I was able to have Dave join me again to summit Cemetery Hill near Julian. This is one of several summits at can be reached from Eagle Peak Road. We were considering maybe adding one or two more of the nearby peaks in if time allowed. Parking near the same starting point for Oak Benchmark, we head south and down the trail. It is easy to spot due to the metal railing.
The trail works its way down about 400 feet of elevation to Deadman Flat. As we began working our way to the summit, we crossed paths with some deer hunters. I had forgotten it was hunting season. I am glad I opted for my red baseball cap. We let them pass as they were tracking a deer.
Dave and I were certainly a bit more alert for others that might be wandering the hills. Since Oak Benchmark was an off-trail summit, we made the decision to come back after deer hunting season.
The route to the summit was easy to follow. Once at the site, there were just some remnants of some posts that outlined the actual cemetery. I suppose the Witch Creek or Cedar Creek fires might have damaged what had been here.
The views were nice of the area and the weather was delightful. No register nor benchmark was located. We retraced our steps since we did not hear the echoes of a rifle shot, we had to assume the hunters had not found that deer yet.
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.
I researched this hike a while back and there used to be pictures posted on google earth of a small old cemetery somewhere up there. Did you come across that at all during the hike? A friend and I are planning to hike cemetery hill soon and try to locate the site.
Toward the top there are some old posts, which I assume formed the boundary of the cemetery. However, nothing beyond that was seen on my last hike there.