Ghost Mountain

The final summit of the day was to be Ghost Mountain. I had hoped to get this peak in after summiting Whale Peak, but that did not happen. I drove down the dirt road to the southern end of Little Blair Valley to the trailhead. As I pulled in, one couple was just finishing their hike, and another car was parked there as well. Given this was Thanksgiving Weekend, I expected some other folks on this trail, at least to the Marshall South Homestead.

Ghost Mountain is higher in the desert than my last two peaks and as the day was getting late, I tossed some of my warmer gear back on. I also packed another layer and my cap into my pack. The trail to the homestead is easy to follow and I made good time to it. The other hikers were here mulling about. We chatted some before I headed east toward the summit.

This portion of the hike is like the childhood game of ‘the floor is lava’, but with cacti replacing the lava and rocks in place of the living room furniture. The summit is denoted by a large boulder, so spotting it is relatively easy. While no benchmark is here, there is an old ammo box placed by the Lower Peaks Committee. Someone had moved it to the actual top of the rock, so a small scramble was required to sign the register.

The sun would be setting soon, so again I did not stay too long before working my way back down. The snow on the mountains was certainly a wonderful sight. Back at the car, I packed my gear away and headed toward the Scissors Crossing, stopping at the store in Shelter Valley for a soda and a candy bar. The road was open toward Warner Springs, as I did not want to deal with the insanity that Julian would likely be. I wished Ted was with me, as the snow-capped mountains around Ranchita were equally stunning, but since I was driving I could not get any photos. That was peak #94 of my #100PeakChallenge!

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.

Mine Peak

After taking a short break after summiting Red Hill, I turned onto West Dolomite Road to head out to the trailhead for Mine Peak. Like Mt. Tule, I drove further than last time. While two 4x4s were at the trailhead, I did not want to drive the Subaru up the last bit of the road. I chatted with them as they enjoyed their lunch before heading out.

Following the road some more, a use trail was spotted leading up. I did not recall one the last time I hiked this peak. I was probably not skilled enough to spot it.

Once over the steep climb, I continued eastward for a bit, before turning northward for the summit. Upon reaching it, I signed the register and photographed the vistas. The benchmark is not a standard one, so it is easy to spot.

I knew I had a 45-minute drive to the next trailhead, so I headed back down the peak. The family had left, so I explored the mine some before continuing my adventures. Peak #93 was done!

Red Hill

The second peak of the day was also going to be the longest hike at just under 3 miles round trip. I pulled into the parking area right off the S2. Switching from the warmer gear into something cooler, I set off across the desert floor. I was curious to see what this hike felt like versus the other time I did it.

Once across the wash, I picked a ridge and began climbing. The route is mostly free of cactus and with almost no navigational issues. I soon found myself making the final push to the summit plateau. I could tell the difference in my skills and legs as I made my way to the southern end of the plateau where I remembered the register is placed.

After signing it and grabbing my photos, I headed back down. I was very tempted to drop all the way down and return via the wash but felt since I was racing the clock, I should not go exploring. Next time…

The descent took a little care, as there were a lot of loose rocks to contend with. Once back at the car, peak #92 was complete. Mine Benchmark, the next peak was just a few minutes up the road.

Mount Tule

The hope was to summit four different peaks today; Mt. Tule, Red Hill, Mine Benchmark, and Ghost Mountain. With the recent storm, the surrounding mountains were covered in snow, and I knew I might have issues along the 8. So, I actually left a little later than usual to allow the roads to be clear. Even so, I still saw a car on its side, most probably due to the road conditions.

First up was Mt. Tule out by McCain Valley, near Boulevard. Instead of parking where I did last time, I turned onto MV052 and continued a bit further. I figured 15 minutes couldn’t hurt since I had a full dance card. It was cold enough for ice to form a thin layer on the puddles in the road. A light dusting of snow appeared to be atop Mt. Tule as well. Grabbing my warmer gear, I set off. At the road’s end, I spotted a use trail to the southern edge of the turnaround. This trail quickly led me up to the northern peaklet. As I got closer, more and more snow was on the ground. A familiar crunch sounded under my boots as I began working to the southernmost peak.

What a wonderful way to start the day, atop a snow-capped peak and some incredible views. I signed the register and found the two reference marks, but had no luck finding the main mark.

With three more peaks to attempt, I did not have time to dawdle. Retracing my snowprints, I found the use trail again and made my way down. #91 was in the bag!

Mile High Mountain & Rosa Point

Ted and I pulled off the Borrego Salton Seaway at the trailhead commonly used for climbing Villager or Pyramid Peaks at about 5:15 am. Matt was already there, and soon Susie arrived, followed by Greg. Our goal today was to work our way up from the desert floor to Rosa Point, #28 on the San Diego 100, then onto Mile High (#24). We knew this was going to be a long, hard day, hence the pre-dawn start.

Under the faint light of a sliver of the moon, we set off across the desert floor, illuminated by our headlamps. Our first landmark was the entrance to Palo Verde Wash, about a mile northeast of our starting point. I mistook a wash to the north as our entrance, but a quick check of our route had us back on track with only about 10 minutes of backtracking.

We would follow this wash for about a mile and a half. At about the 1900’ elevation point, a steep ridge was on our left. It was here we would climb out of the canyon and onto the ridgeline that we would use for most of the ascent.

Once up this section, we stopped for a short breather and to check in with one another. Susie was not sure about continuing. She really wanted to add Rosa Point to her list, having already summited Mile High back in 2017. I guess doing Cactus to Clouds the day before night had something to do with it. If you are unfamiliar with that hike, it is one of the toughest in the US. Some 10,000+ feet of elevation gain in 21 miles and a modest portion was in the snow. She wished us good luck on our attempt and headed back down.

The four of us continued our journey. This was Greg’s third time doing this loop, so we knew we were in good hands. Greg and I traded off navigation checks as we followed a modest use trail northward. The weather was perfect—low 50s with a slight breeze. As we kept climbing upward, the trail was steep but manageable. Finally, at about 3,400’ we began a short descent across the top of the Palo Verde Wash. After this welcomed respite from climbing, it was time to gain the final 1600’ of elevation to reach Rosa Point. Matt’s climbing ability was impressive, as he just seemed to effortlessly fly up the ridgeline. Greg followed him, while Ted and myself brought up the rear. Ted and I have an arrangement—he takes the photos and I keep us from getting lost.

Soon Rosa Point came clearly into view. Just about 4 hours after we started, we were soaking up the views of the Salton Sea to the east, Anza Borrego to the south, and our next summit, Mile High, off to the northwest. After signing the register and having some snacks we headed off. Greg estimated it would take us about 2 hours to work our way to Mile High.

Although Rosa Point sits at 5,000 feet and Mile High is only 320 feet higher, we still had some work ahead of us to reach its summit. Our route follows the narrow ridgeline, traversing several bumps along the way.

Just before 1 pm, we reached the summit of Mile High! The views were even more stunning than the ones from Rosa Point. I sat against a rock and enjoyed my well-earned PB&J, a small can of Coke, and a nice orange. After tending to a few hot spots on my feet, I signed the register and took some photos. For some reason, my phone was acting wonky. I shut it down in case I needed it later.

Unfortunately, we still had one more big challenge ahead of us. Rather than turn back and hike the way we came, the safer option is to take the village use trail back down. One issue is this requires descending about 1,000 feet along a steep, rocky, and tricky ridge. Once at the saddle, you then have a 600-foot climb upwards. Like I said, a real challenge.

Once safely at the saddle, we surveyed the various options for our ascent. A route a bit to the south seemed to be less rocky, so up we went. I knew I just needed to push up this and it would be a relatively easy 5 miles back to the car. The advantage of having done Villager before was I knew this section, but first I had to get there. I started my climb, not sure how often I would need to stop. Ted said to take it one step at a time. I picked my way up, chugging along. Ted would call out the elevation gain, “200 feet gained, halfway, 150 to go”. I could see the sunlight on the top of the ridge and knew I had just climbed that section without stopping! I was amazed at myself. While it was no speed record, we had made the ascent in about 35 minutes. We were still on our projected pace.

After a break for some fluids and snacks, we set off down the trail. Greg and Matt were about 300 yards to the south, waiting for us. Now that we had regrouped, it was time to head down. Matt and Greg soon pulled away but having hiked this portion before I was not concerned. I would rather take it a touch slower than risk a misstep.

We got past the two steep sections of the trail and past the narrow section well before a beautiful sunset. Donning our lights we continued on down the trail. I was glad I picked up a new headlamp earlier in the week. Going from 200 lumens to 350 really made a difference.

As we neared the final switchbacks at the end of the Ridgeline, we could see the headlamps of Greg and Matt waiting for us at the base. From here, Greg guided us onto the use trail, and we began zooming across the desert floor. Soon we found ourselves back at our cars. All told we covered some 15.8 miles, gained over 6,100 feet of elevation, and did it in about 12 1/2 hours total. We packed up our gear and drove back into town for some well-earned burritos. That was peak #90 of me for the 100 Peak Challenge! As for the San Diego 100, well I now have 70 of those done as well!

Oh, remember Susie? She stopped off at the Borrego Springs Visitor Center and summited Ode Benchmark…

Whale Peak

I was finally able to find time to go hiking with our Associate Rabbi, Matthew Earne. I had been trying to keep Whale Peak as an option for us to summit together, as it is not too difficult, but still provides some challenge and adventure to the outing. The first winter storm was coming to San Diego, but the forecast still looked ok to head out and do it. I did remind him to make sure to toss a rain jacket into his pack.

Once we got to the trailhead, we geared up and began the first climb of the ascent. We began working our way up the steep wash to the first of several mini-plateaus along the route. The trail was easy to spot as we cruised toward the next slope. Cairns would also mark the way. As Scott Turner wrote in Modern Hiker, “Whale Peak trail has a reputation for getting even seasoned and experienced hikers lost.” Since I was the guide for this ascent, I tried to keep my bearings about me as we hiked on. The last time I did this peak, Derek Loranger led the way.

In addition to the route, I was also keeping a watchful eye on the skies for any unexpected weather changes. We could see the rain coming down off to the west on those mountains, but nothing seemed to be approaching us. The winds were light and the temperatures pleasant.

After making our way up the next set of slopes, we soon came to the final steep push to the summit. I told Matt that once it got steep, we would be close to the summit.

We picked our way up the rocks until I spotted the familiar rocks that denote the summit. With the risk of weather looming over us, we did not linger. Tucked well under a rocky nook was the register, which we happily signed, took a few photos, and grabbed a quick snack.

I pointed out various landmarks from our vantage point; Granite, Pinyon, Blair Valley, etc. A few sprinkles were starting to fall, so we donned our jackets and set out to descend. I must have gotten turned around at the summit and accidentally headed east. After about 10 minutes, I stopped to check my location, as I was spotting neither a trail nor any cairns. Remember what Scott said, Whale Peak had gotten me too. We turned around, and climbed back up to the summit, with me apologizing to Matt several times. Back on the summit and oriented correctly, we cruised back down the peak.

The rain never materialized, so we both removed our jackets. We could see some evidence of rain that had fallen elsewhere on the peak; some granite rocks had some small puddles of water, and the soil was slightly damp. What was nice was, that the desert air was now filled with so many joyful odors. You just wanted to stop and breathe it in.

We made our way back down the steep wash and to the car. I had hoped we might be able to also go summit Ghost Mountain, but between the later than planned start and what was sure to be a slower drive home in the rain, we skipped it. This was peak #89 of my #100PeakChallenge.

Wilson Benchmark & Pinyon Ridge

After having fun summiting three peaks the day before, I was looking to continue to pick off the remaining peaks of my 100 Peak Challenge. Given the unseasonably warm temperatures, I knew which hikes I needed to do—the Wilson Benchmark/Pinyon Ridge combination. Matt, a friend of Susie Kara, joined me on this adventure. Once again, we drove out to Ranchita and then down the dirt road to the trailhead. My Subaru Outback had no trouble with the road, but I would not take my Acura on it. We parked, gathered our gear, and headed down the old jeep trail. It was nice not to be bundled up for warmth like the last time I hiked to these summits.

The miles ticked off quickly, and soon we were at the point to leave the trail and ascend Pinyon Ridge. Since I knew from which side to climb the summit block, we aimed for the northeast face.

We climbed up to the top and sat and soaked in the views.

As Matt is relatively new to San Diego, I pointed out the various peaks all around us. The register was tucked away under a good collection of rocks. After a nice rest, we scrambled down and we continued cross-country to the east to rejoin the jeep trail.

Upon reaching the base of the bump that Wilson Benchmark sits upon, we worked our way up. There is no trail at this point, so it is a “Choose Your Own Adventure” type of ascent. Soon, the wooden stake came into view, which denotes the summit. Both a benchmark and a reference mark were quickly found, along with the register. The peaks to the east were more easily seen, so I continued my role as a tour guide. We hung out here for a bit, then decided to head back.

Back on the jeep trail, we cruised non-stop back to the car. Peaks #87 and #88 were done. On the way home, we stopped at the little store in Ranchita to grab a cold drink. The clerk remembered me and we chatted a bit about the day’s adventures. It was a picture-perfect day to have done these two.

Borrego Mountain-West Butte

The second peak of the day was going to Borrego Mountain West Butte. Pulling into the parking area for the Borrego Mountain West Butte, there was one car parked. It appeared I was still ahead of the crowds that come to hike the Slot. To get to the summit of this Butte, I just needed to follow the trail leading east.

As I quickly made my way up to the well-defined trail, I could see several groups camping down in Hawk Canyon. Approaching the top, the trail shifted from dirt to more rocky, but still relatively easy to navigate.

Once atop the Butte, I checked my location to find the actual summit. I remembered that there was neither a register nor a benchmark here. A nice rock formation served as my summit.

The day was indeed warming up, so if I wanted to get at least one more peak in, I needed to hustle down to the car. As I approached the trailhead, the parking area had now filled up with more cars, and I could see folks milling about before they went off down the Slot. Peak #85 was crossed off, and I drove about 15 minutes to the Plum Canyon tour off and my third peak of the day, Sentenac Mountain.

Borrego Mountain-East Butte

As the end of the year keeps getting closer, I have to be mindful of my remaining peaks. Today I planned to summit either 3 or 4 peaks out in Anza Borrego. The forecast was for highs in the mid-80s, so by the fourth peak, it might be too warm to want to do. It also meant back to being at the trailhead at dawn.

First up was Borrego Mountain East Butte. Unlike last time, where I went up the boulder-filled gully, this time I was going to try a different route from the west side. I drove up Goat Trail, a dirt road across from the Desert Ironwood Resort. Just as the road makes a sharp left is a nice parking area and the trailhead.

The sun had just risen, but it had not cleared the Butte yet, so I grabbed my gear and crossed over the land bridge to Butte.

Once across, I began carefully climbing up the rocky slope.

While not the craziness of the gully, this route still took a little care and effort. A few cairns mark the route, but if you have some desert route-finding skills you should be able to pick your way up.

Once I reached the top of Butte, I made my way to the high point and the register. I signed my name as an x2, then took in the views.

As I knew the forecast was going to be in the mid-80s, I did not linger. Back at the car, I was off to Borrego Mountain West Butte, about 10 minutes away. Peak #84 was now done.

Square Top

I knew the attempt to summit Square Top was going to be hard, but this turned out to be the hardest hike I have ever done to date.

Ted Markus and I pulled into the parking lot in Borrego Springs just before sunrise to meet with Greg Gerlach who was accompanying us on this hike and providing the needed 4×4 to the trailhead. Greg is working on his third pass through the San Diego 100, which is slightly different from the 100 Peak Challenge, so teaming up made perfect sense. Greg’s hiking resume is inspiring and it was a great thrill to spend some time in the mountains with him.

Heading north from Borrego Springs, we began our off-road adventure. After a couple of water crossings, the road turns rocky for a bit. This is why we took Greg’s truck and not my Subaru Outback. After about an hour of driving, we reached the Sheephead Canyon Primitive Campground, just past it was the trailhead. We quickly geared up and set off.

Square Top used to be done from a route from the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation, but it appears the road to that trailhead is permanently closed to non-reservation residents. So we need to summit this peak from the east. The trail followed the dry stream bed for a short distance. This would be the only flat section of the entire day. We had a route loaded on our devices, plus a paper map, and left the stream bed and began scrambling up and over the boulders along the ridgeline. In addition to the boulders, the steepness of the ridgeline can not be understated. It would range between 30-50% grade throughout most of the hike.

While we could see Square Top off in the distance when we started the hike, it was now fully hidden behind P3360. After about two hours of hiking, we finally reached this intermediate summit and a well-earned break. There was a register tucked away, so we added our names. Square Top now loomed before us. We scanned its rocky and steep slopes for a possible route up. We agreed on a basic plan of attack, but first, we had to drop down some 300 feet of elevation. Climbing back up that on our return was going to suck.

We found a manageable route down to the saddle and then began to push up. The steepness remained about the same, but toward the base, the boulder field was pretty intense to work through. Some very large rocks served as our intermediate landmarks to aim for as we work our way upward.

At this point, I started to have some real trouble. The effort was really getting me and I had to take a lot of breaks as we slogged forward. Both Ted and Greg were very supportive and accommodating as I sat and caught my breath. I really considered turning back several times; this was harder than any summit I had previously done. But I knew if I did turn back I would probably never have another chance, and my 100 Peak Challenge would be over. I dug deep and found the will and energy to push on.

Soon we started to encounter the denser brush that surrounded the summit. I knew the summit was close, we had agreed that if our descent was in the dark, it was ok with all of us. Greg really knew what this summit meant to me. Slipping past the brush, the summit plateau was reached, and we soon found ourselves at the summit block. We had done it!

We signed the registers and took a short break. Without climbing gear, the actual summit block is unreachable. All this work and we don’t actually get to stand on the actual top… We did not stay too long, as we all knew the effort that still lay ahead of us to get back to the trailhead.

We began our careful and slow descent, doubling checking our tracks so as not to get off course. As we approached the boulders near the base of the summit, working through this section again sapped my energy. Greg and Ted continued to lead the way, and I plodded slowly along behind. I dug deep once again and began the ascent up P3360. But I knew once I crossed the summit, it would be all ‘downhill’ from there.

The sun was setting, casting a rosy light on the Santa Rosa Mountains to the east, meaning our last mile was going to be in the dark. Obviously, this was going to slow our pace even further, but we had prepared for this in case this happened. As we carefully picked our way back down, the steepness was a constant issue. I could not believe that we had gone up this! I missed seeing deer go prancing by, but Ted and Greg saw them. I was too focused on the descent and not injuring myself and missed them.

Finally, we reached the stream bed and began heading back to Greg’s truck. I ran out of my water with about a quarter-mile to go, so I was looking forward to the cool drinks in my cooler.

All told, this hike was a mere 5.3 miles on my device. Ted and Greg had different mileage from their devices. Our elevation gain was 3,617 feet and I had us on the trail for 11 hours, 10 of it actually hiking. We all agreed that this was one beast of a summit. While we were proud of making it but were certain we would never do it again.