Woke up and made a cup of coffee as I watched the sunrise on Cucamonga Peak (a MUST DO if you're at all into camping). I packed up camp and made my way back to the saddle to start up Ontario Peak. I'd used all my water cooking dinner and breakfast, so I made a quick trip back down to a spring about .3 miles back (Big thanks to the complete stranger that offered to give me some of his own water. I couldn't accept, but the gesture was greatly appreciated. The hiking community is awesome!). After filling up and filtering a good 2L of water I started up the trail. It starts out pleasant, but then came the bugs. I think my arms got a better workout than my legs from swatting them away for the better part of 8 miles. It's quite possible I'm being a baby and they could have been worse, but I seriously considered turning around at least twice. After seeing the foot traffic headed up cucamonga, I was surprised only a few people were headed up Ontario. You can tell it's less popular.. a lot of overgrown manzanita and flowers that attract bumblebees (they're not too bad, they pretty much leave you alone). The views from the top are amazing, and thank you to whoever made this sign (super cute!). I will be back to give this trail another chance, once the bug season is over. This makes peak six of six!!! 12 pack of peaks, here I come!
AZ Winter 20% off early-bird rate ends in
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