Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Sierra Club San Diego Peaks List Finish

Hiked: 12/7/2012 to 12/8/2018
Distance: 479.7 miles
Average Distance: 6.6 miles (per hike)
Summit Elevation: 1152' (Lowest) to 6512' (Highest)
Total Gain: 142,364'
Total Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 113.9
Average Gain: 1977' (per hike)
Total Hike Time: 292.5 hours
Average Miles/Hour: 1.64
Total Miles Driven: 15,803
Parking/Fees/Fares: $18
Difficulty: Easy to Very Strenuous

The Sierra Club San Diego Peaks List contained 100 peaks when I started and didn't change during my pursuit. This meta post provides concrete data of my experience completing the list. Driving long distances became a frequent occurrence and my perspective on what a long drive was changed over time. Your experience will vary depending on where you live and how many peaks you combine into single trips. A quick note about the Average Distance and Gain. I used the average per hike (72 hikes) instead of the average per peak because I climbed more than one official peak on many hikes. I thought it better represented the experience to list the averages per hike. For comparison, the average distance per peak was 4.8 miles and the average gain per peak was 1424'. The San Diego 100 Peaks List has some short, easy hikes, but also some beasts.

Raw stats don't always convey the level of effort. Many mountains on the list demand boulder scrambling, and more have a rampart of sharp things defending them. I often joke about pliers/tweezers being the 11th essential for hiking the Anza-Borrego peaks. While officially optional, a rope was required to reach the top of the summit block on Square Top.

Though I was also working on other goals along the way, it took me six years and one day of sustained effort to finish. I owe a monumental debt to everyone that went before and provided routes, reports, and inspiration. Thanks to the Sierra Club for selecting an exceptional group of San Diego County peaks and to list founder Paul Freiman. Thanks to Ben Baumann who created high quality reports and unique routes. Thanks to everyone who endured long drives and less than ideal conditions to climb these mountains with me.

Peakbagger map of Sierra Club San Diego Peaks List

The table below can be sorted by clicking on any column heading or filtered by typing in the search box.

Distance and Time in the table is for the round trip hike. Drive was the round trip drive in miles. Note: a zero (0) for distance, gain, time, and drive means that peak was part of a multi-peak day hike and the stats were combined for one peak in the trip.

Peak Summit Distance (mi) Gain Time (hrs) Drive (mi) Report
Indianhead 3968' 9 3145' 7.5 236 report
Black Mountain #2 1554' 4.2 775' 1.5 134 report
Iron Mountain 2696' 5.5 1101' 1.8 8 report
Woodson Mountain 2897' 7.2 2059' 2.8 138 report
Mt. Israel 1346' 4.4 1316' 1.5 120 report
Bernardo Mountain 1152' 7.5 900' 2.2 120 report
El Cajon Mountain 3675' 11.8 4073' 5.7 174 report
White Benchmark 5326' 0 0' 0 0 report
The Thimble 5779' 0 0' 0 0 report
San Ysidro Mountain 6147' 9.4 3248' 7.5 286 report
Bonny Benchmark 4574' 0 0' 0 0 report
Piedras Grandes 2601' 0 0' 0 0 report
Puff Benchmark 2716' 13.3 3520' 10 306 report
Moan Benchmark 2939' 0 0' 0 00 report
Indian Hill 2280' 0 0' 0 0 report
Cowles Mountain 1591' 5.9 1710' 2 158 report
Pyles Peak 1379' 0 0' 0 0 report
Kwaay Paay 1194' 0 0' 0 0 report
Fortuna Mountain 1291' 7 1983' 3.3 5 report
Mt. Gower 3103' 6.7 2150' 4 180 report
Boucher Hill 5438' 0 0' 0 172 report
Borrego Mountain 1207' 3.5 850' 2.3 260 report
Borrego East Butte 1196' 2.7 1020' 1.8 5 report
Pinyon Ridge 4614' 0 0' 0 0 report
Wilson Benchmark 4573' 11.8 2920' 4.5 208 report
Eagle Peak 3226' 4.4 1050' 1.8 228 report
Agua Tibia 4779' 16.7 3300' 7.7 154 report
Viejas Mountain 4187' 3.2 1475' 2 198 report
McGinty Mountain 2183' 4.9 1515' 2.5 20 report
Black Mountain #1 4051' 4.9 1190' 1.5 134 report
Granite Mountain 5633' 8.2 2900' 5 222 report
Eagle Crag 5077' 18.2 3900' 7.5 190 report
Palomar Mountain 6140' 0.9 100' 0.33 194 report
Combs Peak 6193' 4.7 1140' 2.5 25 report
Ode Benchmark 1512' 0 0' 0 0 report
Kay Benchmark 3587' 0 0' 0 0 report
Sirens Peak 4401' 0 0' 0 0 report
San Ysidro Mountain East 5386' 12 5465' 11.66 230 report
Webo Benchmark 4173' 0 0' 0 0 report
Ted Benchmark 2369' 0 0' 0 0 report
Lawson Peak 3664' 8.1 2575' 4.5 220 report
Gaskill Peak 3836' 0 0' 0 0 report
Bell Bluff 3409' 7.2 1800' 3.5 214 report
Los Pinos 4805' 7.9 2080' 4 260 report
Corte Madera 4657' 0 0' 0 0 report
Cody Benchmark 5586' 0 0' 0 0 report
Palm Mesa High Point 4660' 10.5 4560' 9.25 210 report
Ghost Mountain 3400' 4.2 900' 2.5 240 report
Pike Benchmark 5571' 4.9 1700' 3.25 40 report
Middle Peak 5883' 0 0' 0 0 report
Cuyamaca 6512' 18.6 3975' 8.25 222 report
Japacha 5825' 0 0' 0 0 report
Stonewall Peak 5730' 0 0' 0 0 report
Oakzanita 5054' 0 0' 0 0 report
Sugg Peak 5243' 9.6 1750' 4.5 222 report
Pine Mountain 5640' 0.5 100' 0.25 76 report
Garnet Peak 5880' 2.4 540' 1 252 report
Garnet Mountain 5680' 1 200' 0.5 2 report
Roost Benchmark 4351' 8 2200' 3.5 20 report
Monument Peak 6271' 3.5 750' 1.33 0 report
Square Top 4649' 8.4 2950' 7.75 218 report
Mt. Tule 4647' 0 0' 0 0 report
Groan Benchmark 2732' 0 0' 0 0 report
Gasp Benchmark 3223' 11 4419' 8.75 274 report
Wooded Hill 6223' 1.3 299' 0.5 242 report
Manza Benchmark 5556' 4.3 1048' 2.3 7 report
Pinyon Mountain 4492' 0 0' 0 0 report
Whale Peak 5349' 7.1 2133' 3.83 240 report
Sentenac 3068' 2.2 900' 1.16 20 report
Mine Peak 1850' 1.9 707' 1 356 report
Red Hill 1720' 3 933' 1.5 0 report
Jacumba 4512' 6 2933' 5.5 0 report
Coyote Mountain 3192' 5 2650' 3 256 report
Grapevine 3955' 6.5 2058' 4.33 220 report
Otay Mountain 3566' 0 0' 0 103 report
Tecate Peak 3885' 0 0' 0 22 report
Sheephead Mountain 5896' 3.5 1034' 2 172 report
Morena Butte 3920' 9 2064' 4.66 246 report
Goat Benchmark 4232' 9.4 2657' 6.16 210 report
Peak 3339 3339' 8 1753' 4.16 288 report
Peak 3640 (North Pinyon) 3640' 4.5 1665' 2.5 228 report
Split Mountain East 1690' 4.1 1700' 3.25 302 report
Split Mountain West 1680' 5.4 1929' 3.5 302 report
Sombrero Peak 4229' 3.5 2011' 3 354 report
False Sombrero 3463' 2 1359' 2.5 4 report
Travelers Peak 2697' 4.8 2326' 4 274 report
Pyramid Peak 3480' 0 0' 0 0 report
Rosa Point 5000' 0 0' 0 0 report
Mile High Mountain 5320' 19.2 7107' 14.75 260 report
Villager Peak 5756' 0 0' 0 0 report
Vallecito Mountains HP 3583' 5.9 1415' 4.5 312 report
Sunset Mountain 3657' 4 1988' 3.83 254 report
Stage Benchmark 2816' 11 2777' 6.5 270 report
Diablo Benchmark 2440' 9.5 1362' 4 270 report
Elder Benchmark 3433' 6.2 2438' 6.25 254 report
Palms Benchmark 3121' 0 0' 0 0 report
Collins Benchmark 4559' 14.3 4313' 12.25 214 report
Knob Benchmark 3431' 0 0' 0 0 report
Sawtooth Mountains HP 4684' 16.8 4408' 13.25 288 report
Red Top 4467' 16.5 4238' 12.25 288 report

11 comments:

  1. Congratulations! That's a great accomplishment. Thanks for keeping a solid record for the rest of us to benefit from!

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  2. What a great accomplishment, Teke. I'm still impressed at what you've done. I'll be happy with about 50 of them, and it's going to take me a lot longer than you. A couple of questions:
    1 - what were some of the tougher ones? I can deduce some of them by looking at mileage divided by time - the slower ones might have been a lot tougher (not always, I know). But can you address the harder ones?
    2 - What IS next? HPS? DPS? Seems like you have some progress towards DPS due to the SD list. Maybe all of the Orange County peaks on Peakbagger? Or will you take up golf?

    Well done, Teke.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mike,

      Thanks! 50 SDC peaks is a worthy goal. Here are what I consider the hardest 5 in the list:
      1. Red Top
      2. Sawtooth HP
      3. Mile High Mountain
      4. San Ysidro East
      5. Eagle Crag

      Square Top gets an honorable mention for the class 5 summit, optional according to the Sierra Club. Taking a break from lists to scratch other itches, both in and out of state. There's more in San Diego and Riverside Counties I want to do and some obscure things in the OC.

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  3. Congrats! I am still chipping away...

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    Replies
    1. Derek,

      Thanks! Keep going, you are well on the way. I am going to make it to Burger Bench this year.

      Delete
  4. Congrats teke! Im a San Diego native and would love to start working on these peaks myself. I would love to hike with you sometime if you are ever in town!

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    Replies
    1. Unknown,

      Thanks. The peaks are spread all over the county, so probably something close to you. I spend a lot of time in the desert during the cooler months, maybe I'll run into you.

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  5. Yeah, maybe Ill see you around! I've been hoping to get out there once winter hits. Would be cool to find a hike from the desert up to some snow coverage.

    I found your website looking for beta on 'The Thimble', and then went down the rabbithole of a ton of local hike and then Bob Burd's and Peaks for Freaks. I didn't realize how many off trail and challenging/offtrail hikes we had here.

    Anyways i've been staring at maps and I just ordered Afoot and Afield in San Diego County, so hoping to start getting some wilderness experience in the local mountains then maybe head out to the Sierras when i've completed school.

    Happy hiking!

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    Replies
    1. The Thimble is a great mountain. I really like that Jerry Schad book, used it to plan many hikes. You've started an exciting adventure.

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    2. Starting my first peak now, Mt. Isreal. Should be VERY easy first peak ;)

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