Elevation: 6,512 ft
Miles: 6.0
Location: California, United States
It was a chilly San Diego morning at the end of December 2010. A snow storm had passed over the mountains west of San Diego the day prior so I was excited to hike in the snow for the first time. Leaving my room at around 7 a.m., I made my way to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and arriving at the Paso Picacho Campground.
Shortly after 12 p.m. I started the 3.5 mile hike up the Lookout Fire Road leading to the summit. The start of the trail turned out just as I expected, ground covered in a layer of snow. It was still freezing so I ensured I had two layers of clothing and a jacket on. Initially, I had a hard time finding the correct trail to lead me to the top as there was several trails near the trailhead but eventually found the right one.
Working my way up along the trail, I felt the temperature dropping. The higher I went up, the more snow covered the ground and the harder it became to keep a pace going as I noticed the effect of the higher elevation on my lungs.
After an hour and a half of hiking the trail, I finally reached the summit of Cuyamaca Peak. The wind at the summit blasted all those who dare reach its peak. The temperature was unbearable combined with the wind chill so I only decided to stay up long enough to take a few pictures and enjoy the view.
Wow Amazing!! I bet it felt good to hike that :) It's really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYes it did. Nothing beats a quiet hike with mother nature.
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