On The Lookout, Part Two

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND TWO

This morning I got up at my father in law's, drove down to Indian Wells and went to work, drove back up Hwy 74 and went hiking. I went back to climb Lookout Mountain and this time I was going to make it to the top.

You start the hike where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses Hwy 74. Head south.

Be on the lookout for headless horsemen.

Follow the trail to the left at the small little saddle about a 1/2 mile from the start. Don't get caught looking at the view or you'll miss it.

The trail climbs up through the Ribbonwood. Literally.

I didn't see any human footprints going up but I saw this hoof print from a deer.

Someone put this nice bench up on the trail. It faces west and I would imagine you can see some pretty nice sunsets from up here.

When you get to the top, you will find this red can with a logbook inside.

But the elements have gotten to it and the logs were waterlogged. I didn't bother to sign in.

While there are plenty of bushes on top of this little mountain, you have great views all around. Here you can see Thomas Mountain on the right and Cahuilla Mountain on the left.

Looking down toward Garner Valley and up to San Jacinto.

The hike up Lookout Mountain is not a great hike by any means but it is well worth the modest effect to get to the top just for the views. If you're ever driving up Hwy 74 with a bit of time to kill, you should consider it. Just go on a cool day.

On The Lookout

DAY EIGHTY EIGHT

Wherever I go this year, I am going to have to figure out a place to hike in the area. Today, we went to visit my father in law who lives in Mountain Center, near Garner Valley. As you would imagine, it's not hard to find hikes in a place named Mountain Center.

I decided to hike up Lookout Mountain which I can see from my father in law's house. It's an official Sierra Club Peak section selection and I climbed it about fifteen years ago so I figure it's time to give it another shot.

My wife's dad tells me that they've been spotting a lot of mountain lions in the area and offers me his .44 Magnum or this spear that he made in this shop. I accept the spear but I'm afraid if I come upon any other hikers on the trail I'll scare them to death, so I leave it in the car. Thank God I didn't get killed by a mountain lion. My poor wife would've never heard the end of it.

You start the hike by heading south on the PCT from Highway 74. Someday, I hope to do the whole section to the Indian Flats Campground. Just not today.

I hiked up here a couple months ago in the snow when I left my kids and their friends to play. It is much easier going this time.

You get up the trail a bit and get a nice view of the surrounding mountains. This is looking down toward the San Ysidro Mountains and Coyote Canyon in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.

The route up Lookout Mountain goes through the chaparral, which is some of the worst leg shredding stuff God ever created. You've got Ribbonwood (because it tears your legs to ribbons), scrub oak, manzanita and other various plants that are here just to make you bleed. I have to find the right route but this is not it.

Nor is this. I don't remember it being this far but I was younger when I came before and maybe I was just faster then. But with age, comes patience so I'll just keep going until I hit the right place.

I get to a point where it looks like it might go but after scouting it out, it's a dead end. Years ago I would have just bombed up it and left looking like I just crawled out of a vat of cats. I've learned one thing as I've gotten older. I like my legs with the skin intact.

I've gone too far. The wisdom of experience tells me that. Old guys know when to quit and turn back. Fortunately, my wife is not with me so I don't have figure a way of doing it without admitting my mistake.

I take one more attempt to climb up through the brush.

But I run into a wall of leg flayers. This is not going to work.

As I head back toward the trailhead I finally find the right way but it's dinner time and I don't want to miss that. When I came up the trail, I was too busy enjoying the view and totally missed where I was supposed to go. I vaguely remember doing the same thing fifteen years ago. Of course, as one ages, along with patience and wisdom, comes forgetfulness. But when I come up next time, at least I'll know what to look out for.

Snow Place to Hike

Day Forty Five

There's something about fresh snow in the mountains that makes native Southern Californians giddy.  We have never had the experience of shoveling driveways, bundling up just to go outside or having our tongues stuck on a metal pole.  For us, snow means one thing: recreation.  So when I asked the boys if they wanted to go to the snow today they were downright ecstatic. They also wanted to take three friends.  But since I'm a cool dad, I said OK and we piled in the mini van and headed off.  

My father-in-law lives up in the mountains so we headed up to his place.  Since he's about a mile from the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) I left the boys to play in the snow at his place and went down to do a little hike.

Looking up at Santa Rosa Mountain from near the parking area for the PCT.

I'm gonna head south toward Lookout Mountain.  I don't want to leave the kids unattended for too long so I doubt I'll get all the way to the summit.

The trail heads across this hillside.

Even with fresh snow the trail is pretty easy to follow.

Views of the trail continuing south.  If I keep walking in a few days I'll be in Mexico.

This area is called Rock Point.  I wonder why.

This is an interesting little peak.  It think it's called Cone Peak for some reason.

After hiking a mere forty-five minutes I head back to make sure the guys haven't destroyed my wife's father's property.  I am greatly relieved to find them with no broken bones, enjoying the snow.  Had I known they'd be so well behaved, I might have continued on to Lookout Mountain.  Oh well, that'll give me something to do next time.