El Cajon in the mist

First time hiking El Cajon Mountain.  First outing since the March 2020 lockdown.

The gamble to pick a foggy, drizzly day paid off!  Even with a late ~8:30am start, I only crossed path with a handful of others hikers on the trail.

El Cajon delivered.  It was a tough hike after a year of quarantine (and too much sitting around) but it was still very doable – descriptions of the trail going “up both ways” were definitely accurate.  The “you are here” elevation profile drawings that were attached to some of the trail markers were a welcomed touch (are we there yet?)

Highlights:

• Watching the fog chase up the mountain as the weather was starting to clear.
• The peaceful, muffled sound quality of a foggy, misty day – like hiking in a sea of cotton balls.
• The intoxicating fragrance of the mountain lilacs in full bloom.
• Getting back to the trailhead. ?

Trekking poles are your friend.