego and summit Kay Benchmark. Unfortunately, Ted injured his foot and could not join me, so I opted to finish the San Diego Six Pack of Peaks Challenge by climbing El Cajon Mountain. I parked along the shoulder of Wildcat Canyon, as the…
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Big Laguna Meadow
I pulled off Sunrise Highway and parked under the shade of a pine tree. About 8 or so cars lined the road, as this is a popular trailhead for mountain bikers and hikers. The forecast was predicted to be in the upper 80s in the mountains, so I wanted something that was a bit more…
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Chicken Spring Lake
I had planned to do this solo overnight trip this past weekend, but that early snowstorm forced me to postpone it. Since the weather was looking much better for this weekend, I decided to make the drive up the 395 and try again. One of the questions I had was actually about the timing of…
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Palomar High Point (via Oak Grove)
Normally at this time of year, I would be hiking some of the peaks on the SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks challenge. Sadly, the recent fires have closed many of the peaks I need to summit. I instead opted to knock out one of the peaks I needed to climb for the San Diego Six-Pack of…
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Strawberry Peak
I knew the forecast was going to be hot before I left San Diego, but boy, oh boy! I arrived at the Red Box Picnic Area at just after 6 am, and the thermometer read 74°F. I gathered my things and quickly set off. This was my 5th time doing this peak, so I was…
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Bernardo Bay & Piedras Pintadas Trail Loop
Like I suspect many of this year’s Coast to Crest challengers, I linked the Bernardo Bay Trail with the Piedras Pintadas Trail to complete two of the five hikes. Under a nice cool marine layer, I set off down the paved bike path toward the north. I cruised along the trail, looking at the fog…
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Dry Lake
Secured another permit for an overnight adventure in the San Gorgonio Wilderness, to camp at Dry Lake. Ted Markus kindly decided to join me on this adventure. The plan was to hike up to Dry Lake, spend the night, hike up to the summit the following day, and then hike out. Initially, I was going…