Solrac's Hikes!

Sunrise Trail

Despite only sleeping for 3 hours the night before, I found myself waking up to go on another hike. I originally planned to hike Volcan Peak, but after reading the weather report,I decided to do an easy hike in the Laguna mountains. The hike is cool and very very very very easy and only about 4 miles round trip which only took about an hour to do... I would only recommend this hike for beginners and if you are looking for a quick hike before heading into julian for some pie and food :)

Directions:

It's across the street of the Penny wise sign and Garnet Peak Trail head.....

Mount Woodson revisited----- 2010

----It's been a while since I have last posted and I have done a lot of new hikes... I will be posting them when ever I get a chance to write about them----

I have done this hike many times, but I never stopped by and stood on potato chip rock... The hike up isnt bad(if you do the hike from the 67) and its really close to central San Diego. If you want a longer hike I recommend you start the hike either from the estuary or Poway lake.  I also recommend that you go early too due to it sometimes gets hot and the wind tends to build up as the evening progresses. The big attraction on this hike are the rocks and the clear views of San Diego, even though the microwave antenna tend to distort your view. I highly recommend it....

Directions:

From Highway 67. About three miles north of the Poway Road Hwy 67 junction you’ll see a gate and an access road. There’s a marked trail leading to a paved road that climbs 1.8 miles to the top. 

Check out the picture show below.............

 

Oak Trail\Mission Trails State Park!

I have been trail running and hiking mission trails for over 3 years, but I was surprised what I encountered when I walked the oak trail hike.It is about 1.7 miles one way and it is a very easy leisure hike.On the hike,  I saw an abundance of flowers, wildlife, and small cascading water falls.  Now the falls were not big at all, but to see water flowing through the park was a cool thing to see and it made me wonder how it would look after a big rain storm.  To get directions to the park Click here!...To find out were the trail begins and other hikes the Park has to offer Click here! . If you plan on going on this hike I would recommend you go before the summer months so you can see the small water falls...

Oh, I put the NIN sound ghost 4 on the video because thats what I was listening to while I was hiking..

Mounument Peak

The Monument  Peak  hike offers the best bang for the buck..All you have to do is by a day pass (5 dollars) driver for about 45 minutes and then hike 35 minutes to see, in my opinion, the best view in San Diego of the Borrego desert..  The hike also makes it possible for you to see the quick change from a semi-forest enviroment to desert enviroment in a matter of minutes..A must hike  if you want a short quick hike that will give you a spectacular view...

Info:
Distance : 2.6 miles
Hiking time:1 1/2 hours
Elevation gain: 550/550 feet
Difficulty: Easy--a small climb
Best time:year around
Direction :Exit 8 at Sunrise Highway.  at mile 25.2 park in small sand parking lot and look for the trail head marker "Laguna Trail"

When hiking use the The antenna tower to guide you...at some point in the trail you have to go straight instead of left to make it to the top..

South Foutuna Mountain!

The hike really killed me.  Ever since the accident I have found it impossible to do anything physical for a long period of time( In other words I was in a lot of pain).  Other then that if you go on this hike on a nice sunny day, this hike would be perfect. The trail is in the Mission Trails Regional Park and you can access it from the Fortuna Mountain Saddle which can be accessed from five trail heads: Visitor Center Loop, Jackson Drive Staging area, Old Mission Dam, Grasslands Loop, and Calle de Vida in Tierrasanta. Access from Clairemont Mesa Blvd. in Tierrasanta is closed because of damage to the bridge in the Octoaber 26, 2003 Cedar fire.

The hike when I used Google Earth was about 6 miles round trip. The begining of the trail depending on the time of year can get you wet...because you have to cross a river to get on the trail and the hike up at the beginning is all up hill. Overall I enjoyed the hike and I recommend it to anyone. If you find it to the hike easy try climbing North Foutuna mountain which is in the same area on the same day!

I just could not believe how many trails are in this park!

If you have Google Earth here is the file you can see of the Hike!Download friday_hike.kmz

Cedar Falls

These are the direction to get there!To reach the falls, turn south onto Pine Hills Road from Highway 78, about one mile west of Julian. Follow the road for about 1.5 miles, then bear right onto Eagle Peak Road (there's a sign pointing the way) and stay to the right on Eagle Peak when the road splits again 1.4 miles later.

What follows next is 8.2 miles of mostly suspect road that, in wet weather, can be treacherous and a bit scary( I made it with an Acura Integra). Drive smart and slow to the trailhead, park and head downhill (southwest) along an old, washed-out fire road that skirts the canyon wall overlooking Ritchie Creek.

When you get to the end of the road, just remember to take the trail on your right, Southwest if you have compass!

Make sure you don't fall! Some guy fell and broke his neck, ouch! that can really mess up you day!

The hike that kicked my ass!

This is the first hike, in San Diego, that drained me.  The Woodson hike takes you all the way to the summit which is about 2000 to 3000 feet climb.  I had to start my hike from a different location due to the Poway Lake being closed, which added and extra 3 miles.  I started off at some wildlife reservation on the west side of the mountain...Overall the best hike in San Diego if you want to get a good work out...the views from the top were awesome!

If you do go on this hike, go early, to avoid the sun and the strong winds!

Best coastal hike! Guy Flemming Trial

I know I have said that the Point Loma hike offers the best coastal view, but I forgot about Torrey Pines.  This place is great despite the over abundance of sage brush( I am allergic to ) and the noisey outspoken crowds( keep you voices down please) it is so far the best coastal hike in San Diego!  My advise is go early, to avoid the noisy crowds and the Armstrong bike riding want-be's!

Check out the short clip! Short clip!

The Grand Canyon!

A fellow hiker took these shots, and only these three shot, before busting a toe and a camera!Double click on the pictures!

   

                       

    

Some video of some local hikes!

Stone Wall Peak!

I went for a hike on gorgeous summer morning to the infamous Stone Wall Peak mountain.  The hike was easy, the scenery was great, and it only took 40 minutes to get there. The only thing that I had to worry about was a slight chance of running into a mountain lion or a thunderstorm;I saw neither of them.

Iron Mountain

This hike is on the not so famous Iron Mountain.  I love this hike, and if you go, make sure you go early in the morning to avoid the gusty winds and hot weather!         

Click here to see Iron Mountain hike!