Twig Adventures

Saturday, March 22nd, 2025, 0600-1840Near Cedar Creek Falls TH to San Vicente area, mm119.5, Elevation 1370′18 miles. Oh boy, what a day. When researching this route, about all I heard mention of was the horrific bushwhack up the backside of El Cajon. But of course, I never knew if the severity described by others would live up to my expectations. Certainly the extent of my bushwhacking experience through vast deserts, canyons and dense PNW forests raised my bar pretty high. But as I’d already noted, bushwhacking through thick chaparral sucked pretty hard, too. I’d watched a video from another hiker long enough to know how I was going to handle some private property reroutes through the chaparral…as in, no way[…]

Friday, March 21st, 2025, 0700-1840PCT water tank to near Cedar Creek Falls trailhead mm101.5, Elevation 2000′26 miles. It was very cold in the morning, just 37 degrees F! I actually passed frost on the grass as I set out. I was sad to find that the route didn’t spend any time following the PCT, but merely crossed it and continued following signs for the California Riding and Hiking Trail. I even saw another sign for the SDTCT, complete with a little map! This was just as well, because the route led through a series of beautiful meadows. The meadowlarks and blackthroated sparrows were singing gleefully, while a family of ravens tumbled around in the grass. It was so gorgeous in[…]

Monday, March 17th, 2025, 0630-1900Outskirts of Borrego Springs to Culp Valley campground, mm42.5, elevation 3300′12 miles. The night was so calm and the sunrise so vibrant, I was entranced by the combination of stillness and brilliance. I loved the desert for these gifts, but soon I’d be climbing high into the first set of mountains forming the Pacific Crest. I wasn’t in a hurry for that just yet. I was only looking forward as far as a town stop for breakfast. The route took me straight through Borrego Springs and I had no idea what to expect. Would it be another rough and trashy desert town, like so many I’d already passed through? I cruised west along the 5 mile[…]

Sunday, March 16th, 2025, 0620-1800Salton Sea, eastern terminus of the San Diego Trans County Trail, elevation -226′, to outskirts of Borrego Springs, mm30.5, elevation 500′30.5 miles. It felt great to be at the start of the SDTCT when I woke. I was moving before the sunrise, since I didn’t want to be discovered camping along the shore. I couldn’t see how far away the water was, but the flats made for a nice sunrise. I didn’t even realize that I was standing over 200 feet below sea level. The depression was formed by the San Andreas fault, which stretched the landscape as the plates slid past each other. I’m not sure I’ve ever been in a place so low, and[…]