“IT JUST KEEPS GOING”

..is what I shouted repeatedly to my friend during our ascent to El Cajon Mountain

Complete exposure, incredibly steep climbs, uphill both ways. You think you're there, but you're not. I've never sweat so much in my life. I looked like I took a shower in my clothes. My one friend could wring out her shorts. My other friend actually POURED SWEAT OUT OF HIS SHOES

By far–and I cannot stress this enough–the hardest hike of the 18 pack for us. We started it at 6:30 a.m.–anyone doing this during the summer should start way earlier–make it a sunrise hike, and get down as fast as possible. Also, the parking lot doesn't open until 7:30 but you can park on the street just outside the lot.