El Capitan Reserve: El Cajon Peak, San Diego's toughest.

Still on vacation.

Jenni peaks on El Cajon or El Capitan.





Tried to signal to the pilot for a ride down. Mount San Miguel behind.




It's wonderful to be on vacation...not really but it's the right thing to say. We hiked last week
and were busy these last few days but found a gap for one of the finest hikes around. In our opinion,
the El Capitan Peak is the toughest in San Diego, a little brutal in places. When we understand what
'little brutal' means we'll define it. In the meantime, this 12 mile challenge, over a rough track with
a cumulative gain of over 4,000 feet, puts one through the paces. Until the last two miles we were strong
and handling it well. However, that last bit became a little tiring. Our editor was superb after a rather
strange beginning.




The San Diego skyline as the sun breaks through.




One of the views into the valley below the immediate peak.




And then came the rain...



Jenni was keen to do the hike—she knows what's good for her. All was well until she sought directions
to the trailhead. We had only undertaken this one four times before so we decided to check again. We're beginning
to understand our limitations. After deciding to read some comments from other hikers, which was puzzling as she
knows the track well, she turned apprehensive. The comment "often viewed, seldom hiked" together with the statistics
got her into a solid whining frame of mind. The real kicker, which floored me, was when she said after 30 minutes
on the trail, "We should look for some very challenging hikes." Don't you listen to yourself. Maybe that's why
she's so lovable.




Time to leave the peak and head down, only another 6 miles. On the way down, there were 8 steep inclines.




Some late sunrays show Jenni the path which is not very attractive.




About half-way down from the peak, the sun lights up the ocean.




We began in good weather while watching the clouds form. It cooled quickly followed by forty minutes of light rain. As Dad used
to say," Jeffrey, go stand out in the rain, it makes everything beautiful." We suppose there are exceptions. Thereafter, the sun broke through the heavy clouds which were obviously intimidated, as they scattered soon thereafter. By late afternoon, the sky was clear. What a day. At time of writing, the editor has identified numerous body parts that are complaining furiously. Back to vacation for another two days.


Cheers,

Jenni and Jeffrey