Among my groups on Facebook is “SoCal Trailmixers (Singles Only)”, and a few weeks back, I posted that I was planning on hiking El Cajon Mountain on March 1st.  A few others commented that they were already planning on it that day, so we merged our hiking plans, others joined in, and I posted a few extra encouragements throughout the next few weeks to elicit increased participation.

About 10 of us met up at the bathrooms (after about a 1/2 mile ascent from the parking lot), and as we began hiking, two others and I were at a slightly faster pace than the rest.  We introduced ourselves, learned about each others' lives, and put one foot in front of the other.  Eventually it was just me and one other, getting to the top, getting colder all the while.

I dare say I was impressed with myself and how well I was taking the hike- hardly winded at all, not needing food or even water (but certainly feeling hunger set in as we approached the summit), contrasting with the first and only other time I hiked this trail, a few years back.  Kudos to myself for getting in shape…

The summit was cold and windy; our third compatriot soon caught up to us, but the two of us didn't want to wait in the cold any longer, so we departed.  We crossed paths with the rest of the group, the sun came out, we made our way back to our respective vehicles- good times were had.