Another successful hike completed! Today I summited my 5th peak of the San Diego Six Pack of Peaks Challenge. I’ve completed this peak in the past at least 8 times, but today, Hot Springs Mountain did not disappoint! I started off at about 0740 with temperatures in the low 40’s. Other than a few families at the campground, I was the only vehicle at the trailhead.
If you’ve never done this hike the trail is straight forward and is a truck trail all the way up. The first 2.1 miles are by far the hardest of the hike as you climb steadily up for about 1322 feet. For the next half mile, you climb about 100 feet as you reach Hot Springs Mountain Road. Mile 3 starts off with a .2-mile 100-foot descent and then continues as you gradually gain another 400 feet in elevation. The first half mile of mile 4 gains only about 50 feet in elevation before heading up the final .38 miles to the Tower and gaining another 360 feet. From the tower it’s another .2 miles on a trail gaining about 50 more feet to top out at 6,533 feet in elevation. The total elevation gain to the summit was 2,227 feet with an additional 271 feet in elevation loss.
I spent at least an hour at the summit. Relaxing, eating and taking photos. Just before my descent, I ran into two other hikers who had made their way to the summit. The weather to this point was perfect. Maybe mid-50’s and no wind with clear skies all around. As I made my way down the mountain I ran into at least 8 other groups or pairs of hikers. I don’t remember a day when this trail was that busy.
My total miles for the day were 10.23 with 2,487 feet in total elevation gain and 2,470 feet in elevation loss.
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