Lenny72 - Jun 12, 2016 7:42 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2016
Good Training Hike!
Hiked this as training for the Adventure 16 Three-Peak Challenge. Long and strenuous but weather conditions were perfect as the day was overcast, except that the summit was in the clouds. Even so, this kept temperatures cooler, however, I went through 3L of water so if it's hot you will definitely need 4L. A fun, interesting hike!
IronHiker - May 27, 2016 5:22 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2016
South Arete
This was my second summit of El Cajon, first time up the south arete. Took advantage of the cool May gray weather. Pretty challenging route finding in the upper section. Full report: http://ironhiker.blogspot.com/2016/05/el-cajon-south-arete.html
Ted Bauer - Aug 24, 2015 4:58 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2015
Hot and Hard
Easily the best training hike in San Diego County for my money. We decided to do this hike the night before. When we got to the trail head we found out the trail was closed for the month of August due to extreme heat conditions. With 4 liters of water each and only 11 miles we ignored the signs. Lesson to be learned. My partner over heated at about 9 miles. Luckily we found some shade, rested for 30 minutes, drank the last liter then finished. Bring a lot of liquid for this one!
IronHiker - Aug 2, 2015 10:34 am Date Climbed: Nov 24, 2013
Main trail
with a side trip to Silverdome. Lots of ups and downs for a good workout. I just saw a different "Iron Hiker" here from Montana (vs IronHiker). We have a lot of the same mountains, but it appears I am the sequel.
gimpilator - Mar 25, 2015 3:41 pm Date Climbed: Mar 25, 2015
Standard trail route
106 minute ascent and 91 minutes descent, 3h17m car-to-car.
Jkastner - Jul 7, 2014 3:04 pm Date Climbed: Dec 14, 2013
El Cajon Trail
This trail was a great way to train for my Eastern Sierra trip. The elevation gain was challenging. Mind the heat, it can kill. Bring more water than you will think you need.
cab - Nov 4, 2013 11:38 am Date Climbed: Nov 2, 2013
El Cajon Trail
A deluxe trail complete with mile markers and elevation profile signs. This was my third peak of the day after Eagle and Viejas and was a great workout with all of the ups and downs. 1:47 to the summit.
WiscoHiker - Jan 4, 2011 1:21 am Date Climbed: Dec 24, 2010
El Cajon Trail
Hiked up on Christmas Eve Day a few days after a big rainfall. The weather was cool, maybe 62 degrees max but I still went through 3 liters of water. Some portions of the trail were pretty muddy and wet with runoff. The couple ahead of us took two larger dogs all the way to the top. Definitely a strenuous hike after all of the holiday eating. I was disappointed to come back to a broken car window. I didn't leave anything visible except for a couple car chargers/chords. Hide everything!
All in all it was a great hike. Definitely odd hearing "Merry Christmas" out on the trail.
Javidogg - Oct 12, 2010 10:52 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2010
South Arete and Class 3 climb
Sept 11, 2010 was my second attempt at this hike. The first time I attempted this hike was with a few unprepared friends (i.e. not enough water, nutrition, etc...). Short story, we had to turn back before my friend crocked on us. The second time around we were all a lot more prepared, and we made it up to the peak within three hours. Unfortunately, my friend decided to bring his dog along (against our advice), and the mutt almost died on the way back due to heat exhaustion, and the class 3 climb destroyed the pads on the dogs paws. So, PLEASE DO NOT BRING DOGS ON THIS HIKE!
Removing the dog drama from the hike, this was an amazing day-hike and the class three climb at the end was a lot of fun. I'm definitely doing this again in the winter, where I hope to get some snow under my boots.
cp0915 - Feb 16, 2010 10:02 am Date Climbed: Feb 13, 2010
4 hours from the car to the summit and back. Blistering hot and ran out of water with 1 mile left to go. Great day hike and great workout!
Deb - Apr 27, 2009 10:10 am Date Climbed: Apr 26, 2009
Leonids
Beautiful day in SoCal for a climb on great rock - loved the scenery as well. Dave and I had a good time on Leonids with an interesting rappel. Even from Temecula, we were home in time for dinner. Nice rock!
Iron Hiker - Apr 26, 2009 2:11 am Date Climbed: Apr 25, 2009
South Arete
Outstanding scramble! It was fun, and I never felt in any real danger the whole way. Definitely some class 3 spots, with one 100-foot section near the top bordering on lowend class 4 (exposure). Left the car just before 3:30pm and returned after 7:30pm.....took 1 1/2 hrs to reach the top of the arete but only 35-40 min down :) It's amazing that this route is nontechnical, since from a distance it looks unclimbable without climbing equipment. Made it to the true summit of El Cajon - views were decent, although a bit hazy. Nice cool and windy day with temps in the 60's - perfect for this kind of scramble!
oso1212 - Mar 8, 2009 1:11 pm Date Climbed: Mar 8, 2009
Lenny72 - Jun 12, 2016 7:42 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2016
Good Training Hike!Hiked this as training for the Adventure 16 Three-Peak Challenge. Long and strenuous but weather conditions were perfect as the day was overcast, except that the summit was in the clouds. Even so, this kept temperatures cooler, however, I went through 3L of water so if it's hot you will definitely need 4L. A fun, interesting hike!
IronHiker - May 27, 2016 5:22 pm Date Climbed: May 26, 2016
South AreteThis was my second summit of El Cajon, first time up the south arete. Took advantage of the cool May gray weather. Pretty challenging route finding in the upper section. Full report: http://ironhiker.blogspot.com/2016/05/el-cajon-south-arete.html
Ted Bauer - Aug 24, 2015 4:58 pm Date Climbed: Aug 23, 2015
Hot and HardEasily the best training hike in San Diego County for my money. We decided to do this hike the night before. When we got to the trail head we found out the trail was closed for the month of August due to extreme heat conditions. With 4 liters of water each and only 11 miles we ignored the signs. Lesson to be learned. My partner over heated at about 9 miles. Luckily we found some shade, rested for 30 minutes, drank the last liter then finished. Bring a lot of liquid for this one!
IronHiker - Aug 2, 2015 10:34 am Date Climbed: Nov 24, 2013
Main trailwith a side trip to Silverdome. Lots of ups and downs for a good workout. I just saw a different "Iron Hiker" here from Montana (vs IronHiker). We have a lot of the same mountains, but it appears I am the sequel.
gimpilator - Mar 25, 2015 3:41 pm Date Climbed: Mar 25, 2015
Standard trail route106 minute ascent and 91 minutes descent, 3h17m car-to-car.
Jkastner - Jul 7, 2014 3:04 pm Date Climbed: Dec 14, 2013
El Cajon TrailThis trail was a great way to train for my Eastern Sierra trip. The elevation gain was challenging. Mind the heat, it can kill. Bring more water than you will think you need.
cab - Nov 4, 2013 11:38 am Date Climbed: Nov 2, 2013
El Cajon TrailA deluxe trail complete with mile markers and elevation profile signs. This was my third peak of the day after Eagle and Viejas and was a great workout with all of the ups and downs. 1:47 to the summit.
Kristin5berry - Jul 8, 2013 11:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2013
Sweet findGreat gain
Wild - Dec 20, 2012 6:10 pm Date Climbed: Mar 14, 2011
South AreteAbsolutely love this route!
Joshb4 - Jul 11, 2012 4:59 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2012
LegitGood workout, take mind of the heat!!!
iditarod81 - Dec 11, 2011 10:50 pm Date Climbed: Dec 3, 2011
A fun climbFirst time ever trying multi-pitch climbing. Really awesome spot!
harryquach - May 23, 2011 7:27 pm Date Climbed: Nov 6, 2010
Fine ScrambleTR
Denjem - Mar 16, 2011 1:43 pm
multi pitch funYah, I climbed that.
WiscoHiker - Jan 4, 2011 1:21 am Date Climbed: Dec 24, 2010
El Cajon TrailHiked up on Christmas Eve Day a few days after a big rainfall. The weather was cool, maybe 62 degrees max but I still went through 3 liters of water. Some portions of the trail were pretty muddy and wet with runoff. The couple ahead of us took two larger dogs all the way to the top. Definitely a strenuous hike after all of the holiday eating. I was disappointed to come back to a broken car window. I didn't leave anything visible except for a couple car chargers/chords. Hide everything!
All in all it was a great hike. Definitely odd hearing "Merry Christmas" out on the trail.
Javidogg - Oct 12, 2010 10:52 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2010
South Arete and Class 3 climbSept 11, 2010 was my second attempt at this hike. The first time I attempted this hike was with a few unprepared friends (i.e. not enough water, nutrition, etc...). Short story, we had to turn back before my friend crocked on us. The second time around we were all a lot more prepared, and we made it up to the peak within three hours. Unfortunately, my friend decided to bring his dog along (against our advice), and the mutt almost died on the way back due to heat exhaustion, and the class 3 climb destroyed the pads on the dogs paws. So, PLEASE DO NOT BRING DOGS ON THIS HIKE!
Removing the dog drama from the hike, this was an amazing day-hike and the class three climb at the end was a lot of fun. I'm definitely doing this again in the winter, where I hope to get some snow under my boots.
cp0915 - Feb 16, 2010 10:02 am Date Climbed: Feb 13, 2010
South AreteWith DB. Fun route.
kolbi2112 - Jul 28, 2009 5:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2009
El Cajon Trail4 hours from the car to the summit and back. Blistering hot and ran out of water with 1 mile left to go. Great day hike and great workout!
Deb - Apr 27, 2009 10:10 am Date Climbed: Apr 26, 2009
LeonidsBeautiful day in SoCal for a climb on great rock - loved the scenery as well. Dave and I had a good time on Leonids with an interesting rappel. Even from Temecula, we were home in time for dinner. Nice rock!
Iron Hiker - Apr 26, 2009 2:11 am Date Climbed: Apr 25, 2009
South AreteOutstanding scramble! It was fun, and I never felt in any real danger the whole way. Definitely some class 3 spots, with one 100-foot section near the top bordering on lowend class 4 (exposure). Left the car just before 3:30pm and returned after 7:30pm.....took 1 1/2 hrs to reach the top of the arete but only 35-40 min down :) It's amazing that this route is nontechnical, since from a distance it looks unclimbable without climbing equipment. Made it to the true summit of El Cajon - views were decent, although a bit hazy. Nice cool and windy day with temps in the 60's - perfect for this kind of scramble!
oso1212 - Mar 8, 2009 1:11 pm Date Climbed: Mar 8, 2009
South Arete2nd time. Fun scramble.