After hiking mountains with increased elevation above the ten thousand feet elevation I took a small break from high elevation and decided to hike the Cucamonga Peak. Originally, the Cucamonga Peak was supposed to be my second hike, by the chronic logical order of increase elevation of the six-peak challenge. However, I skipped the Cucamonga peak over the concern of the snowfall California received making the trail condition questionable during the early spring season. The nice thing about this hike is that it’s a familiar location I’m traveling back to. So as usual, I checked the hiking condition to find all the snow of the SoCal mountains have melted which was good break from using the crampons. Another plus is the weather would be manageable as elevation increased. The final plus for this hike was my backpack would be lighter since it would be a day hike to summit instead of an overnight camp. After checking the trail and weather condition I was ready to drive back to a familiar road, but with a new path to take.

I have to say the stream by the start of the Icehouse Canyon Trail brought a pleasant chill to the atmosphere temperature. It’s not every day to see a stream at the start of hike. While walking along the stream I looked around my surroundings and started to pay attention of the different types of trees growing near the stream. Ponderosa, Jeffrey, and Douglas-Fir pine trees. A vast variety of trees blending the colors of the forest with the stream invoking a sense of beauty of the wilderness. A lush wilderness for sure, but the further I hiked on the trail the stream became less present as the rocks along side the trail became more present. Soon the trail begins to feel a little steep as you start the switchback to reach the Icehouse Saddle. It’s around this area you start to notice those trees you pass on the trail are tall. And I mean tall. You are expecting for every turn on the switchback you should reach close to the top, but you still see the trunk. It’s not tall as a sequoia or a redwood tree, but certainly stand out from the rest of the trees.

I took a short break at the Icehouse Saddle to let my legs and feet relax as I joyfully looked around my surroundings. While taking in the scenery, a hiker in a red jacket approached me and asked if I was planning to reach the peak. She was small. Looked around her 40s and probably Philippian, but I couldn’t be sure. I told her I was resting here for a few minutes before heading to the peak as she understood and took off to the trail. Somewhere along the trail about a mile away from reaching the peak I passed by her. Her face and posture were determined to reach the summit, but I had a strange feeling about her that she was nervous about the trail further up. I don’t blame her. The final mile is walking alongside a steep hill on a large section of gravel. Not to mention it’s a switchback trail, making it an uneasy walk for your feet to find something stable to balance. Concerned about the trail I walked further ahead of her, crossing the gravel trail and waited at the end of the turn of the switchback. It’s hard to say if she understood what I was doing the at the first turn of the switchback, but after a few switchback turns repeating the same routine she would catch on what I was doing. Once passing the switchback I stopped at a spot and greeted a few hikers who were also catching a break. During the conversation the lady I was looking out for on the switchback approached us and to my surprise greeted the hikers. Of the many people I pass by on the hike, there are some I will brief to talk. But very few people I will remember. She is one of them.

Turns out she got separated from her group since she was hiking at a slower pace than she anticipated. She mentioned she was feeling anxious walking the gravel section, but my lookout for her gave her the comfort to hike the section. So, I was right about her anxiety, but she also said that she felt safe as I was walking ahead of her that made me humble to hear. After letting our legs rest  long enough, the group of hikers invited me to finish the hike with them as we reached the peak. The achievement reaching the peak felt different since I normally solo hike to the summits. However, hiking and having lunch with them felt as if everyone could relax and discuss topics that other people would find less interest to participate in. How long how you’ve been hiking? What’s a mountain you wish to hike? Are there times you wished you started hiking sooner? Could you change any moment that went wrong on a hike? After sharing the glory of taking photographs and stories with one another, I hiked back down the peaks with new connections of hikers. High energy, ambitious plans, and welcoming attitude to learn more of us are out there.

Four down, two more to go.