Big Sycamore Canyon Fire Road - Serrano Canyon Trail - Serrano Valley Trail - Backbone Trail - Chamberlain Trail - Old Boney TrailDistance: 22 milesElevation gained: 3,100'Difficulty: MasochisticTime: 8:25, including 30 minutes worth of breaks Critters: Feral parrots, hawks, two deerPros:- Experiences every ecosystem in the Santa Monicas, excluding valley oak woodlands.- Expansive views of …
Mt. Woodson
Lake Poway Trail - Mt. Woodson TrailDistance: 7.6 MilesElevation Gain: 2,800'Difficulty: Moderately StrenuousCritters: Coots!Pros:- Fairly challenging workout- Good views of San Diego County- Boulders, boulders everywhere! Cons:- Very crowded- Full sun exposure from start to finish\- Hot, even when it's cool out. Details:Mt. Woodson looms pretty large over central San Diego County. It is a …
Backpacking in Santa Anita Canyon
First Water Trail - Gabrielino Trail - Rim Trail - Sturtevant Trail - Lower Winter Creek TrailDistance: Day 1 - 5.2 Miles Day 2 - 13.5 MilesElevation Gain: 4,100' totalDifficulty: StrenuousCritters: A thriving grey squirrel populationPros: - Easily accessible from Los Angeles- Beautiful forest set along a stream- A sense of being a world apart …
High Point
High Point Truck Trail - Palomar Divide Trail - High Point Lookout TrailDistance: 22.1 Miles (+1 mile)Elevation gained: 4,000'Time: 8:30Difficulty: MasochisticCritters: none to speak ofPros: - Epic views of mountains in Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties, including San Gorgonio, San Jacinto, Baldy, Santiago Peak, Cuyamaca Peak, Laguna Mountains, Hot Springs Peak- Tremendous sense …
Los Penasquitos Canyon
Penasquitos Canyon TrailDistance: 11 MilesElevation Gain: 300 feetTime: 3:50Difficulty: ModerateCritters: A coyote, woodpeckers, various verminPros: - Close to urban and suburban areas of San Diego- Long stretches of oak and riparian woodland- Nice waterfall stop halfway can cut the distance in half- Accessible on the the east and west ends- Surprisingly remote feeling despite how …
Cheeseboro Canyon
Modelo Trail - Palo Comado Connector Trail - Shepherd's Flat Trail - Albertson Fire Road - Cheeseboro Canyon TrailDistance: 13.2 milesElevation Gain: 1200'Difficulty: Moderately StrenuousTime: 4:45Critters: A roadrunner, a crow that hovered over my shoulder, squirrels, rabbits,Pros:- Long stretches of oak woodland- A nice transition from rolling green hills and oak woodland to sun-drenched chaparral …
Photography – Cottonwood Lakes Backpacking
In July, 2011, my friend Kevin and I took a four day backpacking trip through the Cottonwood Lakes area of the eastern Sierras, which are a few miles south of Mt. Whitney. This is a collection of photos from that trip.Click to embiggen. Alpine wildflowers Kevin taking it easy at our campsite at Soldier Lake Chicken Spring Lake Cottonwood …
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Palomar Mountain and Lopez Canyon
Hike 1:Scott's Cabin Trail - Cedar Trail - Doane Valley Trail - Chimney Flat TrailHike 2: Observatory Trail Hike 3: Lopez Canyon TrailDistance: 4.6, 4.4, 4.4 miles, respectively.Elevation Gain: 600, 750, negligableDifficulty: Easy, Moderate, EasyTime: 2:14, 2:43, 1:57Critters: 25 mule deer, squirrels, chipmunks, hawks, bluebirds, jaysPros (Palomar):- Reasonably easy access to a mixed conifer forest, mountain, …
scott turner hikes 