El Cajon Peak

 This is one of those hikes that lets you know what people mean by "uphill both ways" but once you've done it, if you're anything like me... you'll be an addict. I've seen varying distances for this hike, but I believe it to be 11 miles round trip & this is 5.5 miles out and back... there is no water, no facilities & often few people. While most of the incline is going up, there are signicant descents along the way that will come back to haunt you. The first time I did this hike, it was a cold, drizzly, January day and I made it consuming about a litre of water. I returned a few months later to get a better appreciation & nearly passed out on just a litre... if you're hiking in temperatures over 60, you'll want to bring plenty of water - at 70, I usually drink about 3l. The scenery, however, is stunning with sweeping vistas to pick from whichever way you look. Being a San Diego native, this is the one I do for fun when I can't spare the drive time to get into the mountains...but I'd love to get a team together & share the hike.