News / mountain

April was a typically busy month as we split our time running the shop, teaching class and getting out for adventures. 

Volcan Mountain is one of my favorite new hikes here in San Diego County, I had tried to hike it last year but wasn’t feeling it then life happened and never really got around to it again, until November of this year. Located in East San Diego County this five mile-ish out and back trail has some pretty neat stuff going on and amazing views. Although they steep grade of the access road/trail can make for a good work out so be prepared.

Southern California does have seasons although sometimes you must drive to get to them. But the mountains like Palomar provide crisp fall air and colors as the tress begin to change. So, for this month’s featured sticker we are featuring Palomar Mountain and its iconic observatory.

Last Sunday was an amazing new adventure for me, Canyoneering… our friend Bjorn from Triple B Adventures hit me and Brady up about doing the Middle Fork Lytle Creek route in the San Gabriel Mountains. I have been wanting to try canyoneering for a while and could not pass this opportunity up especially with the heat I figured a trip down a canyon and some water would be nice.

Last weekend I completed a hike I have been wanting to do for a while across Anza Borrego Desert State Park in eastern San Diego County. This two-day hike took me across thirty-three miles of diverse desert landscape and was challenging and rewarding with some great solo hiking and amazing views.

We did not wake up for an alpine start… the sleeping bags were too warm and after a night of tossing and turning it was nice to sleep in a little bit. After driving out Thursday (read about that here) and a full day hiking up to camp (read about that here) we took out time getting up, that was a good thing. After a hearty breakfast of power bar and coffee we packed up and headed towards the summit.

With the lock downs compounded by the California wildfires I was getting a little stir crazy at the house. I was doing good until the backcountry pretty much got secured to reduce the possibility of more wildfires so when my buddy Mike put together a hiking trip to Mt Charleston, I jumped at it. My usually summer go to of the eastern sierras was off the table, so I got to do a mountain I have wanted to try for a while, but Las Vegas kept getting in the way, haha.

Survival Starts at Home, Shelter; when we are talking “survival” we love to jump right into the worst case and learn the cool skills (which are important) but the true mark of a backcountry pro is not having to use those skills because of things that they can control.

Winter is a wonderful time of year in San Diego where you can jump in the ocean in the morning and be hiking in the snow in the afternoon, but that also presents some unique issues as well.