A very strenuous but lovely (for the most part) hike. The route was not at all heavily trafficked. On the way up between the trailhead along Trabuco Creek Road to the junction with Main Divide Road on the saddleback, we saw only two other hikers and a handful of mountain bikers. The descent was similar. The trail is quite easy to follow and mostly dirt, though very steep and with nearly relentless vertical gain.

Unfortunately, because of closures it's necessary to take Main Divide Road on the saddleback and it seems to get a fair amount of vehicular traffic. That portion can be an unpleasant experience, for even when the drivers are considerate (and they're not always) the cars kick up a lot of dust. There are ways to avoid the road, but they're still closed; if the Holy Jim area has reopened it would be worth checking to see if the trails on the saddleback have been reopened as well.

We hit the top of Santiago, celebrated for a bit, and then immediately hiked down the saddleback and up again to the top of Madjeska to eat lunch. A good decision as Madjeska gets much less traffic and we were alone for the entirety of our break. Overall I really enjoyed the hike even though the loose rock and dirt on the Joplin trail makes the descent a bit tricky and its own special form of workout.

From the trailhead to the top of Santiago it took us roughly 3 hours and 15 minutes with no breaks. Our total hike including both peaks and the brief exploration of a spur trail, was approximately 8:00 hours of moving time (plus a 30 minute lunch break), 18.75 miles, and 5800 feet of elevation gain. Start early (sunrise for us) and BRING PLENTY OF WATER, especially if it's a warm day.