Venturing to Three Sister Falls

Don’t judge me, but I have never hiked down to Three Sisters Falls. Whenever I have been out there hiking to Eagle Peak, the falls weren’t flowing, so I never added the extra miles to go see them. Since I knew they were currently flowing, I made the trek out. In 2024, the parking area for the trailhead got a major upgrade: pit toilets, picnic benches (with shade structures), and an expanded parking lot. More importantly, the trailhead was renamed to Cha’chaany Hamuk Trailhead, which translates roughly to “three sisters” in the Kumeyaay language. A few cars were already here when I pulled in. I quickly read over the information on the nearby kiosk before setting off down the trail. It was a pleasant morning as I reached the signpost indicating my left-hand turn to begin my long descent to the falls. From time to time, I could spy them off in the distance, as the trail followed the contours downward. Before the trail realignment, a portion of the trek down to the falls entailed using ropes to scale the steep slope!

Soon, I began hearing the flowing sounds coming from Boulder Creek and knew my destination was getting closer. With a short climb, the falls stood before me, cascading over the smooth rocks into large pools. A few people milled about, some exploring the upper two falls, while some stayed at the first fall. I found a nice rock to take a break and soak in the view. I wandered about the lower pool, as I didn’t feel like climbing to the upper falls. Since I had some chores waiting for me back home, I did not linger too long. I snapped a few more photos and began my ascent back to the car. As I climbed, I began to encounter more and more hikers making their way down, including one group of about 20! I was glad I arrived early. Before too long, the parking area came into view. The old parking area appears to be either an overflow lot or the helicopter landing area. I tossed my gear into the car and changed into a dry shirt before heading home. I recorded the hike as 3.8 miles long with a healthy 934 feet of gain (all on the way back).

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.

Backpacking at Granite Springs

As I am working on completing the 100 Peak Challenge for a second time, I needed to climb East Mesa – Peak 5178. When I did the challenge in 2019, I climbed East Mesa High Point, as Derek did not define which East Mesa to summit. He later clarified that the correct peak is East Mesa – Peak 5178. Rather than simply hiking out and bagging the peak, I opted to camp at Granite Springs Primitive Campground, which is just a short distance from the peak. I bought my overnight permit from the kiosk at the Green Valley Campground (Friday through Sunday, the kiosk is staffed), then drove the short distance to the Sweetwater parking area. I grabbed my pack and headed up the Harvey Moore Trail. The trail starts climbing right from the trailhead, so the light breeze that was blowing was welcomed. After about 0.7 miles, the grade lessened, and I kept cruising along. Oakzanita stood off to my right, and Cuyamaca and Cush-Pi (Stonewall) stood far off to my left.

As I passed through East Mesa, I spied East Mesa – Peak 5178, and considered climbing immediately after I set up camp, but I wanted to secure my camping spot first. Soon, the water pump came into view, and I had arrived at the campground. There were three sites here, so I went down the trail past the pit toilets to view my options for the evening. I settled on site #1, under the shade of some large oaks. The other two sites looked fine, but this one also had some nice logs to sit upon and relax. I set up my tent without issue. I had wanted to try a new pillow on this trip, and accidentally brought my old one instead (I actually brought both, but did not see the one I wanted to try until the next morning!). Since it was still Passover, I could not eat a dehydrated meal, so I had packed other food for my time out there. I also decided to bring my own water and not treat the water from the pump. The sun soon dipped behind Peak 5178, and it began to cool down. I slipped into my tent and relaxed, listening to an audiobook until I drifted off to sleep. I got up once during the evening and grabbed a few night shots before huddling back under my quilt.

Around 6, I woke and had my breakfast. That hot coffee sure hit the spot. My thermometer said it dropped to 38°F overnight. I went back down the East Mesa Fire Road for a short distance before heading cross-country toward the southern slope of Peak 5178.

Initially, the slope was covered in simple grasses and ankle-high brush, but as I worked my way up, the vegetation began to change. With about 40 feet of elevation to go to the summit, I now had to bushwhack my way through the last 100 yards or so. The brush was thick, and more than once, I would try one path, only to reach a thick wall. With a little luck (and a few drops of blood), I reached the summit. A small rock cairn denoted the peak. I could see the fog below me, which made for a unique view. Once I had taken in the view, I whacked my way through the brush and back onto the southern slope. As I cruised along the Harvey Moore Trail once again, I began descending into the fog. I stopped and slipped on my jacket before continuing. Soon, I was back in my car and ready to head home after a great overnight trip. The hike out was 3.9 miles with 979 feet of gain. The side trip up to Peak 5178 was about 300 feet of gain and took about 35 minutes. I think I will find the time to explore the other primitive campground, Arroyo Seco, before too long.

Shaking on the Desert View Loop

I decided to return to William Heise County Park and hike up to Glen’s View. I had hiked up to this replacement peak a couple of years back on one of Larry Edmond’s Hike of the Month trips. That hike explored more of the surrounding trails. This time, I was interested in just the Desert View Trail, as my foot was not quite 100%. I drove out and used the QR code to pay my $5 day use fee, then drove over to the trailhead parking that was further in the park and not the one next to the entry kiosk.

Starting on the Nature Trail, I began working my way up toward the summit. Various markers helped identify the plants and trees that line the trail. After about 0.3 miles, the Nature Trail meets up with the Desert View Trail. I turned right to enter that trail and really started my climb. With my foot being a bit off, I took my time climbing the over 400 feet of elevation to the viewpoint. The viewpoint sits off a small marked spur. There is a beautifully built monument that stands with a viewfinder mounted atop it. I took a moment to peer through it, aiming at the marked locations on its base. After enjoying the view and a refreshing drink, I began my return. This trail is a loop, so when the viewpoint spur rejoined the Desert View Trail, I continued my counter-clockwise route. This section was not quite as steep as the route up, and offered some nice views to the west. My son, who was visiting his girlfriend in Chicago, called, so I chatted with him while I continued my descent. While still on the phone with him, I heard a very loud rumble and almost immediately, the ground shook violently. I hung up with Ben and took stock of the earthquake that had just happened. I had never experienced one outside, and it was different, seeing everything moving around me. I continued back down to the car, staying aware of things around and above me, not knowing if a larger quake might be still to come. Back at the car, I discovered that the calculated epicenter was very, very close to me! I pulled up the USGS website and submitted my observations for their citizen data collection effort. A ranger drove by, and we chatted a bit before he went to inspect the restrooms for any damage. On the drive home, I did see rocks that had fallen onto the roadway at a couple of spots.

Hiking the Canyon Oak Trail

My wife and I drove up to William Heise County Park to attend a hosted star gazing event later that evening. After paying the $5 day-use fee, we parked near the meadow. Anita and our dog, Rocky, hung out there while I set off for a short hike. I originally was going to hike the Desert View Trail, but I was feeling the double whammy of my hike earlier in the day and the drive back up to Julian. So, instead, I opted to do the Canyon Oak Loop instead.

The 1.6-mile trail works its way up the nearby slopes to the northeast part of the park. I had some lovely views along the loop. Some high clouds were rolling in, and I hoped they cleared before the skies turned dark. Along the way, a couple of benches had been installed for those who might want a breather or to soak in the views. I made my way back down, taking the alternate trail to the campground.

Back at the meadow, Anita and I enjoyed a nice picnic dinner before wandering up to where the telescopes had been set up. We chatted with their owners, and as the skies darkened, those high clouds had faded away. Through the viewfinders, we saw Jupiter and the Galilean moons, Saturn, and the double star in the Big Dipper. It was a nice event, and all three of us enjoyed ourselves. The hike was a 1.65-mile loop from the trailhead and had 320 feet of gain.

A peak in Kanaka Flats

In my effort to complete the 100 Peak Challenge a second time, I needed a few of the replacement peaks that Derek had added after I had completed the challenge in 2019. One of those peaks was Peak 4292, out on the Kanaka Flats near Santa Ysabel. I have hiked out in the Santa Ysabel East Preserve numerous times, sometimes for the San Dieguito River Foundation’s Coast to Crest Challenge and sometimes just with friends or family. The peak lies off the main trail, so I would have to purposely alter my route to climb it. After waiting to bypass some road construction, I pulled into an empty parking area. The grasses along the trail were still green, and tiny flowers dotted the grassy carpet. The actual trail had just been graded as part of a fire prevention measure, making it very easy.

I crossed the flowing Santa Ysabel Creek and began the climb up to Kanaka Flats. At the junction of the Kanaka Flat Loop, I turned left. Shortly, I spied a cow trail that led up to the small hill that sits toward the eastern end of the flats. Following it up the slope, I then turned southward along the hill’s ridgeline to the “summit”, again trying to stay on one of the existing cow paths. Checking my location on my phone, I located the marked summit. There is no benchmark or register, just a grand view of the area.

Due to a timing error on my part, I did not have a good pre-hike breakfast, and I was getting hungry, so I retraced my route back down from the peak and onto the trail. The day was warming up, and I was glad to be heading back to the car. Once back at the car, I decided to avoid the long delays on Wynola Road due to that construction and to loop through Julian proper. By the time I got to Santa Ysabel, it was too late for a full breakfast, so I opted for a cinnamon roll from Dudley’s to quell my hunger. The entire hike was 6.26 miles, and I did it in 2:00:59. I have just 8 more peaks left to finish Derek’s list (I wonder if I will finish it a second time before he finishes…)

Camping on Corte Madera

When I awoke and saw that it had rained overnight, I wondered what the conditions at Corte Madera might be like. I checked the forecast, and it remained as before: a high in the mid-60s, a forecasted low in the mid-40s, and a light breeze. After lunch with Rick to discuss an upcoming trip, we tossed my gear in the car and set off under still cloudy skies. I needed a wilderness permit, so I stopped at the Ranger Station in Alpine and picked one up. The Ranger had never heard of anyone camping back there, so I filled her in on the details from my last trip. With my permit in hand, I drove out to the trailhead. As I neared the Laguna Crest, the clouds stopped, and a warm sun shone down. Once at the parking area, I quickly shouldered my pack and set off. I cruised along the road to the turn-off to the Espinoza trail and began working my way up toward the Espinoza saddle. As I neared the saddle, I could see the clouds covering it. Once there, the views to the west were completely socked in. I hoped that the campsite would be above them. I turned onto the road and headed toward the next junction. Thankfully, I quickly did rise above the cloud layer, and the sun once again shone down.

I climbed up the steep trail, testing out the grip of my new shoes and enjoying their lightness with every step. Unlike last time, where I needed to stop at one of the overlooks, I felt great and pushed on. The manzanita is beginning to encroach on the trail, so long pants and long-sleeved shirts are highly recommended. Corte Madera finally came into view, sitting above a blanket of clouds below. I cruised over to the same campsite I used before. Since I was filming this trek, I set up my camera and recorded a time-lapse of setting up.

Once set up, I hiked the 0.1 miles over to the summit. After enjoying the view and reflecting on recent events, I headed back to camp. Initially, I had hoped to sleep without the rain fly, but some fog rolled in, and I reluctantly added it. I cooked my dinner as the sun sank beneath the clouds. Retreating to my tent, I listened to some podcasts for a while. The fog had retreated, and the stars shone in the moonless night sky. I spent some time taking photos, adjusting various settings on the iPhone’s camera, and taking advantage of having a tripod.

I woke before sunrise and made a cup of coffee, which I enjoyed in the tent. I headed back over to the summit to watch the actual sunrise. There was a peace in my heart and a sense of comfort as its rays spread across the vista before me. Returning back to camp, I finished packing up and headed out. The return went quickly, as a warm breakfast was waiting for me in Alpine. One of the questions I had was how much water I would consume during this overnight. I carried out 4.25 liters and only used about 2.25 liters. If I had made a proper breakfast, then I probably would have been closer to using 3 liters. I also drank a liter before leaving, so that reduced my water usage as well. With that, only two more peaks to climb to finish the 2025 San Diego Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge.

A loop around the Inaja Trail

Since I had time before heading out to camp in Anza-Borrego, I decided to stop and hike the Inaja Memorial Trail. We just had a winter storm blow through, and I was hoping for a little snow on the ground. The parking lot was empty as I put on my hiking boots for this short .5 mile loop. Grabbing my trekking poles, I headed over to the memorial for a moment before setting off. Unfortunately, the snow that had been here had mostly melted away, and only a patch or two remained in the shade. I cruised along the trail until I reached the viewpoint. It was a nice day with the clouds in the sky, and the snow on the mountains to the east. Back at the car, I tossed in my poles, and headed down the road to Santa Ysabel, then on to Borrego Springs.

Oakzanita Loop

My good friend Becca is going to be hiking the Trans-Catalina Trail in May and wanted to start upping her hiking miles. I offered some options for her and she decided that doing the Oakzanita Loop sounded just right. Ted Markus joined us as well for this adventure. It was a brisk 44 degrees when we arrived at the parking area. Once geared up, and a group selfie taken in front of the trailhead sign, we set off along the Lower Descanso Creek Trail. The trail was still a little damp from the showers we received on Friday, but thankfully not muddy. The creek was still dry, making the stream crossings trivial.

Once we reached the East Mesa Fire Road, we took it around the bend to then join the Upper Descanso Creek Trail. Now the trail would begin to noticeably gain elevation. Partway up, we stopped to shed our respective layers. We had yet to see or hear another soul, despite there being a few cars at the trailhead. I wondered if they were backpacking out at Granite Springs? The trail reached the Oakzanita Peak Trail which would take us up to the summit.

Soon, I passed the two hitching rails and then found myself on the summit. As I waited for Becca and Ted to arrive, I got my camera ready to capture their arrival. We had a quick snack and soaked in the views. As I pointed out various peaks in the distance, another hiker briefly joined us but hustled off to make it to the all-you-can-eat pancake fundraiser at the Descanso town hall.

We finished our snacks and cruised back to the junction with the Upper Descanso Creek Trail and the Oakzanita Peak Trail. Everyone was feeling good, so we opted to continue along the Oakzanita Peak Trail until it connected with East Mesa Fire Road. This portion of the trail is pretty mellow, and we all chatted away, sharing updates about our various children.

Back on the fire road, we motored back until the junction with the Lower Descanso Creek trail. We kept a good pace and soon we began to see evidence that the trailhead was close. Back at the car, we stopped our various tracking devices and noted the slight difference in recorded mileage (I logged 7.5 miles, while Becca logged 7.6 miles and Ted logged 7.7 miles). It was a good training hike for Becca, her longest to date. We opted to skip the traditional post-hike food and drink, as we would probably be overeating while watching the “big game”.

A windy hike to Cuyamaca Peak

Having knocked out two peaks on the San Diego Six Pack of Peaks challenge on New Year’s Day, I decided to cross another off the list — Cuyamaca Peak. While the forecast did call for some windy conditions, that did not deter me. I arrived at the trailhead just before 8. Unlike last time when I was racing against the heat of the day, this time I wanted some of the sun’s warmth to offset the winter chill. I cruised along Milk Ranch Road, falling into a nice groove. I wondered if I might see any wild turkeys, and a few minutes later, almost 20 stood in a field next to the road.

The day felt more like a fall day rather than a day in January. I turned on to the Conejos Trail and began the climb in earnest. The legs still felt good, even after the adventure in the desert the day before. I passed two hikers making their way back from the summit. They said it was quite breezy up there. I thanked for the information and continued on. Once at the service road I slipped rubber tips onto my trekking poles as there was no need to wear down the metal tips on the asphalt. As I approached the summit, I could hear the wind at times whistling through the communications tower. The summit itself was actually fairly well sheltered, so I snapped my photos and enjoyed my PB&J. I didn’t linger past that, set off back down the road, and passed a few other hikers making their way to the summit.

The legs continued to feel good as I turned on to the Azalea Glen Fire Road. Just after the spring, I saw the SD Sloth group. Some of them had been on yesterday’s hike, so I knew they had this on their calendar. I said a quick hello before continuing on. Before too long the end of the trail came into view. I had resisted really looking at my time/pace, but was very curious what my final time would be. I did the 8.6 miles in 3:17! That was a great pace for me on this climb. Since I was solo, I decided to grab some tri-tip from Grand Ole BBQ in Flinn Springs, which hit the spot.

Hiking Volcan Mountain

After hiking up Woodson Mountain earlier in the day, I drove out to Volcan Mountain to cross my second peak off the 2025 Six Pack of Peaks Challenge. As I turned on the Farmers Road, I could see this trail was going to be busy. However, just as I neared the actual trailhead, a car left, and I was able to grab a parking spot right at the start. The day had warmed some, but there was a slight breeze. I decided to leave the fleece behind, as I wasn’t planning on hanging out at the summit for any real length of time.

The legs still felt good after my 5 miles up Woodson, and I motored along the trail. I decided to skip taking the 5 Oaks Trail, just save a little distance this time. New Year’s greetings were exchanged as returning hikers passed me. Soon, the summit and its navigation tower came into view. Some hikers were enjoying their well-earned snack at the picnic bench, while I snapped another summit badge photo. I stopped by the benchmark and chatted with two other hikers before heading back down from the summit.

More and more folks, many with their dogs (did I miss the “bring your dog to Volcan Mountain” memo?) were working their way toward the top. I kept cruising down the trail, and as Farmers Road came back into view, there were a lot more cars parked along it. Back at the car, I changed into a dry shirt and headed home. I made a quick stop at Don’s Market for a cold soda before making the rest of the drive. As I passed the trailhead for Woodson Mountain, the side of the highway was now completely jam packed with cars. I could only imagine the line to climb onto the ‘Chip’. It was a great way to kick off 2025, with hopefully a lot more adventures to come.