8/31/2024:

On a beautiful Saturday morning, I hiked up to Strawberry Peak.  When I arrived there were cars already at the parking lot: mostly race cars.  I got ready and took a glimpse at the sunrise from beyond at the picnic tables.  The bug situation was bad there.  I got bitten in two places on my body: neck and forearm.  I crossed the road and begun my hike.  The morning temperature was a warm: in the 70s.  I met a hiker on the trail.  His name was Chris Griffith.  Chris is a trail writer based in the San Diego area.  He introduced me to a few beautiful trails in San Diego.  I thanked him and I wished him a safe drive home.

Although Strawberry Peak is a short hike, I had to put in alot of work and effort to get up those hills.  There are alot of false summit.  But today, I knew exactly where it was because I saw hikers up there already.  When I got there, I asked a fellow hiker to take my summit photos.  He was very gracious to do it for me.  After that, I cane down it before the heat came.  At the saddle, I looked at my summit photos.  I didn't approve them; too dark and too much of a close up shot.  So, I headed back up to Strawberry Peak again.  Déjà vu!  When I arrived, I asked another hiker to retake my summit photos.  It was getting hot.  I didn't want to stay that long.  I hurried down it.  On my way down near my car, another hiker started late at noon.  I saw he was sweating alot.  He asked if I finished my Strawberry Peak hike.  I told him yes.  I ordered him two of my unused bottle water.  He only took one.  I wished him a safe hike.

Woohoo!  I completed my fifth Peak of my 2024 SoCal Hikers Six Pack of Peaks Challenge.