Detours & Alternate Routes

San Diego Six Pack of Peaks, Alternate Routes & Detours (#3 & 4)

Today’s plan was to hike Volcan Mountain, Cuyamaca Peak and, as a bonus, Stonewall Peak. However, after finishing Volcan Mountain and as I was ascending Cuyamaca Peak my body was telling me to slow down and take a break. I still have a few more challenging hikes coming up in the next few days. So, I chose not to do the 4-mile out and back for Stonewall Peak. It wasn’t a part of the challenge, and I have summited it many times before.

I arrived at the Volcan Mountain Trailhead just before 7am. My plan was to hike straight up to the summit and then on the way down take the small detour on the Five Oaks Trail. This turned the 4.9-mile out & back into a 5.4 mile out and back with a small loop on the descent. Pretty easy start to the day with 5.4 miles and 1,378 feet in elevation gain. Peak #3 of the Six Pack of Peaks complete.

After completing Volcan, I headed straight over to Cuyamaca State Park about 25 minutes away. I’ve done this hike many times from Lookout Road and from the Azelea Glen Trail, both as out and back hikes and as a loop. Today was just going to be the Lookout Road Out and Back with the added hike to Stonewall Peak as the day’s alternate route/detour. However, as I was ascending the slightly steep fire road, I made the decision not to summit Stonewall Peak. Instead, I decided to turn my 5-mile out and back on Lookout Road into a 7-mile, multiple detour “kind of” zig-zagging the various trails and dirt roads between the Lookout Road and the Azelea Glen Trail. A great way to finish a two-peak day with an additional 6.97-miles and 1,845 feet in elevation gain.  Peak #4 of the Six Pack Peaks complete.