I'm looking for elevation gain hikes in San Diego County

[Rob]

I'm looking for elevation gain hikes in San Diego County (for days I can't commute to higher elevations in SBNF).

A San Diego day-hike combo I've done is start in Mission Trails Regional Park with Cowles Mtn ( 1K') then add Pyles Peak extension (1K' gain). Jump back in the car and drive through Santee and north on Hwy 67 to catch Poway's Iron Mtn (1K') then drive further north on Hwy 67 to summit Mt Woodson from the Ramona side (1K'). Total gain 4,000 feet, and it fits easily into a Saturday when I sleep in late and sunset arrives early.

I suppose that if I woke up earlier and if the sun set later, I could try variations such as diverting off Hwy 67 and adding Lakeside's El Capitan (2.5K' total gain, 11 miles roundtrip), then later after Iron Mtn pay to park at Lake Poway and attack Mt Woodson from the Poway side for a bonus 1K' gain. If I did all that, I'd get 7.5K' gain in a day and enjoy a hot fast-food lunch as I drove through Santee.

Other ideas?

[asabat]

Agua Tibia Wilderness (north side of Palomar Mountain, accessed from Dripping Springs Campground)?

[Rob]

asabat, thanks for suggesting Agua Tibia. I'll start preplanning. Looks like 3K gain.

[simonov]

I just got back from a 4,700' gain overnight to Villager Peak in Anza-Borrego. A trip report will be posted here within a couple days.

[fredjsandi]

You might want to try El Capitan. Takes off from Wildcat Canyon Road. About 12 miles round trip, with 4,000 foot gain. It is an up and down route however.

[Rob]

fredjsandi, last Saturday I visited El Cap (Lakeside) for the first time in a year. The good news is that road construction and widening of Wildcat Canyon Road is complete and El Cap hikers have a new trailhead parking lot next to Wildcat Canyon Road. The bad news is that the new trailhead parking lot is gated ominously with hours posted as 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. That means that hikers can't start too early or finish too late. From my previous visit I remember that some hikers used to drive up Blue Sky Ranch Road and park at the official trailhead next to the new restrooms & utility building, but that area is now posted "No Parking," so parking beyond the gated lot at the bottom of the hill is no longer an option.

I did not see any parking zone near the trailhead that would allow me to circumvent "7 a.m. to 5 p.m." on a future visit, although if I knew someone who gambled at Barona Casino, I could set up a Wildcat Canyon Road carpool.

Last Saturday El Cap was not my first mountain of the day, therefore I started El Cap too late to summit but hankered for those steep jeep trails so I went up El Cap halfway then turned around in time to rescue my car before it got chained in by the County.

While we're discussing El Cap, is there a way to get permission to access the summit? Last time I was up, the summit was posted "No Trespassing" forcing me to detour to the lesser peaks past the old radio shack. I didn't want to push past the "No Trespassing" sign because I assumed that everyone in rural Lakeside swore allegiance to the Second Amendment (bear arms) and Fifth Amendment (private property).

[fredjsandi]

Rob: Two comments and a question:

On parking: when does the park across the street from the new parking open? We often park there and make the suicide run across Wildcat Canyon.

On walking out to El Capitan: I have no idea how to get permission to go out to El Capitan, although the time I went out, I was not that impressed. I much prefer going to the top of El Cajon Mtn. where you can get some great views.

The question: Has there been any repair of the crevice that you sort of have to jump down into to get over (or scramble around on some iffy ground)? This is on the last big uphill to the saddle where the no trespassing is located. Seems to me that crevice area is eroding and could become dangerous.

[Rob]

On parking: when does the park across the street from the new parking open? We often park there and make the suicide run across Wildcat Canyon.

Fred, I didn't get a good look at the park entry signage across the street at Oakoasis County Park, but I would guess that the gate there at Oakoasis has the same hours as across the street at El Capitan County Park parking. The information telephone number for Oakoasis is the same as down the street at Stelzer County Park (11470 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside): 619-561-0580.

The question: Has there been any repair of the crevice that you sort of have to jump down into to get over (or scramble around on some iffy ground)? This is on the last big uphill to the saddle where the no trespassing is located. Seems to me that crevice area is eroding and could become dangerous.

Fred, I know the one you're talking about. When I summitted El Cap a year ago that gullywash crevice was bad. Last Saturday I didn't hike as far as the crevice because I ran out of time and turned around before I descended into the oak grove.

Here's photos from last Saturday. El Cap photos are the second half of the collection.

[Rob]

Has there been any repair of the crevice that you sort of have to jump down into to get over (or scramble around on some iffy ground)?

Fred, in the past year El Cap (Lakeside) hikers cut a bypass trail around the treacherous Evel Knievel leap gully-wash (located near the summit below the jeep carcass) on the ascending leg climbing toward the summit saddle junction; therefore, hikers may cross that gully-wash safely now. I was up there yesterday (Saturday, 3/1/2008). Trip report.

[erin]

i'm in the san diego area, too. i'm just starting to get into real hikes (meaning ones that are more than well-manicured little trails through parks). can you point me in the direction of some websites or books with info on some of the places you mentioned (cowles, etc). my dad took me to yosemite for my birthday last year, and we climbed half dome. i'd really appreciate any suggested hikes/trips for someone relatively new to this...