I guess leave no trace does not pertain to peak signs. This place has 6 (5 at the peak and 1 at the 1 mile mark).
This particular hike was almost the opposite of my experience doing El Cajon Mountain. I actually passed about 13 peeps hiking this time and nobody passed me (that's a first). I started a little before 7am. Parking lot still had lots of parking. The 2nd mile is creepy if you're afraid of heights walking the edge of the mountain. I took my first break at mile 3. Then did some rock climbing the rest of the way. I had the peak all to my lonesome when I reached it. As soon as humans started showing up, I bounced.
If I knew how much I was going to eat dirt, i wouldn't have brought snacks. I ate it 3 times on the way down. Are there calories in dirt? I munched it so bad on one, that I got intimate with a yucca whipplei (the bottom half of the Lord's candle – google it, it looks like something else). That yucca totally stabbed me. The hike started to get warm on the way back. Lots of peeps hiking in. Even when I finished around 11am, peeps still starting their hike.
Also, might I add, got 3 compliments. One gal liked my outfit. I looked like a red, white, and green Christmas candy cane – she was probably hungry. A couple said i was fast – I felt proud- never thought id hear those words ever again since I was single in my 20s. Then a guy said he should have dressed like me – im covered head to toe to protect me from the elements. Ok, so that last one isnt really a compliment, but Im going to take what i can. This is my hike log.
Responses
This makes me sad. The ONLY signs that should be at a summit are those placed by the official agency. In the case of Strawberry Peak, that would be the National Forest. If hikers really feel a need to take a photo with a sign, bring one up, but then take it home with you. You can hang it on the wall as a memento. But don’t trash our peaks. 😢
You might be on to something, Mr Jeff, a leave no trace trend. Maybe ill try that this weekend. Gonna put my kindergarten skills to the test and draw with crayons my own stick figure peak completion flag on an 8×11. Ill use my favorite action figure (Deadpool) to hold it up to give the illusion its a big sign.