2018 Retrospective from Keith Winston on Vimeo.
I've got the scars that prove it
-- Bon Jovi, Stick to your guns
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
2018 Retrospective
I've got the scars that prove it
-- Bon Jovi, Stick to your guns
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Bernasconi Hills High Point and Perris Benchmark
Hiked: 12/27/2018
Distance: 5.3 miles round trip cross country and dirt road
Summit Elevation: 2689' (Bernasconi), 2677' (Perris)
Prominence: 1029' (Bernasconi), 360' (Perris)
Elevation Gain: 1707'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 1.36
Round trip time: 3 hours 45 minutes
Recommended water: 80 oz.
Parking/Fees: $10 CA State Parks
Difficulty: Moderate
The mountains around Lake Perris in Moreno Valley are a boulder strewn playground. I had been to the park once before to tag Mt. Russell on the Lower Peaks List. This visit was to traverse the Bernasconi Hills, south of the lake. The Bernasconi Hills High Point is also a tasty P1K. During the winter months, the area is open to bird hunters, so it's best to wear bright clothing. I didn't see anyone or hear any gunshots the whole day. I drove into the park on Bernasconi Drive and paid $10 to the unattended automated machine for entrance to the park. About 100' past the entrance on the right, I parked in a dirt lot at the west end of the hills. I ascended directly up the west ridge, a little muddy from rain two days earlier. I passed over a false summit, then dropped to a saddle and went north toward the high point. With minimal route finding, nothing was more than class 2, including the summit boulder. There were good views from the summit, especially toward Perris Benchmark a couple of miles further along the ridge. Rock features blocked views of some parts of the lake. I did not find a benchmark or register. I had a quick snack break, then started down the ridge toward Perris.
Southwest end of the Bernasconi Hills, high point not visible
West ridge from the dirt lot
The high point across a deep gully, I stayed on the ridge
Heading toward the high point
Perris Benchmark at the end of the ridge
Looking back at ascent ridge
I found a good animal trail down to the the first shallow saddle. Cresting the first bump, I realized there were several bumps to navigate between the high point and Perris. The winter brush was light and brittle offering little resistance. Tall rock features dotted the ridge making the trek interesting. As I neared the end of the ridge, I climbed the highest boulder, the only class 3 of the day. From the top, I saw a marker on the next, lower boulder. That was the location of the Perris Benchmark with great views of the lake and surroundings. I didn't find a register. One more quick break, and I started down, continuing southwest to a gully that I wanted to follow to the dirt road that ran parallel to the hills. It was a very steep descent and it would be a hard way to ascend (do not recommend coming up this way). As I started back along the road, I spotted what appeared to be the remains of a large bird. Feathers radiated out from a central circle. I took a couple feathers home where Google Lens predicted they were from a wild turkey, but it was identified by Joseph Esparza as a golden pheasant. My guess is a hunter bagged one here. Shortly after that, I startled a buck that was hiding in the low brush. He dashed ahead, eventually heading up into the hills. This was a short, fun traverse on some less frequented low mountains.
Descending to a saddle
Recent deer shed
The higher boulder
Looking back at the Bernasconi Hills HP
Lake Perris and Alessandro Island
Descending to the road
High Point from the road
Golden pheasant remains
Buck
Distance: 5.3 miles round trip cross country and dirt road
Summit Elevation: 2689' (Bernasconi), 2677' (Perris)
Prominence: 1029' (Bernasconi), 360' (Perris)
Elevation Gain: 1707'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 1.36
Round trip time: 3 hours 45 minutes
Recommended water: 80 oz.
Parking/Fees: $10 CA State Parks
Difficulty: Moderate
The mountains around Lake Perris in Moreno Valley are a boulder strewn playground. I had been to the park once before to tag Mt. Russell on the Lower Peaks List. This visit was to traverse the Bernasconi Hills, south of the lake. The Bernasconi Hills High Point is also a tasty P1K. During the winter months, the area is open to bird hunters, so it's best to wear bright clothing. I didn't see anyone or hear any gunshots the whole day. I drove into the park on Bernasconi Drive and paid $10 to the unattended automated machine for entrance to the park. About 100' past the entrance on the right, I parked in a dirt lot at the west end of the hills. I ascended directly up the west ridge, a little muddy from rain two days earlier. I passed over a false summit, then dropped to a saddle and went north toward the high point. With minimal route finding, nothing was more than class 2, including the summit boulder. There were good views from the summit, especially toward Perris Benchmark a couple of miles further along the ridge. Rock features blocked views of some parts of the lake. I did not find a benchmark or register. I had a quick snack break, then started down the ridge toward Perris.
Southwest end of the Bernasconi Hills, high point not visible
West ridge from the dirt lot
The high point across a deep gully, I stayed on the ridge
Heading toward the high point
Perris Benchmark at the end of the ridge
Looking back at ascent ridge
I found a good animal trail down to the the first shallow saddle. Cresting the first bump, I realized there were several bumps to navigate between the high point and Perris. The winter brush was light and brittle offering little resistance. Tall rock features dotted the ridge making the trek interesting. As I neared the end of the ridge, I climbed the highest boulder, the only class 3 of the day. From the top, I saw a marker on the next, lower boulder. That was the location of the Perris Benchmark with great views of the lake and surroundings. I didn't find a register. One more quick break, and I started down, continuing southwest to a gully that I wanted to follow to the dirt road that ran parallel to the hills. It was a very steep descent and it would be a hard way to ascend (do not recommend coming up this way). As I started back along the road, I spotted what appeared to be the remains of a large bird. Feathers radiated out from a central circle. I took a couple feathers home where Google Lens predicted they were from a wild turkey, but it was identified by Joseph Esparza as a golden pheasant. My guess is a hunter bagged one here. Shortly after that, I startled a buck that was hiding in the low brush. He dashed ahead, eventually heading up into the hills. This was a short, fun traverse on some less frequented low mountains.
Descending to a saddle
Recent deer shed
The higher boulder
Looking back at the Bernasconi Hills HP
Lake Perris and Alessandro Island
Descending to the road
High Point from the road
Golden pheasant remains
Buck
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.
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 |
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Red Top
Hiked: 12/8/2018
Distance: 16.5 miles round trip cross country
Summit Elevation: 4467'
Prominence: 667'
Elevation Gain: 4238'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 3.39
Round trip time: 12 hours 15 minutes
Recommended water: 202 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on North Indian Canyon Road
Difficulty: Very Strenuous
Matt and I returned to North Indian Canyon Road, two weeks after our hike to Sawtooth, determined to get Red Top (SDC #42). It was the final peak I needed to complete the Sierra Club San Diego Peak List. A 4x4 is needed for the large rocks and sand on Indian Canyon Road. This time, Matt left his car parked off S2 and I drove in to an unmarked spot off the road we used as a trailhead. Ninety percent of this hike was the same as Sawtooth. Only the upper reaches of Red Top offered new terrain. We got started at 4:20 AM, but instead of the full moon we had for the first hike, there was no moon at all. Complete darkness except for the stars. Matt used a headlamp, and I used a handheld flashlight in addition to a headlamp. As we crossed the first mile toward the Tierra Blanca Pass, some plants glowed silver in our artificial light. The experience from our first hike paid off and we made a quick, cholla-free crossing over the pass down to Canebrake Wash.
To make the approach different, we turned right after the fence and followed the road that was signed for Inner Pasture, heading directly at Red Top. We thought it would intersect the road closer to the Sawtooth Mountains, but we didn't find it. Instead, before we got too far, we went over the open desert until we found the road. The sun came up as we marched toward the ascent gully. We both cached water beneath the large boulder at the entrance and took a break to refuel. We went up the gully then drifted north, staying inside a sort of alley between higher ridges on both sides. The terrain is confusing and sometimes a 50' ridge blocked the view where 80' contour lines on the GPS showed a flat area. It was a relatively smooth ascent to the reach our previous stopping point. Ahead was a gully full of over-sized boulders. We started up favoring the right side, then dropped back into the middle to get around one of the 40' boulders. We stayed in the gully until it ended about 200' below the summit. The wall of rocks choked with vegetation made a direct approach look improbable, or at very least, miserable. We climbed a short wall to the west to reach a final plateau clear of boulders. From this point forward, our GPS track is a mess as we picked our way up and across the maze toward the summit. There was a lot of bushwhacking and backtracking. Sometimes we would split up to explore different options, shouting to each other if it advanced our cause. The last 100' was mostly class 3, with the same kind of recon and route finding needed to find a way to the summit block. The difficulty of the summit area validated the call to turn back the first time when we were short on daylight.
Starting up
Massive boulders in the big gully just below Red Top
First good look at the summit
Squeezing through boulders
Matt about 50' below the summit
Register can below the summit block
Summit block
A single red can held the register underneath the summit block. The summit block was about 20', but another boulder was piled against it to provide a head start. While the block is rated class 3, the final 10-12' was a mostly smooth surface requiring a friction move onto a one inch ledge on the left. The ledge is flaking with time and might fail at some point. It was a little spicier than expected, though the exposure was not bad. A slip would probably result in a slide back into the starting boulder. I got down by sliding into it. The views from the summit were fantastic, more valuable because they were earned. While similar to Sawtooth, I felt the views from Red Top were better because they were more central. The view down the southeast ridge of Red Top was something special. The Inner Pasture and Canebrake surrounded everything like a moat. For Matt, it was his 69th peak on the Sierra Club San Diego Peak List. For me, it was 100/100 and a perfect list finish. After we both signed the register, we spread out on one of the monster slabs for lunch. We tried to return the way we came up, but there were minor variations. It took us about 2 hours to descend back to the bottom of the ascent gully and collect water cache #2. The walk back was long, interrupted occasionally by startled jack rabbits. We stopped at water cache #1 to retrieve what was left. Because the temps were ideal for a long desert hike (46F - 64F), I used a lot less water than expected and poured out the remaining water from the cache. We thought the sun would set when we reached the top of the pass, but we made it back to the truck just as twilight was fading. While the stats undersell it, I consider either Sawtooth or Red Top alone about equal in difficulty to Cactus to Clouds, and combined of greater difficulty. The challenges are very different, but the time required tells the tale. Red Top is a unique mountain that thoroughly captured my imagination. It is the Tyrannosaurus Rex of the SDC list. It's combination of remoteness, allure, and layered defenses make it one of my all time favorites. Had I climbed it first, my blog might be named "Red Top Hiker".
Matt on the summit
100/100
Momentary immortality
Looking over at Sawtooth Mountains High Point
East ridge
Southwest
Descending
Final look back at Red Top
Returning to the pass
Twilight in the desert
Distance: 16.5 miles round trip cross country
Summit Elevation: 4467'
Prominence: 667'
Elevation Gain: 4238'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 3.39
Round trip time: 12 hours 15 minutes
Recommended water: 202 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on North Indian Canyon Road
Difficulty: Very Strenuous
Matt and I returned to North Indian Canyon Road, two weeks after our hike to Sawtooth, determined to get Red Top (SDC #42). It was the final peak I needed to complete the Sierra Club San Diego Peak List. A 4x4 is needed for the large rocks and sand on Indian Canyon Road. This time, Matt left his car parked off S2 and I drove in to an unmarked spot off the road we used as a trailhead. Ninety percent of this hike was the same as Sawtooth. Only the upper reaches of Red Top offered new terrain. We got started at 4:20 AM, but instead of the full moon we had for the first hike, there was no moon at all. Complete darkness except for the stars. Matt used a headlamp, and I used a handheld flashlight in addition to a headlamp. As we crossed the first mile toward the Tierra Blanca Pass, some plants glowed silver in our artificial light. The experience from our first hike paid off and we made a quick, cholla-free crossing over the pass down to Canebrake Wash.
To make the approach different, we turned right after the fence and followed the road that was signed for Inner Pasture, heading directly at Red Top. We thought it would intersect the road closer to the Sawtooth Mountains, but we didn't find it. Instead, before we got too far, we went over the open desert until we found the road. The sun came up as we marched toward the ascent gully. We both cached water beneath the large boulder at the entrance and took a break to refuel. We went up the gully then drifted north, staying inside a sort of alley between higher ridges on both sides. The terrain is confusing and sometimes a 50' ridge blocked the view where 80' contour lines on the GPS showed a flat area. It was a relatively smooth ascent to the reach our previous stopping point. Ahead was a gully full of over-sized boulders. We started up favoring the right side, then dropped back into the middle to get around one of the 40' boulders. We stayed in the gully until it ended about 200' below the summit. The wall of rocks choked with vegetation made a direct approach look improbable, or at very least, miserable. We climbed a short wall to the west to reach a final plateau clear of boulders. From this point forward, our GPS track is a mess as we picked our way up and across the maze toward the summit. There was a lot of bushwhacking and backtracking. Sometimes we would split up to explore different options, shouting to each other if it advanced our cause. The last 100' was mostly class 3, with the same kind of recon and route finding needed to find a way to the summit block. The difficulty of the summit area validated the call to turn back the first time when we were short on daylight.
Starting up
Massive boulders in the big gully just below Red Top
First good look at the summit
Squeezing through boulders
Matt about 50' below the summit
Register can below the summit block
Summit block
A single red can held the register underneath the summit block. The summit block was about 20', but another boulder was piled against it to provide a head start. While the block is rated class 3, the final 10-12' was a mostly smooth surface requiring a friction move onto a one inch ledge on the left. The ledge is flaking with time and might fail at some point. It was a little spicier than expected, though the exposure was not bad. A slip would probably result in a slide back into the starting boulder. I got down by sliding into it. The views from the summit were fantastic, more valuable because they were earned. While similar to Sawtooth, I felt the views from Red Top were better because they were more central. The view down the southeast ridge of Red Top was something special. The Inner Pasture and Canebrake surrounded everything like a moat. For Matt, it was his 69th peak on the Sierra Club San Diego Peak List. For me, it was 100/100 and a perfect list finish. After we both signed the register, we spread out on one of the monster slabs for lunch. We tried to return the way we came up, but there were minor variations. It took us about 2 hours to descend back to the bottom of the ascent gully and collect water cache #2. The walk back was long, interrupted occasionally by startled jack rabbits. We stopped at water cache #1 to retrieve what was left. Because the temps were ideal for a long desert hike (46F - 64F), I used a lot less water than expected and poured out the remaining water from the cache. We thought the sun would set when we reached the top of the pass, but we made it back to the truck just as twilight was fading. While the stats undersell it, I consider either Sawtooth or Red Top alone about equal in difficulty to Cactus to Clouds, and combined of greater difficulty. The challenges are very different, but the time required tells the tale. Red Top is a unique mountain that thoroughly captured my imagination. It is the Tyrannosaurus Rex of the SDC list. It's combination of remoteness, allure, and layered defenses make it one of my all time favorites. Had I climbed it first, my blog might be named "Red Top Hiker".
Matt on the summit
100/100
Momentary immortality
Looking over at Sawtooth Mountains High Point
East ridge
Southwest
Descending
Final look back at Red Top
Returning to the pass
Twilight in the desert
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