Decided to go hike another peak that Susie had already done, this time North Pinyon Mountain (Peak 3640). This peak’s trailhead is along the eastern spur of Plum Canyon. As I was driving in, I was surprised to see someone driving out, especially this early in the morning. Turns out he was camping at the road’s end. I let him know my plans and we parted ways. I parked a polite distance from his camp and began gearing up. It was a touch chilly, and given the first part of the hike was up a wash, I knew I would be in the shade for a while. Tossing on a thin fleece, I set off.
The route would follow this wash until its end. Along the way, a few dry waterfalls would need to be traversed. Only one required me to bypass it, and the rest were fun diversions. The elevation gain was nice, but noticeable when I would stop and look back. I was getting a tad warm, so I stowed my fleece.
I was now ready to leave the wash and climb up to Peak 3300. From here I was rewarded with a beautiful view of Granite Mountain to the west. Since I had cell coverage again, I shared the photo with my wife.
My route now turned easterly. Crossing the summit, I now had to mind the agave, cholla, cat’s claw, and other hazards. From here I drifted to the south toward the saddle that would allow me to begin my ascent of North Pinyon.
About 100 feet of elevation loss later, I was ready to start the climb. The slope was not too steep, nothing like yesterday’s peak. I knew from the previous trip reports the true summit was hidden behind a false summit.
As I crested it, I could see it was would be an easy stroll over. There was a bit of breeze, so I was glad to have the fleece for my break.
There is no benchmark here, but a nice register can was filled with familiar names. I soaked in the views; Granite, Grapevine, Whale, Sunset and so many more.
I signed in and had a quick snack before heading back down. Along the way, I picked up someone’s lost wool cap. I wonder if it might be Matt’s. The rest of the return was uneventful, except for a blister on my right pinky toe. Oh, the joy of new shoes. With that #78 of the #SD100 down! 4.26 miles in 3:00 hours, and gaining 1,546 feet.
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.