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”.

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.

Hiking Big Rock to Cowles Mountain

I decided to hike up Cowles Mountain via the Big Rock Trail. Believe it or not, I have actually never taken this route up Cowles as I generally take the Baker Way route when I care to climb this peak. I pulled into street parking and gathered my gear. It was still a bit chilly and the first part of the ascent would be on the northern slopes of the mountain. The trail passed by the dog park and the empty paddleball courts. Then the trail split, and the left fork climbed a short hill, while the right path skirted it. Off in the distance stood the communication towers next to the summit of Cowles Mountain.

The trail crossed a dry creek before beginning its real climb and I cruised along the fairly well maintained path. As the trail worked its way upward, I was afforded some nice views to the north – Woodson, Iron mountain and El Cajon Mountain were all standing tall.

I soon came to the junction with the Mesa Trail but stayed on the Big Rock Trail. Once it reached the service road, the warmth of the sun was enough to have me shed the light fleece I had been wearing. I had a short flat stretch before the road began its fairly steep climb to the summit, as it is designed for trucks and not hikers. As I reached the summit I took a moment to soak in the views. It was a very clear day, and standing atop the highest point in the City of San Diego offered up some nice vistas. After snapping a few photos, I extended the length of my trekking poles to assist with the steep descent and headed back down.

The return went quickly, and I gave friendly nods to others as they made their way up. As I neared the paddleball courts, they were now filled with players. I collapsed my poles and turned off my tracker. It recorded the trip as 4.8 miles in 1:56 (including the time at the summit).

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.

New Year’s Day on Woodson Mountain

I decided to kick off 2025 by tackling Woodson Mountain. Driving to the Fry-Koegel trailhead, I was surprised at the lack of cars parked along Hwy. 67, especially as the Iron Mountain parking lot was packed when I drove past. It was a bit chilly, and much of the hike is on the northern side of the mountain (aka in the shade), so I slipped on a light fleece. I knew I would warm up as I began my climb, but I thought it was still just a tad too cold to not have on an extra layer. This route is now my preferred route to ascend Woodson Mountain. As I passed the houses at the beginning, the smell of a fire in a fireplace filled the air, along with the scent of bacon….

I did start to heat up, so I shed that fleece, and motored on up the trail. After joining the Poway Trail, I drew closer to the summit. I could see a modest crowd milling around the Potato Chip, snapping their photos. I stopped for a short break, snapped a photo with this year’s Six Pack of Peaks badge in front of the iconic landmark, then left the crowd behind. I made a quick stop at the true summit (I did not scale the boulder) before beginning the steep descent on the paved service road. I remembered to bring the rubber tips for my trekking poles, in order to protect their metal tips.

As I cruised down, scores of folks were huffing and puffing their way up. Several had the look of “how did I get talked into this?” on their faces. Once at the bottom, I returned to the car, tossed in my gear and headed off to Volcan Mountain for my second summit of the day!

Hiking the Glider Port Loop

I decided to wrap up 2024 with another hike around Black Mountain. There were a few cars in the parking lot for Miner’s Ridge when I pulled in. My general plan was to take the Miner’s Ridge trail, then connect over to the Glider Port Trail and loop back to the start. As I cruised along the trail, I spent some time reflecting on the year, but those are my thoughts… When I reached the junction with the trail that would take me to the summit, I decided to go ahead and take it. The legs still felt good as I climbed the rocky path upward. Once at the summit, I snapped a couple of photos and headed back down.

I made the quick side trip to summit Peak 1376, because why not? I then continued hiking down toward the Glider Port itself. Living nearby, we see parasailers soar around the skies. Leaving the launching area behind, I headed to the Lilac Canyon Trail and followed it back to the Miner’s Ridge Trailhead. A nice loop to cap off 2024! To kick off 2025, I am thinking of a two-fer; Woodson Mountain, followed by Volcan Mountain if my legs feel good.

Hiking Ladder Canyon

Since we had camped at Cottonwood Campground in Joshua Tree National Park, it was a relatively short drive down to the trailhead to Ladder Canyon. I have wanted to do this trail for some time, but it is an almost three-hour drive from San Diego. We pulled into the parking lot for the hike and gathered our gear. It was warm, but not hot, as we set off up the canyon.

After about 0.4 miles the trail splits, and we decided to follow the standard route of doing the “lollipop” in a clockwise fashion. Ben squirmed through the small cave and up a small ladder, while I took the bypass. From there we ascend, and in one spot descend, a variety of metal ladders that have been placed. Our route took us through the canyon which at times was just a narrow slot.

After about 0.6 miles in this canyon, we climbed out of it and onto a ridge. Taking in the views of the Mecca Hills, we followed the ridge northward for a mile. We took a short break at the top of the hill before dropping down to the canyon we would follow to return to the trailhead.

This canyon was nice and wide with walls that were ever-changing in their geology. Some looked like a scene from Indiana Jones…

As we neared the junction, we had two more ladders to descend. These took a little care, as there was some downclimbing before you reached the ladders. In fact, one had a rope to assist (although it was actually placed there to help those hiking the loop in a clockwise direction). I simply slid down the smooth rock, while Ben opted to use the rope.

Soon we were back at the junction. While the day was warm, which we felt up on the exposed ridge, usually the high canyon walls gave us some nice shade. Both of our stomachs were starting to growl, so once back at the car we headed into Mecca for a well-earned lunch. A fun adventure that I was glad to have shared with my son.

Climbing Gasp Benchmark

With Ted watching the Army-Navy game, I decided to join Rick & Andrea on their hike out to Gasp Benchmark. I offered to drive again, and we met in the pre-dawn at the park-and-ride near my house. I drove us out to McCain Valley and then made the turn onto the rough dirt road toward Sacotone Overlook. This is the same road that will take you to the trailhead for Mt. Tule. It has always been a bit rough, but it has deteriorated quite a bit. It was almost as adventurous as the drive to the trailhead to Groan Benchmark (just without the rocks).

I parked in my usual spot, and we gathered our gear and set off down the road. It was crisp, but we knew it would warm up quickly. We cruised down toward Redondo Springs, chatting about recent hikes. This hike is inverted, so we mostly go down to the peak, and then get to climb back up to the car.

The miles passed quickly, and soon we were on the rocky ridge working our way carefully toward the benchmark. Unlike last time, the winds were calm. We weaved our way across the steep and rocky terrain toward the summit.

Once at the summit, we hung out a bit, had a snack, and snapped some photos. We did not locate the register. We did find a Six Moon design sun umbrella sitting on a rock. I packed it out, so if you recently climbed Gasp Benchmark and left one behind, let me know.

We began our return to the car, climbing back up the rocky ridge, onto the dirt road, and finally back to the car. We enjoyed a nice lunch at Mike Hess Brewery in Alpine before returning to San Diego.

Exploring 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 I donned my light fleece before heading out, although my belly was full from some biscuits and gravy from Janet’s Montana Café. A couple of cars were parked there, probably supporting someone who was section hiking the PCT, as it runs just on the other side of the road. I passed by several horse corrals before reaching a water cistern. Turning south, I passed through a golden meadow dotted with buckwheat. My route would mostly follow a very old jeep trail before heading briefly cross-country to the summit.

The trail would vary from an old road to snaking through some manzanita. I had a recent track loaded as reference and from time to time I would double check that I was still on the route. Off to my right, Cuyamaca and Cush-Pi stood proudly, and Rattlesnake Valley was to my left. I could see Sunrise Highway across the small valley as well. The trail worked its way up and down the ridgeline, and I fixed a few cairns along the way at a couple of junctions.

After passing a dry pond, which if you look at the satellite view on your favorite mapping app, shows water, I knew I was nearing my cross-country portion. The brush was low and I cruised through it toward the benchmark. A metal pole stood near the mark and the register can was tucked safely nearby. I soaked in the views for a bit and explored some of the nearby rock formations before heading back. I made good time to the summit, but I did need to get back into town to address some work items.

The return was even quicker than my ascent. The route seemed even easier to follow, and before I knew it, the solar-powered water pump tower was coming into view. Cross another peak off the Borrego Benchmark Club list for me!

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 very familiar with the trail. I cruised along, enjoying the shade from Mt. Lawlor. Then at Lawlor Saddle the “fun” began. I took a short break on one of the false summits for a quick snack before pushing on. I had the summit to myself, sitting on the western side for well-earned shade.

As I headed down, I finally started to encounter other hikers. Just after the first false summit, I ran into another SoCal 6-Pack of Peaks Challenger, Alfred. We chatted for a while before parting ways. Early on, I offered general encouragement to those hiking up, but as I continued on my return I became more concerned about their safety. The day was really warming up, and the section from the saddle to the summit is fully exposed to the blazing sun. Most seemed to be properly equipped, but there were some that did give me some real concern. Back at my car, I quickly turned the A/C on and drank some ice-cold water I had. The car’s thermometer read 90°F, and given how the trail felt that last 1/2 mile, I would believe it. I could not stop thinking that some of those hikers were going to have a miserable time.

Little Baldy Peak

After scouting out where the Wilderness Permits were obtained, I headed over to the market to buy lunch. As I waited in the slow line, I kept looking at my watch and finally decided to postpone lunch until I had a permit in hand. One other hiker was waiting for the Ranger to arrive at 1, so we chatted to pass the time. Slowly, more folks queued up behind us and I really bailing on lunch was a good call. I scored a permit to camp at Pear Lake and was now free to explore more of Sequoia NP. I grabbed a sandwich and soda and enjoyed them under the towering trees. I drove over to my campsite and tossed my food into the bear box. Unfortunately, the site had zero shade, so grabbing a nap there was not in the cards, so I opted to drive to the Little Baldy Trailhead. This trail is just over 3 miles round trip and about 1,400 feet of gain, which was good afternoon workout to test the lungs and the legs. It was a tad warm, so I was mindful of that and I focused heavily on keeping my pace down. The trailhead starts at 7,700 feet, so I was going to feel it as I worked my way up the trail.

Once in a while I would pass a few hikers returning from the summit, but had a lot of time to reflect on life as I steadily climbed. I started to feel a bit off as I worked my way up, much like I did when hiking Mt. Pinos & Sawmill. I wonder what is triggering this? I will be keeping a close eye on it when I hike out to Pear Lake. I took a few breaks, partly to begin to build better backpacking habits, but also to let my stomach settle. After about a mile, the trail eased up and cruised over to the summit. From there I was rewarded with some 360-degree views! After finding the benchmark, I hopped over the summit to sit in some shade for a bit before making my way down.

Heading down went quickly. Two other groups of hikers were making their way up as the sunset must really be something from the top. I felt pretty good as I hiked down. I did encounter a grouse on the trail—I don’t think I have ever seen one in the wild. Back at the car I headed back towards Lodgepole, making a stop at the market for a Gatorade and another soda, before heading to my actual campsite and began setting up for the night. Hopefully, a good night’s sleep would have me ready for the challenge of tomorrow.

Postscript

As the moon rose later that evening, it had an orange glow, not a good sign. When I awoke, I wasn’t sure if the smoke I smelled was from campfires from those at the campground or also from the fire. I checked with the Ranger before heading to the trailhead. He said the air quality was about 90 and 160 over at the museum! I drove to the General Sherman Tree and decided to hike down to it, to get a sense of what I might be hiking in. The air was smokey, and you could feel it in your throat. That pretty much sealed the deal, I was bailing. After a long drive home, I checked the estimated AQ at Pear Lake, where I would have spent the night, the reading was 142.