A perfect adventure ~ woke up at dawn to make the 1.25 hour drive from Cardiff so I could beat the heat (lessons learned from Cuyamaca!). The trail was just as described by SoCal Hiker, and his overview and descriptions were helpful. I was planning to run this peak to try out my new hydration vest, ended up walking some due to the altitude and more technical aspects going up the Five Oaks Trail ~ I highly recommend this, so beautiful!

I chatted with a few hikers on my ascent and met a fellow #sixpackofpeaks hiker at the summit (hi, Sandra/Sondra? and Ivan!). I loved the loop at the summit to allow for lots of viewpoints before the descent. The weather was PERFECT — sunny, breezy and not too hot. It was a truly joyous morning, and I will definitely return to work on my running endurance at altitude.