Recap of the Solar Eclipse of 2012 as viewed from Iron Mountain

Iron Mountain, 5/20/12

Good news: the Solar Eclipse of 2012 came and went yesterday, and the world did not end. As a result, we will now have to wait for the next big celestial event – the transit of Venus (the last one of the 21^st century, FYI) to find out if indeed the apocalypse is happening. Fortunately, we do not have to wait long – this event will be occurring on June 5, and June 6 of this year. (http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/last-transit-of-venus-in-21st-century-will-happen-in-june-2012). If by some fluke chance, the transit of Venus does not end all life as we know it on the planet, there will only be a few more months left until December 2012 comes along and provides a definitive answer on whether life on this planet will end this year. If not, there’s always next year with all of its associated predictions of doom and gloom to look forward to!

In San Diego, as the forecast for Sunday was for a coastal cloud layer up to approximately 1500 feet, I elected to take my group of eclipse viewers to higher ground atop the summit of Iron Mountain in order not to miss the show. I figured that at 2,696 feet, we’d be well above the cloud deck, and have a great bird’s eye view with our “Eclipse Glasses” that I had picked up from the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater. (http://www.rhfleet.org/).

 The Infamous "Eclipse Glasses"

The Trail: I took my group up the standard Iron Mountain trail described here: http://lastadventurer.com/last-adventurers-fieldnotes/2012/2/11/iron-mountain.html. Not surprisingly, the trail had not changed at all since I had last been on it. We made good time up the trail, and there were no obstructions of any sort, nor any new developments on the trail that I can report for spring 2012. The City of Poway does a good job of keeping the trail clean and clear; so aside from several yuccas being consumed by hungry beetles, everything appears normal for this time of year. The only thing I will say about the hike was that as it is now late May, the temperatures are starting to heat up on the trail, so plan accordingly, bring plenty of water, and keep an eye out for rattlesnakes.

The Eclipse: While Iron Mountain has a good view from the summit, this view was obscured to the west yesterday by those aforementioned coastal clouds. And, while Iron Mountain has a good view, we there to see the eclipse, and it did not disappoint. Around 5:27 p.m., the moon slowly began to move in front of the sun, and for the next hour, my group and everyone else who made the hike had a great view of the phenomenon. While the summit did eventually fill up with people by around 6:30 p.m., at which point the sun was almost 83% covered, it was a sociable crowd which was willing to help one another by sharing pieces of welder’s glass, eclipse glasses, or other safe-sun viewing equipment and knowledge. There was even a telescope set up that could pick out sunspots on the visible portions of the sun, so if you were a science person, the summit was a good place to be.

 Cell phones: good for everyday use; not as good for eclipse photos. Especially when the battery dies!

Lessons Learned: First and foremost, while the Eclipse Glasses may have looked like something out of a bad 1950’s three-dimensional movie, they were very effective in protecting our eyes. In this respect, I am very pleased to report that none of my group went blind, so thank you Reuben H. Fleet science center. (Again: http://www.rhfleet.org/). In addition to preventing blindness, these glasses sold at an economical $2.00 per pair, which saved me the trouble of wandering around the county as some parties apparently did looking for welder’s glass. We also learned that while cell phones are great at snapping images of everyday life, they’re not so good for taking pictures of the eclipse (even when filtered through a set of eclipse eyeglasses). Other than that, it was an excellent time, and I’m sure I’ll be out for the next solar eclipse, because at those times, the sun and moon have the power to turn minutes into centuries.

Photos of the Eclipse: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/343423/20120521/solar-eclipse-2012-photos-ring-fire-annular.htm, http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/05/ring_of_fire_eclipse_2012.html

Cowles Mountain

Summit, Cowles Mountain

Right behind the second most popular hike in San Diego, Iron Mountain, is the first most popular (cue drum roll) Cowles Mountain. If you even have a remote interest in hiking, or the outdoors, or are even somewhat athletic in that you move around because you are alive, or even if you’re the undead of some sort, chances are that you’ve heard about Cowles Mountain. Like Iron Mountain, Cowles Mountain is a popular hike. In fact, saying that it’s popular is like saying that the Interstate 5 through Los Angeles during rush hour is congested. It’s a classic understatement. As Cowles Mountain is located very close to the core of San Diego, there are people on this trail at all hours. I have been on this trail at all hours of the day and night, and frankly, as I said about Iron Mountain, I defy you to find a time when people are not on the trail.

But here’s the thing about Cowles Mountain. I’m not sure it’s really a mountain. Yes, I know that technically, at 1,591 feet above sea level, it qualifies as a “mountain”, and yes, I know that it is one of the “larger” peaks in the city proper, but to me, it just feels like a hill. My mind quails to count Cowles as a mountain, when it seems like a hill compared to some of the bigger peaks in the surrounding region within an hour or two hour drive. To me, it seems a little bit like that movie – The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain (yes, I know – obscure movie reference of the month, if not year), and in this sense, Cowles Mountain is San Diego’s “mountain”, so it’s best for me not to claim that it’s not or that it’s mountain-ness should be diminished. I also willingly concede that if you’re working yourself into shape, or are young, old, or have some other reason, it may seem like Mt. Everest to you, in which case, it is worthy of the name; but to me, it seems like Cowles Hill – but then, who cares what I think, because I don’t get to name things whatsoever.

Directions: The best way, and the most popular way to head up Cowles Mountain is the Western approach, which starts from the Mission Trails Regional Park parking lot at the intersection of Golfcrest and Navajo. (http://www.mtrp.org/directions.asp?idno=2) Do note that as this is a very popular hike, the lot may be full, at which point, you may have to park on the street; but do not worry, there is ample street parking. From the parking lot, the trailhead is clearly marked, and is conveniently located next to a bathroom. The trail immediately starts heading uphill, as it has nine hundred and thirty-three (933) feet of elevation gain. The majority of the trail is switchbacks heading toward the summit, and in my opinion, given the amount of traffic that the trail gets, the trail is well maintained. After one and one half miles (1.5), you will find yourself at the summit, with a great 360 degree view of the city of San Diego. At this point, you can continue along the Eastern side of the mountain further into Mission Trails park proper; or like most people, turn around and head back down for an easy, roundtrip hike of three (3) miles.

 Winter Solstice, Cowles Mountain Summit, 2011

I rate this as an easy hike despite the elevation gain based on two factors: 1) the amount and variety of people hiking the mountain, from young to old; and 2) the fact that people regularly run the mountain on a daily basis; sometimes with weights. However, difficulty is subjective, and if you are new to hiking, you may find it steep; if that is the case, this is a great introductory hike, and a great introduction to hiking in San Diego because of the view and the comraderie you will experience on the trail.

Tips: If you’re running the trail, like I do at times, be prepared to come to a screeching halt or stop on numerous occasions, as the trail does get congested, and there are blind corners. Be considerate, watch your speed, and don’t run over people. Additionally, every December Mission Trails Regional Park Guides lead a great hike for the winter solstice, which is a fun experience for all ages, provided you can get up early enough to hike the mountain! (http://www.mtrp.org/events.asp?actiontype=showdate&the_date=12/21/2011) And, as with any hike, do be sure to take water.

See you on the trail!

More Information: http://www.mtrp.org/pop_map_details.asp?area_idno=0&habitat_idno=0&trail_idno=3, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowles_Mountain, http://www.100peaks.com/2009/09/01/cowles-mountain-peak-7/, http://www.yelp.com/biz/cowles-mountain-san-diego

Iron Mountain

Just your friendly greeting sign at the trailhead.

The third confession that I have for my readers this week is not a confession, it’s a fact. Fact: Iron Mountain is the second most popular hike within the confines of San Diego County. The only thing that makes Iron Mountain the second most popular hike within the county is that at six miles roundtrip, it is a big longer than the first most popular hike within the county, Cowles Mountain. If you are looking for solitude on your hike, do not hike Iron Mountain. Well, ok, I shouldn’t say that. If you hike Iron Mountain in the middle of the night or on a rare rainy, cold day in San Diego, you might be alone on the trail. You might. Even under those conditions, I’d still assume that you’d run into at least one person. Iron Mountain is the second largest peak in the city of San Diego proper at 2,696 feet; and it is in the portion of the county with a number of hiking trails, such as the Goodan Ranch-Sycamore Canyon Preserve, and Woodson Mountain. Unlike Woodson, I’d recommend Iron Mountain as a hike, as it’s a great hike or jog; and when you get to the summit, you will have great unobstructed views of the surrounding area; however, do bear in mind that if you are indeed seeking solitude, this is not the hike for you.

 Looking up toward the summit of Iron Mountain

Directions:  The parking lot for Iron Mountain is located almost exactly at the junction of CA-67 and Poway Road. By almost exactly, I mean that the lot is located a smidgen South of the junction, but for all intents and purposes, it is at that spot. If you are at that T-intersection facing East, you will be able to see it, and the horde of people around it. A quick note about the lot: back in the day, one had to risk life and limb crossing the CA-67 as there was no “official” parking; but occasionally, the lot does fill up on warm weekends. If this is the case, there is parking across the road, or on the side of the road; but do take care crossing the CA-67.

The hike is a fairly simple out-and-back route; from the lot, one heads out under a tree-lined canopy, and then across a stretch of meadow for the only flat terrain of the hike.

At approximately three quarters of a mile, the trail curves down slightly, before heading up into the first sections of switchbacks. At this point, you will start to gain some elevation before ending up at a T-junction. At this point, if you are heading for the peak, you will want to turn right (South) on the well-signed and marked trail. From this point, the trail winds around the backside of the mountain, giving you good views of Eastern San Diego County, before a series of switchbacks provide you with most of the elevation gain, and leave you on the summit. From the summit, you will have a great three-hundred and sixty degree of the county, and on a very clear day, you can indeed see the ocean. Once you are done on the summit, follow the trail back to the parking lot. I would rate this as an excellent moderate hike, one that will challenge a beginner hiker, and one that will keep an experienced hiker at least interested. Plus, there’s a good view at the summit.

 

A Word About Distance: As this is the second most popular hike in San Diego county, one would think that the distance on the hike would be cut and dry. Well, one would be wrong. I’ve hiked Iron Mountain more times than I can count, and I find the mileage to always be consistently from 5.6 to 5.8 miles roundtrip. Yet, as noted above, there’s a sign at the beginning of the trail stating that it is 3.5 miles to the summit; and if you look at the links below, you will find a variety of mileages from 4.8 to 6.63 miles roundtrip. Based on my experience, I’m going to stand by my mileage totals, which were originally based out of Jerry Schad’s Afoot and Afield, and confirmed by my GPS. If anyone is overly concerned about the mileage issue, they can write me, and either agree, or tell me that I’m an idiot. I suspect the different mileages are from people adding or subtracting portions to the hike, but that’s just my suspicion.

Tips: If you are doing this hike in summertime, or a warm fall day in the fall, do bring plenty of water. Most of the hike is exposed, and it does get quite hot  - into the 90’s or higher during those times. As you will be heading uphill for a fair portion of the hike and exerting yourself, the risk of dehydration at those times is high. Bringing water is a good idea in general, however! Also, there’s a telescope and mailbox at the summit which are things that are not usually seen atop mountains. My last tip is something I discussed months ago: there’s plenty of great scenery around, especially at the Goodan Ranch-Sycamore Canyon Preserve. If you’re looking to get out and beat the crowds, this is the spot for you: http://lastadventurer.com/last-adventurers-fieldnotes/2011/11/30/goodan-ranchsycamore-canyon-preserve-cardiac-hill-to-ridge-t.html . If not, enjoy the hike!

See you on the trail!

More Information: http://www.100peaks.com/2009/06/24/first-peak-completed-iron-mountain/, http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/IronMtn_7320.asp, http://www.sdctc.com/san-diego-trails-iron-mountain, http://www.yelp.com/biz/iron-mountain-poway

Woodson Mountain, Eastern Approach

 Woodson Mountain from the CA-67 Eastern Approach

True confessions week on lastadventurer.com continues today with my second confession: I’m not a fan of the hike heading up the Eastern side of Woodson Mountain (a/k/a Mt. Woodson) in San Diego County. Perhaps I’ve done the hike too many times. Perhaps it’s because whenever I’ve done the hike, there’s tons of people on the trail. Or perhaps, it’s just difficult for me to get behind a hike that heads up an asphalt and dirt road and ends at a cluster of antennas. But, despite my opinion, Woodson remains a popular hike within the county, which confounds me, as San Diego has so many hikes that have better views, better locations, and don’t end with the aforementioned cluster of antennas. In my mind, it’s almost as if the antennas are emitting some sort of mind control signal to the surrounding county, “Cooooooooooome, cliiiiiimb Woodson.”  Perhaps I’m onto something here: I should start warning the public not to climb Woodson from the Eastern approach because the pod people will get them at the top. That’s right – you heard it here first. Don’t climb Woodson – it’s controlled by pod people (and rattlesnakes)!!!

 Woodson Mountain, Facing West, near the summit.

Directions (If you’re willing to take the risk):  The Eastern approach starts from the CA-67; I usually take Poway Road East to the junction with the CA-67 and from this point, the trailhead is three miles to the North. If you are not following this route, you want to take the CA-67 until it intersects with Hedy Drive. At this point, you should look for parking, either on the East side of the CA-67 (near Hedy Drive) or on the West side of the road near Mt. Woodson Road. I guarantee that there will be parked cars on either side of the road to further aid you in finding the location. Once you have parked, take care crossing the CA-67 if you are on the East side, and head to the trailhead which is well-marked, trodden and easy to follow near Mt. Woodson Road.

From the beginning of the hike, you will be on a well graded road that is paved for a majority of the time. The road/track/trail ascends somewhat steeply over the course of 1.8 miles and eventually reaches the summit of the mountain. In my opinion, the best portions of the hike are at or around three-quarters of a mile to the summit, when you pass a number of interesting free standing boulders. Should it not be too hot, these are a great spot to practice rock climbing and or bouldering. If it is spring or summertime, do keep an eye out for rattlesnakes in and around the boulders, as it seems to be an extraordinarily popular spot for them in my experience. Once you are past the boulders, you will be at the summit which has lots of antennas, and on clear days, an average view of the ocean and the surrounding area. (Sorry people, I’m just not buying that this is one of the best views in the county, even on bluebird days). From the top, it’s 1.8 miles back down to the road, for a roundtrip distance of 3.8 miles.

 A bit more of that Woodson Mountain panorama

Tips: My main tip is that unless you absolutely have to do this hike, hike somewhere else. Alright, that’s a bit harsh. I just think that there are better places to head in the county where you can see better views with less people, such as Corte Madera, Mt. Lawson, Stonewall Peak, Cuyamaca Peak, or heck, even Iron Mountain. But, on the plus side, Woodson Mountain is a great hike for a quick morning jaunt, and is a great way to get into the wilderness when you are pressed for time. The Eastern Route is also a great spot to bring up climbing mats for bouldering; and is a great spot for a quick, steep trail run that will test your hill climbing ability. In the summer, do bring a lot of water as the Eastern side is very exposed, and gets hot fast; and do watch for the aforementioned rattlesnakes. Last, do note that the “potato chip” rock is not at the summit of the mountain, but extends from a grouping of rocks off the trail.

So, if the pod people have persuaded you to go here and you have no other choice – see you on the trail!

More Information:  http://www.summitpost.org/woodson-mountain/282613, http://www.100peaks.com/2009/07/28/woodson-mountain-peak-5/,   http://www.sandiegoasap.com/mt-woodson.html

Goodan Ranch/Sycamore Canyon Preserve – Cardiac Hill to Ridge Trail Loop

Cardiac Hill - Not so steep, but a catchy name.

A couple months ago, I stopped by the Sycamore Canyon Preserve Highway 67 Staging area. Due to a lack of water, a hot day, and a late start, my party and I didn’t make it very far down the Ridge Trail. On the way out, I saw a small sign that said “Cardiac Hill”. When I saw that, I was curious. I was curious because the question that immediately popped into my head is the one that every Park Ranger hates, “But is that trail really that tough?” (I know it’s the question that every Park Ranger hates because I heard it a million times myself.) Rather than harass the Park Staff in some sort of weird role reversal, I instead vowed to come back and find out on my own.

 As I passed Iron Mountain on my way back to Sycamore Canyon this last Saturday, I could only shake my head at the hordes of people electing to hike Iron Mountain in a crowd, rather than heading down the road to Sycamore Canyon to spread out and enjoy some actual solitude. This haughty assumption was well founded, because as I pulled into the Highway 67 staging area I was utterly alone. The skeptical reader may assume that I, being the avid hiker that I am, got an early start and that was why I was alone at Sycamore Canyon. While I appreciate the vote of confidence, let me admit that by the time I arrived at Sycamore Canyon, it was 11:00 a.m. Let me say that again in case you missed it, because this is a good tip: at 11:00 a.m., when there was no parking, and hordes of people at Iron Mountain, there was an empty lot at Sycamore Canyon, not even two miles South, and plenty of natural solitude to go around, with near identical terrain, plants, and animals.

In any case, you probably want to know a little bit more about the park. The Goodan Ranch/Sycamore Canyon preserve is one of San Diego County’s Parks, and it consists of 2,272 acres of native Californian terrain, with over ten miles of trails, and it encompasses the former and now abandoned town of Stowe. (http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/parks/openspace/Sycamore_Goodan.html). Sadly, much of the park burned during the 2003 Cedar Fire, but as you can see from the attached photos, the area is recovering at an amazing rate.

I parked at the Highway 67 staging area, and walked North to the Cardiac Hill trailhead, which was clearly signed. From there, I followed the well-laid and graded track into the Goodan Ranch portion of the park. On the way down Cardiac Hill, I saw expansive views of the former town of Stowe, Iron Mountain, and Mt. Woodson. Halfway down Cardiac Hill, I realized that it was not as difficult as it was billed – at least on the downhill portion. At 1.10 miles, I found myself at the bottom of the hill in the Goodan Ranch portion of the park (a panorama of which is seen here: http://www.youtube.com/user/lstad1#p/u/4/EoqgOBdJhiM). As the day was still young, I elected to continue heading straight (due West) at the trail junction for an additional .25 miles to the junction of the West Boundary Trail. At this junction, I swung left (South) and headed the half mile to the Ranger Station and Ranch House, or as I like to call it “New Stowe”. 

Panoramic View of the Preserve

New Stowe was by far the busiest portion of the park that day, where I saw a whopping four people, one of which was the Ranger. After checking out the interesting exhibits in the LEED rated Ranch Center, I hit the trail again, heading South. At first, I had thought that I would head back up Cardiac Hill, but after stopping, I decided I wanted to see more of the park, and that I would head back down and around on the Ridge Trail to the staging area. From the Ranger Station/New Stowe, it was a leisurely flat hike of approximately .7 miles to the Ridge Trail junction. Along this section, I passed quietly rustling sections of oaks and sycamores, with some seasonal sections of runoff burbling underneath. I was so relaxed by the calm, pastoral scene that I had come from I was almost unprepared for the straight vertical ascent that was the Ridge Trail.

 Some Yucca watching the ascent up the Ridge Trail

In retrospect, it really wasn’t that surprising – I had descended from the Highway 67 staging area at around 1200 feet high to the Goodan Ranch portion of the park, which was around 600 feet high. I always knew that I was going to have to climb back up to reach my car, and climb I did. In contrast to the Cardiac Hill trail, the Ridge Trail is a single track that traverses across some of the ridgeline that borders the South-Eastern portion of the park. While it’s not overly steep – or likely to cause someone to keel over in most cases, I did find myself working up a bit of a sweat (after all, it was 80 degrees, in direct sun, heading uphill), which was a good thing, and a great challenge, after cruising through the rest of park earlier that day. 1.75 miles later, I found myself back at the staging area, again alone, and looking at a whopping two cars next to mine. The whole loop hike was 3.8 miles roundtrip, probably an even 4.0 miles with a few side stops to look at things, and was a great, solitary moderate hike for anyone wishing to ditch the Iron Mountain crowds, or any crowd at all.

See you on the trail!

Directions: http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/parks/openspace/Sycamore_Goodan.html

More Information: http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/reusable_components/images/parks/doc/GoodanSycBrochure2011.pdf