ELEVATION: 3,660 FTTIME: 3 HOURSDISTANCE: 4.5 MILESCHALLENGINGIf you're up for a great half-day adventure, this is the hike for you. It is a combination of hiking, boulder hopping, climbing, and even ascending into a cave. Lawson Peak is a rocky peak located south of Interstate 8 in the Alpine/Jamul area. Along the way and at the top are several large boulders that bear the marks of rock climbers. The trail begins on a service road that is not very serviceable. By that I mean that there are few vehicles that could handle its rocky terrain. After about a 2 mile gradual ascent up the road, you come to Carveacre road where a trail breaks off and starts the climb.
Now the nature of the hike changes dramatically to big steps over and under boulders and a little bushwacking, paying attention to the cut manzanita branches that show the way of the trail. After about 1/2 mile of rigorous climbing, you come to a spot that appears to be the last few boulders before the top. At least that is what my brother and I thought. We wedged our way into a crevice, only to find that there really wasn't a way to top without the risk of a nasty fall once we made it through. However, we had come this far, and we were determined to find the way to the top. I will admit for a moment I was thinking we might have to go back without reaching the summit.
There was one more path from where we were,
but it required us to descend around to the northwest side (which made us think we were on our way down rather than up), until we came to a much larger, higher crevice which made us drop our mouths open in awe- and as far as I know this crevice is the only way to the top unless you bring rock climbing gear. The crevice (left), which is about shoulder width, has 2-3 ledges that we had to hoist or shimmy ourselves up onto.
After we climbed about 30-40 feet up the crevice, we found an obvious cave (right). By going back into the cave about 15-20 feet, we found an opening on each side just above our head. At this point we were so close to the top that it was difficult to tell what the top really was, because all the boulders look liked the highest point when we were right up next to them. When we reached the back of the cave, we found that we had two choices:
If you choose the opening on the left, you will come out in the middle of some manzanita bushes, but you will notice a worn path that allows you to squeeze by. From there it is a brief hands-and-feet climb to the highest boulder.
If you choose the opening on the right, you will need to prop yourself up onto a large flat rock. Then after scooting around a boulder on a 2-3 foot ledge (left) you meet up with the way to the top. We thought this was the way up, and although a little more difficult and risky, we were up for the challenge. On our way back down we discovered that the opening on the left would have been much easier.
The view from the top was spectacular, and it was all the more sweet when we thought about what it took to get there. The view north was purely unobstructed, as Lawson Peak was the highest peak northward for miles. To the west was the towering Lyons Peak, which disappointingly is now on private property and cannot be accessed. To the west was Gaskill peak, what I would call the "older but not as
exciting" brother of Lawson Peak. In the distance to the east was Pinos Mountain, Corte Madera Mountain, and the great Cuyamaca Peak. To the south lies Barrett Lake and the prominent Tecate Peak, on the Mexican border.
If you are reading this and think, "I want to do that hike," let me know because I would love to do it again.
ELEVATION: 1,550 FT
On this hike, we chose the south network of trails. After a .5 mile uphill climb, we came to a fork in the trail. The path to the east is about a 2 mile hike to a peak that overlooks Ramona. The path to the west leads to a 1,550 FT peak that overlooks the San Pasqual Valley. When we came to the fork, we decided to explore the east route which led to a grove after a few hundred feet (left). A creek runs through the grove and there is a bridge over the creek that was built as an Eagle Scout Project.
After exploring the grove, we turned back and headed toward the west, past the fork in the trail. We were a little too early for the wildflowers, and the vegetation was still brown and dry. The trail is relatively smooth but is very narrow. It was gradual uphill with a few long switchbacks, and at last we came to a viewpoint that offered some nice rocks to sit on.
