Grasslands and Dams

I'm trying to get the gazzilion extra pounds off that I put on over the last couple of years, so Josh and I are picking up the after work hikes again.  We headed over to the north side of Mission Trails in search of some lesser visited Kumeyaay sites. We started out slowly on Father Junipero Serra road on balmy summer evening. We passed a Ranger led guided tour exploring the flora and fauna of Kumeyaay Lakes before turning down a concrete path that crossed over a stagnant San Diego River. The vibe in the overgrown river grotto felt like a bayou and gave me flashbacks of my recent visit to Tennessee. 

We climbed out of the river gorge, passing large stands of blooming Datura and vines heavy with wild cucumber before topping out on a beautiful grass prairie. The atmosphere was thick and heavy as we followed the trail under pastel skies. 

At the edge of the prairie was a generic brown trail sign pointing the way to an outcropping of bedrock boulders labeled as grinding rocks. Josh and I diverted from the trail, which was likely a fire road in the recent past, and meandered through the dry brush that filled our socks with stickers and seed pods. Once at the bedrock island, we found a beautiful set of oval morteros which I've learned are called Cuyamaca Ovals.

It seems these oval shaped moretros are primarily found in the Peninsular range and are most frequently located next to prairies and meadows. It is theorized that the type of seed or grass collected here required a back and forth motion to process, resulting in the oblong shape.

Josh and I surveyed the area for a while and chatted about how we take our natural landscapes at face value, thinking they are solely the work of environmental phenomenon. It's only after delving into archaeology that I've discovered that a lot of what we see on trail is not necessarily "natural", but rather, was selectively designed by our predecessors. It is likely that this particular grassland was cultivated, managed and maintained by the Kumeyaay over decades in order to resemble what it does today. I sat quietly for a time while Josh poked around in the brush, and ran my finger along the edge of a stone divot as smooth as silk. I scanned the horizon of this brittle field that'd gone to seed and thought to myself, this is actually a prehistoric garden.

The sun was rapidly retreating behind Fortuna ridge so I snapped out of my musing and followed Josh south to complete our grassland loop traverse.

We descended from the mesa via several steep stairs carved into the hillside and reinforced with wood 2x4's until the trail vanished into Oak Canyon Creek, a tributary of The San Diego River. After slogging through the soft sand of the dry creek bed we met with an overgrown trail that led to the western flank of Old Mission Dam. 

After pushing passed low hanging sycamore branches and avoiding baby buffalo gourds under foot, we arrived to the dam. This rocky structure was dreamed up by the Spanish and constructed by the Kumeyaay in order to provide reliable water to the colonies and missions in the area.* Today, it seems it collects more visitor trash than water and Josh and I packed out an abundance of aluminum cans and debris.

Instead of walking across the dam we opted to go around and search for more signs of history in the wash. Just as we were about to cross over the river I noticed several layers of archaeology on the banks. Resting on top of each other in situ was a rusted, gunshot riddled vehicle quarter panel on top of a bedrock boulder speckled with shallow Cuyamaca Ovals. I admired this display in the ambient light of dusk and decided archaeology is not static. Whether we realize it or not, we do not passively observe it, we live it and add to it everyday. Or, I might just be overthinking things...It's advisable to bring a grain of salt on hikes with me these days.

The smell of raw sewage stung my nose as we walked single file over the flume toward an empty parking lot.  I wasn't ready for the hike to be over and I meandered through the shoreline boulders looking for more points of interest until it became too dark to see.  All in all, we put in a couple miles and successfully worked off some excess calories while giving our existential brains a workout in the process. 

It was a great after-work hike.

Rock Climber's Loop

Believe it or not, there are a few trails in Mission Trails that I haven't done and the Rock Climber's Loop is one of them. Its a short hike, only about a mile and a half starting from Josh's house.

Yeah, from Josh's house...we were trying the friend thing again and met at his house after work, heading out to the trail around 4pm. Josh brought his big camera and took a lot of great photos which I imagine he'll post on his blog soon.

I was feeling good and actually flew up the steep trail, well, flew up by my standards anyway. The views from up here are really beautiful and the rocks were spectacular. They don't look nearly as magnificent from the road as they do close up. When we finally reached the top of the trail we walked the crest of the mountain and chatted with some rock climbers who were super nice. I like rock climbers! I've yet to meet any that are pretentious or egocentric, which is kind of what I expect of them since they are such badasses!

After a couple of fun scrambles over slick boulders, the trail headed back down toward the road. Looking at all of the new grass and plants on the hillside made me so excited for spring! Everything is so green and there is so much water, the flowers are going to be amazing,

On our way back to Josh's house we poked around and found some impressive groves of wild cucumber and observed a sharp-shinned or coopers hawk on a light standard.

This is a super fun, super short hike that 's perfect for after work. Next time I go I'll bring a pair of binoculars so I can get a good look at the river bed from that vantage point. As for Josh and I...well, this hike was fun, but things got complicated again soon after and we are back to just the occasional email. I wish it would work between us because I miss my friend, but I think relationships are like farts; if you have to force it, its probably shit.

North Fortuna - Slowest Known Time Record!

After the Clairemont Mesa hike I spent the rest of the day chomping advil and rolling out my muscles and tendons with this do-hicky. I woke up sore as usual but I was determined to get out there again and take advantage of the June gloom before it gives way to full nuclear summer. I drove a short distance to Mission Dam area in Santee and parked on Father Junipero Serra Tr. I walked a short distance to the dam parking area and took in the fragile beauty of the riparian area. I spotted a moth at least the size of my hand, if not bigger, caught in a massive orb weavers web. The size of both the web and the moth were seriously impressive.

I am always in awe when I come to the dam that this gorgeous place is so close to my house. I am truly blessed and need to spend more time here.

 I paralleled the river for a short time passing all manner of look out points and information kiosks before crossing a bridge and heading out on the Oak Canyon Trail, one of my favorite places in all of Mission Trails. I took my time, admiring the day and focusing on my breathing and footing in a sort of walking meditation.

I came to this gnarled oak tree and recalled an article I had read recently about trees that were trained by native americans as saplings to grow in an unusual way in order to mark the trail. I wonder if this is the case here? It would make sense I suppose, for the Kumeyaay to want to mark the path thru the grass lands to the water. I'm not sure if this tree is old enough to qualify but it is still kind of cool to think about.

After passing thru grass valley the trail slips into the canyon leading you across a rocky route just above the river bed. I have been enthrawled with A Parliament Of Owls Youtube page lately and I was scoping out the area for places I would put my Reconyx camera ... if I could afford one. 

I looked at the canyon walls for signs of life and remembered the last time I did this route and how exciting it was to watch two coyotes ambush a mule deer. Nothing so spectacular today but I was pleased the crows were trusting enough to reveal the location of their nests that were tucked into the cliff face.

I pushed thru the narrowest section of the canyon with its tributaries and rock falls before coming to the junction for the Fortuna saddle service road. I stopped at the cross roads and thought about continuing on the Oak Canyon trail and taking Fortuna from the North or attempting what is affectionately called The Wall by the MTRP volunteers.

I opted to take the wall and was determined to make it an enjoyable and successful experience! This meant I hiked at a snails pace and stopped at every flume to rest and stretch. 

 I think it took me a half hour to do the half mile/500 foot climb. I was passed by two older gentlemen, and I was more than happy with that!

When I reached the top my feet were only singing, not screaming, and I was so so so happy to be on the saddle!

I sat down in the dirt for a while and drank some water while snapchatting my friends and family that I had made it up the wall! I realize it is a small hill but sometimes overcoming the mole hills is tougher than the mountains.

I brushed myself off and headed for the North peak. I passed one of the gentlemen who passed me on the way up. He asked if I was going to do South Fortuna too and I told him I'd have to see how this one went first! He smiled and took off toward the south peak. I climbed up the beige stripe I'd longingly looked at from my car everyday and was happy to be there. I was slow, and sat on every flat rock I came across even when I wasn't tired. It was nice to sit with my eyes closed and be in the quiet beauty of outside.

I crested what I thought was the summit only to remember that North Fortuna has a sense of humor with her many false summits. I was not discouraged but I did eat a shot block and pressed on to the top.

 At last! I made it! It took me a little over two hours to go something like 2 miles but I did it! I took the obligatory selfie and signed the register before finding a more comfortable place to sit. Who knows! Maybe I'll do the official 5 peak challenge that everyone is doing now!

 I looked over to the last blip on North Fortunas ridgeline and wondered if I should make it a loop hike. I looked at the clouds and noticed the marine layer was rapidly dissipating and opted to just make a beeline out of there. It was near 11am and I knew if the cloud cover broke it was going to get hot fast.

I scooted my way down the road and even on the way down had to stop at the flumes. The grade made my feet and knees burn and I tried to slalom down to avoid sliding on the loose gravel.

As I reached the Oak Canyon trail the marine layer officially broke. The light in the canyon was beautiful, but glaring and only then did I realize I had forgotten my sunglasses.

I started to feel nauseous and realized I had not eaten nearly enough for lugging myself up that wall. When will I ever learn that I need to eat relative to the activity?  I sat under a gorgeous oak tree for a minute and drank some water. I thought about eating a shot block or bar but knew the state my stomach was in it would only come back up.

The bummer about urban hiking is that it's crowded, so if you're going to barf, you're going to have witnesses.

The hike officially stopped being fun as I crossed the bridge back to the dam. I started the road walk back to my truck in the noonday heat and I swear it was like someone had stretched out that section of road twice as long as when I came. It took forever to get to the truck! When I finally did I jumped in and cranked up the a/c and threw my shoes on the back seat. 

I headed home with a smile on my face and a limp in my step.

At 1 MPH, I'm pretty sure I set the record for the slowest ascent of N. Fortuna but it was also the most meaningful.

Try Again; Fail Again; Fail Better

 Every morning when I head to work I can see the North Fortuna Trail looming in the distance. It is a prominent beige line on the ridge that eventually disappears into a cleft on the summit. Everyday I look at it and wonder if I'll ever get get myself back on the peaks. Will I ever return to my former self?

Even though I've long to be in backcountry portions of Mission Trails since we moved in August. For some reason I have it in my head that the fire road after the San Diego River Trail is too difficult for me, even though I did it successfully in October. Knowing that I will never win an arguement with my mind, I decided to try to find an alternate route to the Fortunas that avoided that particular fire road and better my chances of achieving my goal. I have never been to the Clairemont Mesa trailhead so I figured that could be a good route, or at very least something new to check out.

I arrived at the trailhead around 8am and crossed a bridge made of I beams and plywood under loudly zapping power lines. Immediately the trail, which is really just a fire road, (remnants of Camp Elliot) climbed steeply, as all urban trails in San Diego seem to do. It was a quick ascent though and before I could really get winded I was at the top.

I stood for a moment on the plateau and looked around for a place to pee. I took a few steps off the road and stumbled upon several pieces of carin art. The array of circles and designs gave me a sort of witchy vibe and I was stoked to have found it!

Not finding a suitable place to pee I pressed on. My mind kept cycling negative thoughts and I did my best to just let them float by. I walked for a while over a level gravel road before reaching the crest of the hillside overlooking Suycott wash. In the distance I could see the road I'd taken to the Fortuna's many times in the past and thought to myself, "damn, that looks steep and long. I can't believe I used to fly up that thing," 

What I don't remind myself of is what I term 'flying up that thing' now, was perceived then, as a too slow pace of an inferior hiker. Hindsight, is 20/20. Now if I can apply the understanding of my skewed perspective to the present, I will never be down on myself again. That's the goal.

By now my feet were screaming and thus the negative thoughts were overwhelming my ability override them and I knew I wasn't going to acheive my goal for the day. I tried to tell myself it was ok and suiting up and showing up are half the battle as I retreated the way I'd came.

I won't let it get me down. I will try again tomorrow!

Warning: Boring Health Related Content Below

The struggle with my feet, knees and hip is not new as many of you know, but this is definitely a new type of pain. It is constant, even when I don't hike and regardless of shoe type or even no shoes. It is so bad in the morning I can hardly walk and it takes me about a half hour to be able to walk the stairs without going one step at a time. 

I suspect the chronic Psoriasis I've had since I was 18 has now blossomed into Psoriatic Arthritis. I have made an appointment with my doctor but I'm not in a big rush to get that diagnosis. I am on a mission to get off of pharmaceuticals, not start new ones. I was hoping I was just having this pain because I'm insanely fat, which I'm sure isn't helping, but the pain in my hands and the swelling in my knuckles leads me to believe it's more than just the extra weight. 

I am inspired, however, to drop this weight now more than ever and have been approaching my Ketogenic diet from the perspective of eating disorder recovery. I don't get down on myself when I eat. I'm not restricting any foods from my diet, but the pain in my body is good incentive to choose to eat low glycemic foods and gives me the opportunity to pause and modify my diet with inflammation in mind. I know that a lot of my PCT issues were mental, likely caused from the shitty food choices I made. I am grateful to have a body that tells me when something is up so I can fix it. One day, I think my body and mind may actually work together.

So today I stopped short of my goal, Tomorrow, as Scarlett says, is another day.