San Diego hiking book

[JimmyLyding]

I picked up 'Afoot & Afield San Diego County: A Comprehensive Hiking Guide' by Jerry Schad when I was in SD last week. Looks like a very cool book, and I wish I would've had the chance to do some hiking over there last week. I've only perused this book, but it looks like a pretty good guide for 'Zonies headed that way. Just look out for the Zoobies.

[azbackpackr]

What are Zoobies?

I gave that book to my son and his wife for Christmas a few years back. The guy who wrote it is an astronomer. I tried to email him one time but he never answered. He and I knew some of the same hikers, who are mentioned in the book. An old guy, Eul Fisk, in particular. He was my favorite 80-year-old backpacking guide in the local Sierra Club chapter.

San Diego County has great backpacking opportunities. For one thing, the PCT goes through the county for many miles, probably 100, (although I don't remember the number.) There are lots of trails and protected areas in the Cleveland National Forest and Cuyamaca State Park, which was unfortunately burned over a few years ago. Lots of mountains with pines and oaks. Mt. Laguna is really neat, too. But there are little canyons tucked away all over the place, even in the city, where you can hike.

And then there is Anza-Borrego. My first backpacking trip was up Coyote Canyon to Alder Canyon. I remember it well--I was about 19 at the time. We used to wear those Pivetta Italian boots. They were pretty much unlined. Back then, Moleskin actually worked--it didn't come off like it does now. I came home with a LOT of moleskin all over my feet!

You can surf in the morning and hike in the afternoon.

I am lucky to be able to visit my son at Camp Pendleton, which hasn't been developed much, compared to the rest of coastal Calif. I should finish my Sandy Eggo blog and post the photos of the trip we took up to the top of the Santa Margarita Mtns. on base, and rode our mtn. bikes down this incredible road. Views of San Jacinto, San Gorgonio, Palomar, and the ocean with the two islands, Catalina and San Clemente, were visible from up there.

[RedRoxx44]

I have an old copy and wonder if he has updated it to reflect changes in access and the trail systems ( burn areas). Some of my favorites were Garnet Peak with its desert view, anything in Anza Borrego, and the waterfalls--Kitchen and Cedar Creek to name two. Another guide is anything by the Lindsays ( Sp?) they have at least two books on Anza Borrego, and cover a lot of history and geology in both.

[JimmyLyding]

My copy was printed in November 2007 and it has numerous references to the October 2003 Cedar Fire among others. The back cover: "Fully updated, this expanded edition includes new maps and more than 35 new hikes, with a focus on recently established trails in or near the county's coastal and inland communities...."

[azbackpackr]

Sounds like you're good to go!

[onehundredpeaks]

I agree, this book is a tremendous source of information and is the one book to buy if you want to hike in San Diego. The newer version is updated, but, like mentioned above, it mainly references the Cedar Fire of 2003 (but not the Witch Creek Fire of 2007) and adds a few hikes. Most, if not all, of the trails are open as usual, but you may be hiking in a burnt forest rather than the shade of pine trees.

It has been a great resource for my own book that I am writing, but many of the peaks I am summiting are not in his book.

If anyone ever need tips on where to hike out here, I would be glad to offer tips. I love it here!

Derek
100peaks.com

[Grasshopper]

In response to onehundredpeaks:
.. Also, good luck on your book to be-

"About the Book
I am on a quest to summit 100 peaks in San Diego and publish a guide book.

The book would be a trail guide that would direct readers to successfully summit 100 peaks in San Diego County that are publicly accessible and are rated at class 1 or 2 climbs, requiring no technical climbing skills."

I have often thought that if our HAZ- Joe Bartels could clone himself for a second home in Southern CA, that would be the biggest hit of all for CALIF.. a HCA.com

[joebartels]

Have boat, need ores
http://hikeca.com/

[Grasshopper]

In response to joe bartels:
.. That's the reason you need to clone yourself and/or maybe package it for $$-SALE-$$

[nonot]

Joe, have the redirect put you here but with the flag set to california hikes ;)

[joebartels]

That's a great idea unfortunately you have to be logged in for things like that to stick. It could be done with cookies, maybe I'll work on it sometime. thx

[onehundredpeaks]

LOL, the post above made me start searching for URLs for possible registration. Then I scrolled down. Heh. Beat me to it! This site is definitely bookmarked for when I come out to AZ.