Friday, February 28, 2020

Sand dollar, La Jolla, CA



Sand dollars collected at the La Jolla Shores beach, San Diego, CA.  They break easily, try going on a big surf day after high tide to find them washed up on shore.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Cowles Mountain, Mission Trails Regional Park Hike

Cowles Mountain in Mission Trails Regional Park is part of the 5-Peak Challenge and is probably the most popular hike in San Diego. Parking is a pain, with a small lot (drive to 7027 Golfcrest Dr, San Diego, CA 92119) that fills up before 7AM on weekends. The parking lot has restrooms.

The trail is nice and you certainly won't get lost as it is clear where to go (and hundreds of others going the same way). The hike itself feels a bit stressed because of people trail running and trying to pass others, dogs, just generally a lot of people. The views at the top of San Diego are great.

The hike is about 3.1 miles round trip depending on where you park for the main route, it is a serious uphill climb to the top, then down. There is a route up the back that is part of the 5-Peak Challenge, but very few people take this route. Plan on about an hour and forty minutes if you're reasonably fast. You can extend your hike to Pyles peak, which makes the whole thing 8 miles or so.



Views from the top:

Thursday, February 13, 2020

South Fortuna Hike Mission Trails Regional Park

South Fortuna peak is in Mission Trails Regional Park and the lowest peak in the 5 peak challenge. The views at the top are great, and you can hit North Fortuna on the same hike for a challenge. There are several route and a few different parking lots. I like parking at the East Fortuna Staging Area at the Intersection of SR 52 and Mast Blvd. which is right off the highway and has plenty of parking and a restroom. This route avoids the stairs, for an almost equally steep climb up a fire road.



 

Friday, February 7, 2020

Pyles Peak, Mission Trails Regional Park

Pyles Peak in Mission Trails Regional Park is part of the 5-Peak Challenge and requires you to first hike to Cowles Mountain, walk over as if you're going to the hill with the antennas on it to a not obvious from the top of Cowles path (it does have a sign).  Then up to Pyles Peak, then down, the back up Cowles Mountain, then down to the parking lot.

Since you have to park in the Cowles lot, parking is a pain, with a small lot (drive to 7027 Golfcrest Dr, San Diego, CA 92119) that fills up before 7AM on weekends. The parking lot has restrooms.

The trail is nice and well marked once you start on it. Also probably like 2% of the Cowles crowd continues to Pyles, so it is much less stressful. The views of the San Diego skyline and Pacific Ocean in the distance are very similar to those at the top of Cowles.