Wow! It was a wild windy day! (And my neighborhood in Orange County got hammered with wildfires, again.) I actually didn't feel any wind for the first 2 or 2-1/2 miles up, but once on top of the range the last 2 miles was wild with everything blowing up and around even through the trees.

I started my hike at the Los Coyotes Reservation Campground after paying the $10 reservation entrance fee at the ranger booth (immediately next to the police station). I got there at noon and I was the only one there. No other people or cars at the campground. Hot Springs all to myself! But being solo and literally at least 6 miles from another human, I chickened out at the summit rock and did not climb the ropes. Safety first.