April Summary

During the month of April, I hiked 125.1 miles, gaining approximately 19,350′ of elevation. I spent 61 hours and 30 minutes on the trails, and I burnt approximately 19,920 calories as a result. April has always been one of my favorite months to hike due to the presence of wildflowers, vivid greens everywhere one looks, and the last stand of comfortable Spring temperatures. While simultaneously juggling work, school, and girl, I made the best of this month’s hiking opportunities.

A bird of some sort perched upon yucca blossoms.

There were some particularly noteworthy hikes this month. Most obviously, I hiked across the Grand Canyon and back with Kyle. That was the highlight of the month, and it will likely go down as the best hiking experience of the year. I also enjoyed a lot of time in the Peninsular Ranges in San Diego, visiting Cuyamaca Rancho State Park for an overnight camping trip, Palomar Mountain twice, and Julian twice. Inbetween, I enjoyed the fading Spring vibrancy at Caspers, Penasquitos Canyon, Boden Canyon, and the Santa Margarita River.

Sycamore Tree spreading over waving grassland.

The hikes for the month:

4/1/2013 South Kaibab Trail, 7
4/1/2013 River Trail , 2.2
4/2/2013 Bright Angel Canyon, 7.2
4/2/2013 Ribbon Falls, 3
4/3/2013 North Rim, 17
4/4/2013 South Rim , 17.1
4/6/2013 Doane Valley Loop, 4.4
4/9/2013 Boden Canyon, 9
4/11/2013 Bell Canyon – Caspers, 7.6
4/13/2013 Cedar/Baptist Trail Loop, 5.3
4/16/2013 Penasquitos, East, 5
4/20/2013 Santa Margarita River, 3.7
4/22/2013 Stonewall Peak/Cuyamaca Resevoir, 8.7
4/22/2013 Cuyamaca Peak, 5.4
4/23/2013 Cuyamaca Reservoir, 3.8
4/23/2013 Volcan Mountain, 5.2
4/27/2013 Kanaka Flat, 7
4/30/2013 Penasquitos, East, 6.5

Doane Valley Nature Trail.

Additionally, I attended two volunteer orientations to become a volunteer fire lookout for Cleveland National Forest and Palomar Mountain State Park. I’ll be working one or two shifts a month during fire season at either the High Point Lookout or the Boucher Hill Lookout. Not only is this an excuse to spend more time at Palomar, it’s a unique experience that will allow me to hopefully help preserve the forests of Southern California.

Looking north from Cuyamaca Peak

May is Mountain Month, and this month I will be spending time at increasingly higher elevations as the last of the snows melt away. I plan to bag both of the Tahquitzes in the San Jacinto Mountains. I also intend to bag Reyes Peak and Haddock Mountains in the Los Podres National Forest. Finally, for a birthday treat, I hope to traverse both the Three T’s Trail and Mt. Baldy in the Angeles National Forest.