Viejas Mountain

DISTANCE: 3.5 MILES
TIME: 2.5 HOURS
ELEVATION: 4,187 FT
DIFFICULTY: MODERATE
N 32° 51.695 W 116° 43.559

Viejas Mountain is one of the higher mountains in the Alpine area, however the fact that this mountain has no unique distinguishing features likely has affected its popularity among hikers. Unlike the other peaks in the Alpine/Lyons Valley area, it has no giant boulders on its face or summit. However, it is a rather massive mountain and can be identified from most other San Diego peaks. Reading up on the mountain I learned that it has a sacred history among the Viejas Indian Tribe and was regarded as having some spiritual qualities.

The trailhead is just north of Interstate 8, off of Anderson Road. There is a gate near a large green water tower just where the pavement ends. If the gate is open and you have a Cleveland National Forest Adventure pass, you can continue a little further on the dirt road and park right near the trailhead, which is an opening in the barbed wire fence. I didn't see any other signs designating the trailhead as the way to Viejas Mountain, so be looking for the opening in the fence (see left).

The hike is gradual uphill, with very few level spots, but no extremely steep spots. The trail is ample in width, and a bit rocky, but it's a good trail nonetheless, and I wouldn't use the term "obscure" to describe it. It is pretty easy to follow with the exception of a few spots near the top.

On the peak are a few walls constructed of stacked rocks that has been described as a "windbreak" by one author; it reminded me of a fortress that would be used in a paintball or capture the flag game. The rocks apparently have quite a history. Supposedly they were once used by the Indians in a formation to point the direction of the rising of the sun on the day of Summer Solstice. Then in the 70s this formation was unfortunately disassembled and the windbreak was formed. There have also been several rumors of a small pyramid being built from these rocks, but as of the date of this post the pyramid had also been disassembled.

Because of the peak's elevation, the view from the top is spectacular, especially on clear days. Cuyamaca peak lies just to the east, and happened to be covered in snow when we did this hike. Other prominent peaks include Corte Madera, Pinos Mountain, Gaskill and Lawson Peak, and Lyons Peak.

Twin Peaks

DISTANCE: 2.5 MILES
ELEVATION: 1,270 FT
TIME: 1 HOUR
DIFFICULTY: MODERATE
N 32° 59.247 W 117° 02.620



Twin Peaks is a prominent hill located in the heart of Poway. At the top are two little bumps (the northernmost of which is the higher), and hence the name Twin Peaks. The best view to see the two peaks is from Community Road near the Wal-Mart in Poway. They are otherwise indistinguishable from other directions.

The climb begins at a trailhead near the Silverset Park parking lot off of Twin Peaks road. There is a network of broad unmarked fire roads in the area leading in several different directions, so I would recommend viewing the trail to the peak from Google Earth or Google Maps before gettings started so you can tell which path leads to the top. The network of roads may be part of the Del Poniente/Pomerado Trails.

Shoes with good traction are recommended as the roads are somewhat slippery from gravel and there are a few short steep climbs. Just before reaching a T intersection after about a mile of uphill climbing, there is a narrow single track trail that spurs off to the left and heads upward toward the peak. The hike is not too challenging up to this point but once you commence on the trail to the peak it becomes significantly steeper and rockier.

The boulders become larger as you near the peak. Upon reaching the top you will have a surprisingly rewarding view of Poway in all directions, and a good view to the West of other prominent San Diego peaks. I would recommend this hike to Poway residents- however, if you are not a resident of Poway you may find this hike ordinary and uneventful (unless you are geocaching - there are at least 4 along the way).

Fletcher Point Peak

DISTANCE: 6 MILES
TIME: 3 HOURS
DIFFICULTY: MODERATE

My brother Byron was the first to tell me about this destination, which he accidentally discovered one day on a random hike out by Lake Hodges in Rancho Bernardo. He spoke of a beam of sunlight that came down out of the clouds upon an American flag on a hill on a peninsula out in the middle of the lake. I had to check it out for myself, so we went back on 11/20.

We started at the bottom of Duenda Rd. out by our house in the Westwood area of Rancho Bernardo. The first 1/2 mile of the hike was the commonly traveled dirt road leading out past the painted rocks near the Lake. After about 1/2 mile there is a big oak tree and a fork to a trail that heads down alongside the lake. The trail down to the lake is a single-track trail, and winds through a few spooky oak groves.

At about 1.5 miles, it becomes apparent that you have reached a segment of the trail that is not frequently traveled, and you may need to bushwack a little. Fortunately Byron, the experienced bushwacker, brought his machete. He wen't a little crazy though and probably overdid it, so you can thank him if the path is more clear for you than it was for us.

At times the trail is a bit difficult to follow, so keep an eye out for little orange flags that someone has placed on a branch every now and then to point the way of the trail. Parts of the trail meander on slippery rocks, while other parts of the trail are eroding, so be cautious. This isn't a strenuous trail, but there are plenty of obstacles, which is why I rated it a moderate.

Soon the elusive flag-topped peninsula will come into view as you enter the final stretch of the hike. About 1/2 mile before the flag the brush will disappear and you will hook a right to head out toward the point. From this point there really isn't much of a trail, so choose the path that looks clearest to you. It's a great feeling to reach the top of a hill surrounded by water on three sides and to stand next to "Old Glory" as it flaps in the wind.

Geocaching - My Newest Hobbie

A lot of you may have heard of this sport, but most of you probably have no idea of how big it already is and how big it will become. Geocaching is the sport of finding caches that people have hid all over the world. That's right, the world. A cache is generally a small box (usually an ammo box, a jar, or a film cannister) that contains a log of people that have found it and sometimes other objects and trinkets such as pins, keychains, pocket knives, rubber figures, etc. If you take an object you are supposed to leave one, so until I have something to leave I won't be taking anything. There are literally hundreds of thousands of caches in the world (maybe more). In my zip code alone (92127), there are 217 of them, and that's a primarily suburban area.

The way it works is there is an official website, www.geocaching.com, where you can search for geocaches in the area you want to explore. The posting describing the cache will give you the coordinates in degrees, minutes, and seconds, as well as a description of the cache and maybe a few hints on how to find it. The hints are usually coded because the idea is to try and find it without the hints first, and then if you can't you decode the hint for additional help. They also rate the caches in terms of difficulty and terrain. One if found was right underneath a sign at a soccer park. I would consider that to be an easy one. Someone once told me of a hard one that was out 15 feet deep chained to the bottom of Mission Bay, where you literally have to swim out to find it, bring it to shore to sign the log, then swim it back. Most of the caches I have found are buried under a few rocks.

To find the cache, you should have a GPS. I have a Garmin GPSMap 60CS, and it usually gets me within 1 - 4 feet of where the cache is. You input the coordinates as a waypoint (they can also be downloaded directly into the GPS), then you tell the GPS you want to find it, and it tells you with an arrow the general direction you should head, the distance you are from the cache, and the estimated time of arrival to the cache.

After finding the cache I open it, sign the log, say a few comments, and hide the cache the same way I found it for the next person. Then I go home and record my find on the geocaching.com website. To the right you can see my current stats. I've only found 8 so far, but I am hooked. It's like treasure hunting, and some poeple are obsessed with it (hopefully I don't go that far). Some people have found over 1,000 caches already.

There is a lot more to tell, and I can't give all the details now, but I'd be happy to tell you what I know if you ever want to try it out. Hiking is still supreme, and Peakbagging is king, but you might as well hunt for a few caches along the way for an additional challenge!

Mt. Woodson - Ramona to Lake Poway

DISTANCE: 5.8 MILES
TIME: 3 hours
DIFFICULTY: MODERATE
ELEVATION: 2,894 FT

Known by the Indians as "The Mountain of Moonlight Rocks," Mt. Woodson is a prominent, boulder-covered peak located on the Poway/Ramona border that is a favorite of both hikers and rock climbers. This point-to-point hike will require you to either be picked up or to leave a car at one end of the trail before you begin.

Begin by parking your car along the 67 just past Mt. Woodson Road. The trail initially runs parallel with the 67, but after a few hundred yards it connects with the paved service road which winds up to the top. Be prepared for some steep uphill climbing which will catch you out of breath and may require a rest or two. I recommend wating until you are at the top to enjoy the views, which are far superior from the summit than from any other vantage points along the way.

The hike to the summit is 1.8 miles if you begin from the 67 as described above. You are getting close when you enter a court of huge boulders; by huge I mean 50 ft. or so high. This seems to be a favorite area for rock climbers and with good reason.

The summit is topped with radio and cell phone towers that are serviced often (I've almost always seen a service truck up there). Find a nice large boulder past the towers to enjoy the incredible view of everything to the west. On a clear day you'll see the ocean, the coronado islands, Catalina Island, and San Clemente, and a plethora of other prominent San Diego peaks.

Now begins the trip down to Lake Poway. Though you can do this hike the opposite direction starting from Lake Poway and ending on the 67, you'd be climbing 3.5 miles totally uphill, which means that if you do it as described in this post, it's all downhill from here. Also, if you choose the uphill approach from Lake Poway, you'll have several fork decisions to make, whereas if you are heading downhill to Lake Poway, you'll continue to merge until you are on the Woodson Trail which eventually meets up with the Lake Poway loop trail.

As you begin your descent, you will soon leave behind the paved service road and begin downhill on a dirt but well maintained trail. You can't miss the "potato chip rock" to the right just after the paved road ends. Believe it or not, it is sturdy enough to stand right on the edge of this granite diving board, but one day it has to break, so just hope it's not the day you dare to do it, because the drop below is at least 40 ft.

The trail meanders alongside other large boulders and in some parts through corridors of bushes that will surround you on both sides above your head, offering some shade. Beware of snakes, like this baby rattler we saw making his way across the trail (below).

After merging onto the Mt. Woodson Trial, Lake Poway will soon come into view, and you are almost there. Once you hit the lake Poway loop, the shorter route to the parking lot is followed by making a left at the T intersection. Should you choose to go right, you'll descend down into the valley below the Lake Poway Dam, only to ascend back out to the parking lot, a somewhat longer and more strenuous route, but beautiful nonetheless if you have the time.

Blue Sky Reserve to Ramona Dam

DISTANCE: 4.8 MILES
TIME: 2 HOURS
DIFFICULTY: MODERATE

The Blue Sky Ecological Reserve is a peaceful piece of nature located in northeastern Poway. Though there are several trails that can be followed, the trail described in this post culminates with a view from the dam of Lake Ramona. Lake Ramona is not a public lake and appears to be used only for reservior purposes.

The hike begins at a newly developed parking area off of Espola Road near Lake Poway. Look for the sign that marks the official entrance to the preserve. New public transportation terminals have also been added to this parking area. To the south of the parking lot begins the main trail, a wide dirt service road that can be somewhat muddy after rains. The road is also often used by local equestrians so beware of road apples.

At the entrance is a kiosk describing the wildlife to be found in the preserve, as well as a prominent sign to beware of mountian lions. As far as I know, there have not been any attacks in this area, but that doesn't mean there aren't any there. See the paw print on the left I discovered on this hike which resembles a cougar track.

The hike can be broken into two parts: the "easy" part and the "hard" part. The easy part is the first mile through an oak woodland along a flat segment of the trail. The trail follows along a mostly dry and stagnant stream which is claimed to be the "lifeblood" of the canyon. Poison Oak (spotty red and green leaves of three) is abundant here, so stay on the trail. Just after a turnoff to the right leading to the Lake Poway dam, there is an "outdoor classroom," which consists of a few picnic tables in an open area shaded by a large oak tree. This is a good turnaround point if you are not in decent shape. Just past this classroom is another junction with a sign leading up to the Lake Ramona dam.

If you choose to continue, at this point you leave the shady oak trail and now begin a gradual winding uphill climb with little shade. A sign warns to be prepared with water, but really it's not that bad, but it is uphill for the remainder of the climb to the dam. As you approach the dam, the road becomes paved and diagonally follows along the rocks of the dam until you reach the top. One challenge I always have with my siblings is to climb the dam without letting our heels touch the ground - a real workout for your calves.

The dam road follows across the length of the dam. At the time of this post, the dam water level was very low. Signs warn to keep off the dam rocks. What did the fish say when he swam into the wall? Dam. Okay enough of that. The view is only good to the west, where you will be able to see over most of Poway and Rancho Bernardo.

Cowles Mountain - Southwest Approach

ELEVATION: 1,592 FT
DISTANCE: 3.2 miles
TIME: 1.5 hours
DIFFICULTY: Moderate

Cowles Mountain, the highest of the five peaks in Mission Trails Regional Park is hands down the most popular mountain to climb in San Diego county. Its central location offers easy access and great views of San Diego in all directions, and the southwest trail is well maintained and and was designed with switchbacks to provide a gradual uphill hike to the peak.

The mountain can be approached from at least four different trailheads; the most popular is the southwest trailhead that begins at a parking lot on the corner of Golfcrest and Navajo road in the San Carlos area. This ascent to the summit is an easy ascent, with some level spots but little downhill. Because of switchbacks and the gradual climb, arriving at the summit can be a surprise (an, "oh, I'm here" experience).

On the highest point of the summit is a monument, and nearby is a radio tower that is a distinguishing feature of the mountain when viewed from a distance. The summit is a great place to watch the sun sink into the Pacific Ocean to the west, or to point out several other natural and man-made landmarks of San Diego. There are two helpful signs at the top that will aid you in identifying them.

The trail will often be crowded with other hikers and runners; this holds true especially on weekend mornings, when on one day an estimated 800 people were counted as having hiked the mountain between sunrise and sunset. The parking lot holds 20 -30 cars, but you should feel fortunate if you are able to find a space, unless you hike the mountain during the day on a weekday. Most likely you will end up parking along the side of the road on Golfcrest. However, as popular as a hike this is, I would still rate it one of the best all-around hikes in San Diego County.

Daley Ranch

DISTANCE: 10.5 miles
TIME: 2 hours (bike)
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
COORDINATES:
N33 10.024 W117 03.112

Okay, so I didn't really do this hike; I biked it, and although I did see hikers on the trail, Daley Ranch appears to be much more popular with the mountain bikers, and for good reason. There are several single-track trails and broad dirt roads that can be taken, and maps detailing routes and mileage are readily available at the main trailhead off La Honda road in North Escondido, near Dixon Lake.

We followed the Englemann Oaks Trail on a loop which ended up to be about 10.5 miles. This was one of the longer routes; several shorter routes are also available. Daley Ranch is largely unshaded and has some uphills and downhills that will have both hikers and bikers out of breath.

The only downfall to mountain biking is that you really don't have much time to capture the details of the route. However, you usually come out with better stories about who flipped over the handlebars and went flying into a ravine (see one Scout's cracked helmet to the left after he did just that).

There are two nice ponds and a ranch house that lie in the center of the network of trails. There is also an oddly shaped rock formation, on the Rock Ridge trail which resembles the leathery skin of an elephant. If you are botanist, follow this link to see a list of plant species that were identified on this trail.

Sycamore Canyon / Goodan Ranch

DISTANCE: 3 - 7 mile loops
TIME: 1 - 3 hours
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
COORDINATES:
N32 56.442 W116 58.834

The Sycamore Canyon Open Space Preserve stretches from south Poway to Santee, and consists of a network of single-track trails and dirt roads that can be hiked or biked. Combined with the adjacent Goodan Ranch, the Preserve covers over 2,000 acres. The area of the canyon that this post will focus on is the northern part, accessed from the Poway area. There is an entrance to the canyon off Highway 67 in between Espola Road and Lakeside, and another less-known trailhead that can be found by following Sycamore Canyon Road (off Garden Road in Poway) until it dead ends at a dirt parking lot.

The latter trailhead mentioned above begins at a higher elevation and looks down into the canyon. The most pleasant hike that can be accessed from this trailhead is the Martha's Grove Trail. After a short ascent uphill, the trail descends gradually into a grove of oak trees. Visited after a rainy season, the area can be expected to be painted with a variety of purple and yellow wildflowers. Within the grove is a memorial to park ranger and a bench for enjoying a peaceful moment.

The trail emerges from the grove where it joins up with a network of wider dirt roads that span a relatively level section of the canyon. "Canyon" may be a misleading term here; the preserve is a wide open space with shorter hills to the east and west. Although I have not yet explored the full north-south distance of the preserve, I did stumble upon a classic windmill as well as a ranger's fort about 2 miles south of the Martha's Grove Trailhead. A map of the preserve can be found by following this link.

Corte Madera Mountain

ELEVATION: 4,657 FT
DISTANCE: 6.5 MILES
TIME: 4 HOURS
DIFFICULTY: CHALLENGING

Truly an awesome sight to behold, Corte Madera Mountain is the closest thing to Half Dome if you live here in San Diego. Its southern face is an abrupt 300 ft. drop that is unmistakeable from almost any peak in the county. The first time I saw Corte Madera up close was atop Lawson Peak, and I remember saying to my brother, "I want to climb that mountain." The day finally came on May 20th 2006.

Corte Madera lies south of Interstate 8 near Lake Morena. To reach the trailhead, exit Buckman Springs Road just past Sunrise Highway, and after about three miles turn right on a dirt road known as Corral Canyon Road. After about 5 miles of primitive paved and unpaved road, look for a gate with a large red heart painted on it and park near the gate. Squeeze through the gate and began a pleasant, gradual uphill walk on through a shady oak grove.

After about a half mile, there is a trash can with a sign marking the beginning of the Espinosa trail. Now the trail is much more narrow, as you leave behind the shade of the oaks. Side note: The remainder of the hike is mostly uphill and offers little shade, so be prepared with sunscreen and plenty of water if you choose to do this on a hot day. After a continuous uphill climb for about a mile, you reach an obvious saddle area where many dirt roads coincide. Notice the fire tower-topped Pinos mountain to the south, and straight ahead you will see the enormous face of Corte Madera. From the first saddle, go right for .3 mile until you reach a second, smaller saddle area. Look carefully for a narrow trail that begins by the bushes up ahead. Note that this trail is NOT any of the obvious roads that itersect at this second saddle.

The trail winds up through manzanita and boulders, and then commences a steep half-mile climb up a 4,588 peak covered with Coulter Pines. The trail may be difficult to follow in places, so a GPS or compass is recommended. We were fortunate to have found several chalk arrows which pointed the way, which have probably been washed out by now. For a moment you will feel you are truly in the mountains as you breathe the fresh scent of the pines. From this first peak, you descend quickly away from the pines to have the sun again beating down upon you.

At one point on the trail, you will find your best view to the north, overlooking beautiful Corte Madera Valley. If you do this hike during the spring, the valley will be a large green meadow with yellow wildflowers, and Corte Madera Lake will be full of water. You are almost there.

The trail wanders west, then south to the top of Corte Madera Mountain. To reach the sheer south face, you have to scramble down about a quarter mile along a path of your choosing - we didn't find much of a trail to follow to the face. All I can say from this point is be careful. The drop is almost vertical straight down. But if you are daring, peering over the edge is worth it to give you the satisfaction of knowing that whenever you hike any other peak in San Diego, you will be able to look toward the dark shilloute of Corte Madera in the distance, and say, "I stood right on the edge of that mountain."

Love Valley

DISTANCE: 2 MILES
TIME: 1-2 HOURS
DIFFICULTY: EASY

Love Valley, located on the east foot of Palomar Mountain near Lake Henshaw, is a secluded meadow paradise. Complete with a rustic barn, rolling green hills, shady oaks, and a small pond (if you visit after a rainy season), this is a great spot for a pleasant picnic away from the fast pace of life.

To reach the trailhead, drive to Lake Henshaw and find East Grade Road on the northwest side of the lake off Highway 76. After 3.3 miles, you will see a turnout on the left with a large Cleveland National Forest sign designating the Love Valley trail. Walk past the gate and follow an unshaded dirt road about a mile down into the valley.

Once you arrive at the Valley, the road forks. If you follow the right fork, you will soon arrive at a rustic barn (actually, "rusty shed" is a better description, but I am trying to keep it romantic), that is more pleasant when viewed from a distance. Near the barn you will find a small trail that follows a tiny stream for some distance.

If you follow the fork on the left, you will head toward the pond, and along the left side of the road you will catch great views of Lake Henshaw, Volcan Mountain, and the valley below. The left fork offers the better picnic spots in my opinion.

I should add one caveat: Be sure your visit does not coincide with turkey hunting season, as ours did, for your peaceful picnic will be shattered by shotgun blasts from nearby hunters, who apparently feel this is one of the better places to find wild turkeys.

North Fortuna - East Approach (via Oak Canyon)

DISTANCE: 4.5 MILES
ELEVATION: 1,291 FT
TIME: 2.5 HOURS
DIFFICULTY: CHALLENGING

The previous post is a description of the west approach up this same mountain, located in Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP). The east approach up North Fortuna, via the Oak Canyon trail, is a more beautiful hike in my opinion, but equally challenging as the west approach.

Begin at the Old Mission Dam parking lot off Father Junipero Serra road on the west side of MTRP. The Dam was built by the Padres and Indians (not the baseball teams) between 1813 and 1816 as part of a permanent irrigation project. Much of the original dam still remains. Look for the sign that points to Oak Canyon and Fortuna Mountain, and follow the bridge that crosses the river.

For the next 1.8 miles, you meander in a northwestern direction alongside the riverbed of a branch of the San Diego river. The riverbed is most often dry, but can be flowing with water after significant rains. If this is the case, be prepared to hop across a few slippery rocks as the trail crosses the river's path more than once. During the springtime months, this is one of the best places in the park to view wildflowers, including Parry's Larkspur, Golden Yarrow, and Indian Pink.


After 1.8 miles, you arrive at an intersection where you can either continue to proceed north on the Oak Canyon Trail, or head west on a broad, steep fire road toward the Fortuna Mountain saddle. There are two roads that ascend to the saddle. The road on the right is moderately steep at first and becomes very steep toward the end. The road on the left is initially very steep and then becomes moderately steep until you reach the saddle. Pick your poison. The west approach discussed in the previous post mentions "The Wall" - this is the east approach up that same wall, and unfortunately there is no way around it if you want to reach the Fortuna Saddle.

Take a moment to catch your breath at the saddle. The Saddle is an intersection of at least 5 dirt roads. The road south leads up South Fortuna, the somewhat shorter brother of North Fortuna. The road north leads up (yes, more steep uphill) to the North Fortuna peak. You might find yourself saying, "that doesn't look that bad," as you look toward the mountain, but don't be fooled; what you are looking at is a pseudo peak that is about half the elevation you will have to climb before you get to the real peak.

North Fortuna actually has 2 prominent summits. Apparently there has been some discussion as to what the true peak really is. My GPS actually reavealed that the southern summit is about 10 feet higher than the northern summit. However, the sign with the words "North Fortuna Summit" is on the northern summit. On a clear day you can see the ocean, downtown, and the Coronados. With Miramar air station to the west, this can be a great place to view the annual air show.

North Fortuna - West Approach

DISTANCE: 4.5 MILES
TIME: 2.5 HOURS
ELEVATION: 1,291 FT
DIFFICULTY: CHALLENGING

North Fortuna is the northernmost of the 5 "Category 5" peaks in Mission Trails Regional Park. My opinion is that Mission Trails' definition of a "Category 5" hike is considerably easier than what most hikers would consider a Category 5. Be aware though that while North Fortuna (and the other Category 5s in the park) is no Mt. Whitney, it does have some challenging uphills that may catch you off guard if you are out of shape.

The west approach up this peak began for me at the Tierrasanta Entrance. Just follow Clairemont Mesa Blvd. east until it dead ends, and you are at the trailhead. The trail starts by crossing a long bridge over a ravine. Mission Trails is marked very well by various signs, so it is generally difficult to get lost, although there are several networks of trails, most of them old maintenance roads. Be looking for a small trail that branches off to the right that points the way to Fortuna; there is actually a North, South, East and West Fortuna, though North and South are the most prominent of the four peaks.

As you start you will actually be on West Fortuna, looking northeast toward the peak that is your destination. Move in the direction of the two taller (not to be confused with the two shorter) water towers. Just after passing the towers, you will come to a junction of several roads. Take a glance at the map on one of the signs, and look for the sign that points the way to the Fortuna Saddle (the low point between North and South Fortuna). You are on the right road if you began a steep descent into the valley below. Make note of the tall SDG&E towers to the east. The road to the saddle follows directly under/along them for the next mile or so.

After a pleasant walk through the grassland valley, the hike becomes, well, not so pleasant (especially in the heat of summer, and it does get hot). You have reached a spot that has been dubbed "The Wall." It should be obvious why. To get to the saddle requires a steep climb, that, although it only lasts about 10 minutes, will surely have you out of breath. Pause to rest for a minute when you get to the saddle, and take a moment to get familiar with the other directions you could go from there. Take the north trail.

Now you began the true ascent up North Fortuna, which is another steep uphill climb with no switchbacks. The top of North Fortuna actually has three prominent peaks, the highest of which I believe to be the middle peak. The summit is a great place to catch the annual Miramar Airshow, as the planes will roar right above your head. On most days you'll get a great view of the ocean to the west. The Mission Trails grasslands and Santee will be to the east, Scripps/Miramar to the North, and the other Mission Trails summits to the South.

This peak can be approached from several different directions. The east approach via Oak Canyon (discussed in the next post) is my favorite.