Anza Borrego Backpacking Trip

May 28-29, 2011


Once Scott and I got back from our trip to Vail, our training for Kili got put on hold as we prepared for an arts festival in the middle of May.  After that craziness was over we decided to start getting back into the training and went on my first backpacking trip over Memorial Day weekend.  We had thought about car camping but most places required reservations and since this was so last minute we couldn't get in anywhere.  So instead we decided on backpacking through the Anza Borrego Desert, which is about 3 hours east of San Diego in the Imperial Valley.

 Me at the start of the hike.  We did the Butler-Coyote Canyon loop which is supposed to be about 18 miles total.  Butler canyon was fairly easy with a small amount of bouldering.  This part was about 4.8 miles.  According to the hiking book there was supposed to be a trail marked by an old wooden cart.  We saw no cart so we estimated based on our map where the trail was supposed to be.  And we estimated wrong.

Off trail hiking through cactus fields for the next 7 miles.  I still had cactus needles in my leg the next morning.

8 hours and 12 miles later we finally made it to Coyote Creek and our campsite for the night.

 Scott the next morning.  The hair is killer.

The route on the second day was much easier with a large portion of it on a Jeep trail.  The picture to the left is a view looking back towards Coyote Canyon.  You can see the trees that line the Creek bed.

 Yes we have 2 of the same cameras, it's a long story.

 A couple more views along the jeep trail.

 After about 3 or 4 miles on the Jeep Trail we started ascending up over Alcoholic Pass which is an old Indian trail used to get between Rockhouse and Coyote Canyon.  Things were going well until I took us down the wrong trail and about a mile out of our way.  We finally made it back to the trail junction and started climbing a large bouldered washout because we couldn't find the supposed trail.  After a while we said screw this and decided to climb up and hike along a ridge.  And guess what, we found the trail.

 On the trail and making our final descent back towards Butler Canyon and the car.  By this point in the trip both Scott and I were totally exhausted but luckily this was an extremely easy route back.  So to sum up the trip in Scott's words:
Day 1: Scott got us lost.
Day 2: Darci got us lost.

THE END!!!!

Panoramic view from the top of Alcoholic Pass Trail

Quandary Peak- Part 1

March 21, 2011


So I should have posted this on the blog a long time ago along with several of the other hikes Scott and I did before our attempt on Quandary.

So I thought I was in fairly decent shape cardiovascular wise, especially after doing several of the hikes prior to coming to Colorado.  I will be the first to admit that I was completely unprepared for the effect the altitude would have on my endurance and overall performance.   Prior to our attempt on Quandary Brandon and Kristine took us up one of the ski slopes in Vail for Swiss Bobsledding.  Hiking up the ski slope was a definite challenge for me but i thought if I take it slow on Quandary I should be able to make the summit, it's only about a 3 mile hike.  What I didn't anticipate were the unforgiving 60-70mph winds once we passed tree line.

At the start of the trailhead I was optimistic and excited to summit my first 14er.  The first half of the trail was pretty easy with a fairly defined trail through the forest.  As we began to get closer to 12,000' and out of the protection of the trees the wind started to become a factor.

Scott ready to start the hike, ski goggles and all.  His goal was to keep up with Brandon, which I have to say he did pretty well.

You can see Scott right behind Brandon ahead on the trail.

Dave and Sarah, Myself, Brandon, and Rainey during a break before we pass tree line.

Sarah, Scott, Myself, Brandon, and Rainey

Sarah getting prepped with warmer clothes before we make our attempt to the summit.

 This was taken on the way down after our unsuccessful attempt.  We made it to the top of the first ridge at the top of the picture.  At that point I was mentally DUN!  I really struggled with the demoralizing aspect of getting to the top of that ridge and realizing I still had another mile to go with a steeper ascent to the summit.  Couple that with the brutal winds and hardly being able to stand upright, my head was just not in it.

A quick stop to enjoy the view while the rest of us caught up.

I realized after this attempt that I had a lot of work to do if I wanted to summit Kili.

Training Day 37

Mt. Woodson- February 21, 2011


This hike was the most challenging of the San Diego County mountains with 2300' of elevation gain in 2.4 miles.  It starts at Lake Poway just north of San Diego.  The first .8 miles of the trail are relatively easy as you make your way around the lake's edge but quickly becomes a steep and challenging climb.  I definitely struggled on this hike especially towards the top where I started to get a blister on my right heel.  I was able to finish after we stopped and used some good old Duck tape to patch me up.  The view from the top was not as good as some of the other mountains that we have climbed previously.

At the top.  A lot of trees and a bank of antennas obstructed most of the good views.

Training Day 22

Cuyamaca Mountain- February 6, 2011


We decided to get an early start to take advantage of the beautiful light at sunrise for photographs.  This is a fairly short hike up a paved road all the way up to the top.   The hike was fairly steep especially the last half with 1700' of elevation gain in 2.75 miles.  Overall the hike was 5.6 miles and took us about 2 hours to complete.  The views during the hike were absolutely amazing and we were fairly protected from the wind until you got to the peak.  Cuyamaca Peak is the tallest point in San Diego County with an altitude of 6512'.  

Scott at the beginning of the hike with the beautiful sunrise.

The start.

Autumn colors in the middle of winter.

A view up the road.  You can see the peak through the trees.

In 2003 San Diego County had one of the worst wildfires in recent history wiping out a large majority of the vegetation and forests in the area.  Most of Cuyamaca mountain is still recovering 8 years later.  From this view you can see the Cuyamaca reservoir in the distance.

At the top and a bit windy but breathtaking 360 degree views.