I started at 0500 to beat the heat; however, the humidity was 58% at 5 am, so the 78º temperature wasn't refreshing. I hiked a good deal of the trail using my headlamp, so I missed many of the sights along the way (this was my first time hiking the Fry/Koegel Trail). I will definitely go back to hike it in daylight (when it's cooler!).

The advantage of an early morning start was the absence of the typically large crowds to have their photo taken on Potato Chip Rock. In the many times that I've hiked Woodson, I've never had a photo on “the Chip,” that is, until today. 😉

After photos and a brief chat with a few folks at the summit, I put my knee braces on and descended via Mount Woodson Road. Having completed Cuyamaca last weekend and finishing on Fire Lookout Road, I knew the steep, paved descent would be challenging on my knees. I did much on today's hike, a credit I am sure to the additional strength training I've been doing over the last couple of weeks.

This was Peak #3 on my San Diego 6POP and an easy hike for me logistically as the trail is only about 10 minutes from my home. I met about six people as I neared the summit and they were descending on the F/K trail; there were two or three groups at the Chip when I arrived, and I only had to wait a couple of minutes for my photos. As I descended the road, an increasing number of folks were coming up, so it was shaping up to be a busy day on the trail despite the forecasted high temperatures.