Hike Log

Scrambling for the Strawberry

Trailhead:

Red Box

Type of Hike:

Day hike

Trail Conditions:

Trail in good condition

ROAD:

Road suitable for all vehicles

Bugs:

No bugs

Snow:

Snow free

Link:

https://www.facebook.com/harvzs/media_set?set=a.10158429802924046&type=3

This was a last-minute change of plans. On this day I was supposed to do a partial snow hike up Cucamonga Peak. However, after I had gotten on the road and mid-way to the trailhead I suddenly realized I had left behind my microspikes. Not wanting to put myself in unnecessary jeopardy, I changed plans and decided to do Strawberry Peak instead. Strawberry Peak was chosen because although it promised to be a short hike, it would still be a workout. So I drove to the Red Box trail head. The road was closed beyond Red Box but that was fine since the parking lot was open. Initially intending to hike after a short rest at the trailhead I fell asleep inside my car and woke up about 1-2 hours later. Still it was 8:00 am in the morning so after resting a little bit more and doing the final preparations, I finally set out at around 8:37 in the morning, crossed the road to the Strawberry Peak trailhead and set off. The first part of the hike was relatively easy. The fun part started at the junction where the trail split, with the main trail to the right for Strawberry Meadows and the left fork to the use trail that would take me to the scramble  zone and ridge to Strawberry Peak. Although I was aware that there were false summits for this trail, the false summits  here made the ones between Ontario and Big Horn look like way stations in comparison. But the scrambling wasn't bad. Unlike the Arizona winter peaks of Picacho and the Flatiron, the scrambling here for the most part was relatively easier and the trekking poles were a big help. Finally the true summit came into view with the visible metal post surmounted by a triangle. I signed the register, took pics of 2 other hikers who were already there at their request and who in turn took my summit pics. I stayed up there longer than I intended. The summit was above low clouds. Finally it was time to head down. On this day, there was enough cloud cover which made the hike cooler than I expected it to be so it wasn't hot. On the way down, there were times the clouds was so close enough that at times it covered the road below but the trail itself remained visible despite spots where the clouds obscured the view. I got back to the trail and was done. Peak tally for this challenge is now one original peak (Wilson) and one alternate peak (this one, Strawberry).

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