Hike Log

Completing the Challenge at Cucamonga

Trailhead:

Icehouse Canyon

Type of Hike:

Day hike

Trail Conditions:

Trail in good condition

ROAD:

Road suitable for all vehicles

Bugs:

Bugs were not too bad

Snow:

Snow free

This one is my sixth peak out of the SoCal Six-Pack so technically this is the hike that completes the SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge for me.  Although I plan to hike the other six peaks in the 12-peak lineup, the other six peaks will be hiked as bonus peaks.  This hike nearly didn't happen due to my waking up rather late. I got to the trailhead at around 10:00 am and needless to say there was no parking so I had to park downhill closer to Baldy Village. It wasn't far though and by 10:30 am I had filled out the day permit, dropped the white copy in the box at the trailhead and was off.  This one I hiked solo. Given that I had hiked Ontario Peak the previous month, the trail from Icehouse Canyon to Icehouse Saddle was just a repeat of what I had already done.  On the way, I came across a friend with whom I'd hiked with on group hikes with 3H. He and two other hikers were heading back to the Icehouse Canyon trailhead. We briefly greeted each other and took photos before we continued our separate ways. I got to the Saddle sometime before 12 and after a short break I continued on the trail to Cucamonga Peak.  The sun was out, it was hot but it was ok. I took multiple breaks along the trail. When I got to the summit, most of the day hikers had gone and the few persons that were at the top were either backpackers or the last of the dayhikers. So I didn't have a long wait to have my photo taken at the iconic rock which for lack of a better name, I refer to as “Instagram Rock” or “Social Media Rock”. Being mindful that it was not the true summit, after I had my photos taken at Instagram Rock, I went further up to the left of the rock to the true summit. There I took another hiker's photo and in return she took my photo there. Then after a brief exploration and photos at the true summit I went back down to Instagram Rock and rested in the shade of one of the trees. At 4:00 pm I started to head back. On the way down at the Saddle between Cucamonga and Bighorn Peak I came across three backpackers, two of whom were also friends with whom I had hiked in the past. We greeted each other, and one of them took our group photo and I continued on while they resumed their trek to the summit of Cucamonga Peak where they intended to camp out and watch the Independence Day fireworks. I got back to Icehouse Saddle and  briefly talked with a couple  who were day hiking. They congratulated me when they found out I had been to Cucamonga Peak. Then I left them and head back down.  I got back to the trailhead and then I returned to my car. And with that, I completed my SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks for 2019. Now to do a second round of the Six-Pack with the other peaks I didn't hike in the first round.

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