Santiago Peak

[Bigwookie009]

I am going up Santiago Peak tomorrow morning plan on starting between 6 and 6:30 and hoping to get Modjeska Peak as well! From what I read it should be close to 20 miles round trip with both mountains it will be my longest hike in one day! If any one feels like tagging a long I will be at the Holy Jim Trail head a little before 6:30, its pretty last minute so I am not really expecting anyone... haha but there will be a TR tomorrow night so be ready!

[Bigwookie009]

Well short Trip Report I guess lol. I wake up start getting ready and I just don't feel right... I got that feeling that something is going to go wrong and with that feeling I don't want to be going out solo...
The mountain will always be there so Ill plan it out better next time and find someone to bring!

I'm going to get mot sleep now! Night yall

[Rumpled]

Good luck when you do make it out - just don't go this Saturday.
There's a big mountain bike race and 350 people will be biking down Holy Jim this Saturday.

Don't blast mountain bikers (I'm not, I'm one of them - just not that race) this group does most of the trail mainteneance in the Santa Anas.

[Bigwookie009]

haha alright Ill make sure to avoid it this Saturday. I got nothing against mountain biked but yeah I defiantly don't wanna be hiking with 350 bikes racing around me. Thanks for the tip!

[Norris]

If you haven't ever driven the dirt "road" (really a semi-dry creek bed) to the trailhead before, just be aware that it is an absolute mess that really requires a high clearance 4WD vehicle of some sort unless you want to risk severe vehicle damage. Huge holes, big puddles, boulders sticking up right next to huge ruts which can easily take out your oil pan. Driving it in the dark is a trip too, because the angle of your headlights is thrown off by the bumps and uphill sections, you can't see what's over the next little rise. Did it once, never again.

[Bigwookie009]

If you haven't ever driven the dirt "road" (really a semi-dry creek bed) to the trailhead before, just be aware that it is an absolute mess that really requires a high clearance 4WD vehicle of some sort unless you want to risk severe vehicle damage. Huge holes, big puddles, boulders sticking up right next to huge ruts which can easily take out your oil pan. Driving it in the dark is a trip too, because the angle of your headlights is thrown off by the bumps and uphill sections, you can't see what's over the next little rise. Did it once, never again.

Ohhhh really i drive a Subaru Impreza we have gone on some pretty rough roads before I don't know if this would be too much for my Sooby or not

[phydeux]

Subarus ain't 'wonder' vehicles, and with the good rains we've had this season that road has got to be in poor shape; chance it if you want to, but I don't think I'd try it with any type of Subaru. I'd suggest you wait to hike the Holy Jim Trail until fall (October/November). Late spring through summer the County/NFS will grade the road a few times in preparation for emergency vehicle access during fire season, and it'll usually be a decent drive all the way up to the trailhead in late fall.

Alternate: If you've got a MTB, you might consider a ride on the Main Divide Truck Trail from the El Cariso area (top of Ortega Hwy above Lake Elsinore) northward to 'Saddleback'. Its a graded dirt road ride along the ridgeline that's got great open views, and you can do Trabuco, Los Pinos Peaks on the way there (they're short scrambles off the road), maybe go a little farther than Mojeska and do Bedford or Pleasant peaks, too.

[Bigwookie009]

Yeah I know I really wish I would of ended up getting a truck or suv sometimes not having good ground clearance keep getting to me! I swear though the only limitation my Subaru has is ground clearance if I lifted it (which would look pretty funny) I could go almost anywhere!

I am really craving a good hike though preferably something longer to push my self a bit but not much over 20 miles lol. Also it would be really cool to do one with some snow but not so much snow I will need crampons or a ice ax and to be within two hours or so of Oceanside. That might be a lot to ask for but thats my dream hike for tomorrow and I was going to settle on Santiago peak but now I don't know what Ill do...

Thanks

[Rumpled]

I haven't driven to the HJ TH recently, but a Subaru should make it most days. Just drive carefully. I see cars all the time there. Just be prepared for about 45 mins to an hour to go the six miles. It should never NEED 4WD (other than during and right after a storm or when truly damaged)
I did see a brand new Mustang head up Saturday, no so sure how fare he got.