Sunrise on The Thimble and San Ysidro Mountain

After having previously bagged The Thimble (5779′) and being turned around by high winds at the summit block of Bonny (4574′), I returned to the outskirts of tiny Ranchita, CA on Thursday, Feb 11, 2016.  The objective this time was to finally bag Bonny and then skirt The Thimble to ascend San Ysidro Peak (6147′).  I camped at the nearby Culp Valley Primitive campground and had the place pretty much to myself.  Weather was unseasonably warm with daytime highs in the mid-70s and overnights in the low 50’s.  The best part was there was nearly no wind, which in this area is a constant challenge as it is a wind funnel between Volcan Mtn to the south and Hot Springs Mtn to the north.

Exposure on the summit block of Bonny

Despite my commitment to an alpine start I didn’t get on the turnout on Montezuma Highway until 7:30.  The route takes you immediately north, cross country, climbing consistently from the cholla-choked lower slopes, Gain the hill immediately from the road and then Bonny is easily recognizable as a big pile of rocks about 100 feet high.  If you want to bypass Bonny there is a broad wash to the west.  Otherwise skirt it from the southeast, and on the north side and you will see an obvious path up.   Trend back around the base of the summit block southwest and you will see an 18″ wide ramp next to a head-high block with a 40-foot drop below.  There are ample handholds above the ledge, and as long as there is no 40mph wind gusts, this is the only class 3 move, the summit is directly above.  I was up and down in about 15 minutes.

San Ysidro Ridge and the Thmble seen from White BM

After Bonny, descend the wash ahead, and trend west along increasingly well-tread footpath towards obviously-named Chief rock or Chimney Rock.  At this point you’ll encounter one the biggest route-finding obstacle of this trip – the barbed-wire fence which marks private property to the west.   It’s almost impossible to completely avoid trespassing on this trip, but you will need to go east around White BM to avoid the private roads and homes below.  If you follow the HPS Route #1 you appear to be tresspassing although given the number of signatures on White BM vs San Ysidro, my guess is a lot of people do it.  The difference is significant, as the most direct route is on well graded roads and would cut a 2-hour approach in half.  The route I chose takes you as close as possible to avoiding all private property.

The Thimble

Gain the ridge above Chimney Rock and follow the fence, ascending a broad, sandy ridge towards White BM.  The views just continually astound and open up in all directions, with views of the desert floor below all the way to Salton Sea.  Continue to climb the occasionally steep ridge to the rock-cropped White BM from the southeast.   The summit of White is easy to bag from here, a walk-up to a simple class 3 scramble.   However navigating the descent, and subsequent re-ascent from the north, is much more difficult.

The only reasonably safe descent of White is to the north.  From the summit, descend directly north, picking your way through brush, for about 100 feet, then trending back around to the west to reach the saddle between one of two rocky sub-peaks below White.  Descend between the two horns of rock through occasionally brushy terrain to a low wash.  Cross the wash and stay north, eventually you will reach a dirt road and the barbed wire fence.  Gain a steep, sandy ridge here, and follow it along the fenceline to the base of the Thimble.  The kitty-litter textured sand and lack of vegetation makes you feel like you’re ascending a glacier.

From here there are two ways to proceed.  You can bypass the thimble via one of the saddles to the North or South, enduring a fairly brutal bushwack on the brushy north and west-facing slopes, which will drop you into the high point of the wash below. Alternatively, follow the fenceline over the lower, south spur below the Thimble, down into the broad meadow below. This route is easier travel but will you will lose more elevation and have to gain a couple hundred feet back to the high point of the wash.

San Ysidro Mountain seen from just below the Thimble

From the wash west of Thimble, follow the obvious and well-ducked route up, passing several sandy, flat, shaded campsites which would make an ideal location for a base camp for a multi-peak mission.  San Ysidro now looms above the increasingly steep walls of the canyon. Continue heading north, staying on the eastern side of the slope, climbing steeply. Ducks make the route easy to follow all the way to the summit.

Hellhole Canyon,Borrego Palm Canyon and Borrego Springs from the summit of San Ysidro Mountain

At the top I was surprised to find Morteros used by the Cahuilla to grind pinyon nuts.  Pretty amazing that had to go up there just for basic food needs.  The summit area is relatively wide open and has fantastic views that include San Gorgonio, San Jacinto, Toro Peak, Palomar Mountain, Hot Springs Mountain, Volcan Mountain, Whale Peak, and the Salton Sea.

San Jacinto and San Gorgonio from San Ysidro Peak

Depending on the route chosen, bypassing Thimble can be as tough on the return as it was on the ascent.   White BM is very challenging when approached on return from the north, and finding the route back up is much tougher.  From there it’s a pretty easy trip, watch your route finding near Bonny, you need to head southwest from Bonny towards the closest high point or you will end up bushwacking through gullies back to Montezuma Valley road.  I ended up below my car and had to walk uphill on the steep and busy road about a quarter-mile.

I completed the trip in about 6 hours, add an extra hour for the Thimble.   Recommended time of year in winter on a calm, cool day.   The Ranchita area is known for wind and you can routinely face high winds over 40mph.  Because of the relatively high elevation, storms can create very hazardous conditions including lightning,  ice and high winds.  Bring plenty of water (I went through 3 liters on a very warm day), sunscreen and wind protection as this is an exposed route throughout.

There are a number of bivouac spots on both sides of Thimble that would serve as good base camp locations to split up the long approach, although finding wind cover would be a challenge on the east side of Thimble.  Climbers looking for class 4 and 5 terrain will find it in abundance especially on White BM and the north side of Thimble which has a 50-foot vertical slab.

Southern California’s premier alpine playground is the San Gorgonio Wilderness.  While much of the mountain is closed due to the 2015 Lake Fire, the south facing slopes and summit are still open.

Access Vivian Creek trailhead cross the rocky dry river bed to the signed beginning of the trail.  Ascend switchbacks to the hanging valley and the first trail camp.  Slowly ascend and continue east with views of Galena Peak and Yucaipa ridge opening up to the south.

Eventually the trail reaches the southeastern flank and begins to ascend steeply on good trail, as timber gives way to pinyon and ultimately the bald windswept summit.  After bagging the peak, we headed northwest along the ridge to the Dry Lake View trail camp.  This is a very windy spot and is at over 10,000 feet.

Ranchita sits in the Montezuma Valley at 4,000 feet above the desert floor and Borrego Springs.  The windswept eastern edge is home to some of the most rugged terrain in Anza Borrego Desert State Park.  As part of a 2 day peak bagging trip which included Indianhead, I set out from Culp Valley in late November to take on several smaller scrambles.  The prize of the trip is the Thimble, at 5779 feet an impressive 500-foot tall pile of slabs and rock that may be the premier class 2-3 scramble in SD county.

From Montezuma Valley Rd in Ranchita, park immediately across from the ABDSP Sign on the north side of the road.  There are several parking spots here.   Pick up one of many use trails north, taking care to avoid the fenced private property just to the west.

One of the best parts of this trip is the views.  They are expansive and everywhere. Every time you reach a rise the landscape will just open up.  Above, the long spine of the San Ysidro Mountain spreads out to the northeast. Below, Hellhole Canyon gives way to the complex of canyons and ultimately Borrego Springs.  Beyond to the north, Rabbit ridge looms at over 6000 feet.

You will be heading north along a broad plateau towards the San Ysidro ridge a few miles away. Along the way are a number of benchmarks.  Bonny is first, a modest but challenging pile of rock.  The easiest route up is via the well-ducked northeast side where a steep chimney will give you access around to the west side of the rock.  From here you will need to traverse a very narrow and exposed ledge to get to the summit block.  On the day I visited, I encountered 30mph wind gusts and chickened out at the ledge.  This would be an easy spot for a 2-man team to protect.

Beyond Bonny you will continue to climb the flats, ultimately cresting a ridge where the Thimble and San Ysidro peak come into full view.  White benchmark rises up from the northeast.   In order to avoid private property, you need to go over White, and it’s a fun slabby bushwack.  Approach from the south. trending slightly east.  You will find the summit block easily and the block is easily climbed.   The descent is trickier.  You will need to begin by descending the north side, through a sand field and dense brush. Then circle around to the west to regain the route to the Thimble.

Finally, being careful not to tresspass, you will reach the shallow draw and approach to the Thimble. Gain the ridge to the low saddle to the south and begin to climb up a steep, crumbling, cactus-riddled slopes.  After a few hundred feet you will reach the beginning of the large boulders and slabs.  There is a slot chimney that will give you an easy and fun class 3 route all the way to the summit.   The summit block is large and flat and is a great place for a break.  Descent is a crumbly mess no matter which side you go, but the west side is best if you continue on to San Ysidro Peak just beyond.  We ran out of time for that one.

Return the way you came.  There are numerous other benchmarks in the area and the scrambling and cross-country travel opportunities are really endless.   Culp Valley primitive campground is nearby and is a fantastic base camp for the area.  Pinyon Ridge to the south complements this trip nicely.

Due to the elevation and exposure, wind can be a major issue here.   Gusts up to 40mph are fairly common, so bring windgear, chapstick and sunscreen as the conditions can easily cause windburn.

The Pinyon Mountains occupy a remote section of the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.  Whale Peak and Sunset Mountain preside over the deeply rugged main ridge of Pinyon Mountain.  This trip was an overnight taken in December, 2015, a long loop from Nolina Wash, up Bighorn Canyon, overnight on Pinyon Mountain, down through the dry falls of Pinyon Canyon, finally through Harper Flat. Total distance is around 16 miles with most of the 3000 feet of climbing on the first day.

At mile 81 on 78, turn into the signed Nolina wash, drive up the wash to the intersection of two major washes and park. Bighorn canyon’s entrance is a mile or so north of the Nolina wash, and you will have to find the right washes to avoid going up the mouth of Nolina Canyon. Follow the sandy, easy wash through Bighorn Canyon until you reach Blue Spring, which is marked by large, pock-marked sandstone formations looming overhead. A ridge drops down just above the sandstone, forming a low saddle between the Nolina and Bighorn canyons.  Gain the ridge here and follow it, climbing steeply about 2000 feet, over steep and sandy slopes, past a saddle to the obvious summit.

Despite dodging the cholla and agave, the summit is relatively flat and easy to explore. Most of the pinyon appear to have been burned making windbreaks and flat, open camp spots scarce.  I camped just next to the summit register but really didn’t find too many camp sites that could accommodate more than a simple bivy.

For day two, head south down the summit to a point above the ORV road and a turnaround spur just below. Carefully descend the crumbly slopes until you reach the valley floor. Head south (left) on the ORV road until you reach the jumpoff at about 1.5 mi. The road trends west out of the canyon, but continue past the jumpoff, picking through a number of class 2 dry falls. Most are easily navigated, but the final dry fall is class 3 and will require you to drop your pack to get through the final few feet. Soon you will reach the Harper Dam, built in the 30’s when this area was ranchland, a testament to how much drier the area has become over the decades.

After the Harper dam, follow the wash northeast through the broad and open Harper flat, finally into the lower section of Pinyon canyon, down the wash and another few dry falls, ultimately connecting to the washes past Sunset Mountain and back to your car.   Stick to the wash closest to Sunset Mountain to avoid navigating the Cholla, Yucca and Agave fields inbetween the washes.

Whale Peak, at over 5,000 feet above the desert floor, hosts a unique ecosystem where you can see the transition from the desert floor to the Pinyon Pine forest above.  This is one of the longer class 2 cross-country peak bags in Anza Borrego. Whale is a classic in many ways and a good beginner trip for those looking to transition from trail hiking to cross country desert peaks.  I like to call this one ‘mountaineering without snow’ as it really gives you the feel of a mountaineer, route finding, avoiding obstacles, and generally using all your senses and physical capabilities to get up and down the mountain.

From Blair Valley on S-2, drive back beyond the campsites and follow signs about 1.5 miles to Pictograph trailhead.   The road is decent and most 2wd sedans should have no major problems.

Follow the signed Pictograph trail .5 miles east into a small valley and go directly north towards the base of the mountain ahead. Go straight up, staying out of the gullies on broad ridge. After the first steep dirt wall the terrain will flatten a bit before climbing again.

You are now on a broad ridge which can be followed to the summit for the most direct route.   There is a small, flat valley slightly west of the ridgeline near the midpoint which can save you some climbing and will allow you to approach the summit from a well-ducked western route  As you gain the ridge, try to aim for the left side of the ridgeline, avoiding the cliffs on the east face.

You will continue ascending over boulder fields until the final 100 feet or so to the summit which is steep but well protected with no exposed sections and occasional large boulders.  If you drift east you will encounter class 3 and 4 terrain quickly.

The summit area is broad and offers shade and windbreak due to the thriving pinyon forest.   It has largely recovered from recent burns.  Views are expansive across the crest of the Peninsular Range from Laguna to Volcan Mountain, Pinyon Ridge, Rabbit Peak, Salton Sea and beyond all visible.  Clouds of dust from Ocotillo Wells and Glamis can also be seen.  There are numerous campsites at the summit and in the flat valleys just below the summit.  Small bivy spots are abundant, of course, no water.

For the return, follow ducks to the west immediately  down the slope towards the deep gully.  This sandy and boulder-strewn canyon will take you down easily, with just a couple of barely class-3 dry falls to negotiate.

I climbed this with the SD Desert and Mountain Adventures Meetup group.  Bob M was the leader, this was a large group including an accomplished mountaineer and a complete novice.  Total hiking time was about 5.5 hours, pace was not super fast and we stopped to look at some pictographs on the way back.

Class 2-3 scrambling in San Diego county can be hard to find without a long drive to Anza Borrego. However one of the toughest climbs in the county is located just 40 minutes from downtown – El Cajon Mountain, also known as El Capitan in Lakeside.

The iconic El Capitan ridgeline is visible from all over the county, particularly the El Cajon valley, Lakeside and Alpine areas. The very strenuous and very popular class 1 route approaches the summit from Wildcat Canyon rd to the north via a long, undulating fire road that is steep and causes a number of rescues every year due to exhaustion and dehydration. This trail is tough enough for the vast majority of hikers seeking a challenge, but the South Ridge proves to be a much tougher ascent that will test your scrambling and route finding skills.  It took me 3 separate attempts to reach the top of the ridge, and I was successful on January 24, 2016.  It took about 2 hours to cover less than 1.5 miles and about 2500 feet of elevation gain.  I’ve since been back many times and it’s one of my favorites.

At the end of 67 in Lakeside take Mapleview to El Monte Rd through the valley towards the El Capitan Dam.  Just before the road ends there several dirt lots adjacent to the road. Park here. The start of the climber’s trail is noted by a wooden beam over the riverbed.

Take the climber’s trail over a small bridge.  The trail is across the street from two big boulders. Climb up to the road and the first power line tower, go left at the raptor sign, staying on the road, past two abandoned mining sites, finally climbing the steep dirt slope to the power line tower up on the ridgeline.  If you want to climb the south ridge, don’t take the climber’s trail past the raptor’s sign, that will take you to the base of the climbing walls (where there are other class 3-4-5 routes for another blog post).

Follow the use trail up the ridge to the power line tower. The terrain is mostly steep dirt and can be slippery. Pick your way though the well-worn path, continuing to climb steeply. Stay on the ridge and avoid going too far to the left or right where the terrain quickly becomes steep and impassible. Along the way some fun slabs can save considerable time vs. the loose dirt and rock.

Soon you will reach Lunch Rock which marks the the halfway point and the beginning of class 2-3 rock. Climb up through the cave at the top of lunch rock and continue up, around and over boulder fields and slabs. You will pass a few small plateaus before finally reaching a large boulder with a mature oak tree growing straight out the west side.

At this point you can continue directly up the ridge on rock, or turn left at the tree and ascend just below the ridge via a series of steep grassy, loose, west-facing slopes and gullies typically used as the line of descent.  The gullies are never above class 2 but choked with brush and rattlesnakes, loose rock and dirt.  The rock route below stays on top of some of the large boulder sections towards the top, it is probably class 3.

Go up to the tree and directly to the right is a narrow, steep staircase gully that takes you up to the boulder.  Scramble up a narrow ridge and shortly you will reach a large round, smooth slab and a narrow, ledge heading out onto the face.  Although a bit exposed it is very easy.  From there, follow a crack up onto the low-angle slab above, and friction climb to the next plateau and more scrambling. You will dead-end into a steep, narrow gully with a steep headwall. Look for a chockstone in a fist-width crack on the right, a bit of a hard class 3 move that pulls you up into another fun rock gully above.  Aside from the few hemmed-in areas the slab is grippy and low-angle.

Optionally, just above and west of the chockstone gully you will see a split rock which leads to a small cave with a chimney, a nice 6′ shimmy takes you to another plateau and ultimately the hardest move on the ridge.

The final part of the headwall is a brushy, hemmed-in gully, all the way to the right (east) side of the ridge.  It is a slot with “Mike” spray painted, and is just next to the big drop on the east face. Squeeze up the last few feet and there is a class 4 move with some spicy exposure to gain the low-angle slab above.

If you want an alternative to the class 4 move,  you can go left at any point and skirt below the narrow rock ridge. At the headwall there is a steep rock gully blocked with rockfall.  Skilled climbers can go over the big chockstone, there is an easy scramble left up to another narrow ledge leading to the upper slopes. There is a rappel anchor here, a good point of reference on the descent.

From the base of the headwall  is mostly small boulders and cruddy dirt slopes.  Pay attention to several large boulders you need to skirt on the way back down.  If you wish to summit, there is developed trail to the summit heading north.

The descent has tricky routefinding because of the brush and tall grass.  Descend the headwall slope into the rockfall gully, go around the blockage to the west and enter the gully there, continue down the slope, generally staying west of the ridgeline in a series of eroding slopes and rocky gullies.  Stay high and aim for the well-marked saddles which will keep you on route. Each time just go left down the gully back toward the ridge.  Regain the ridge at the tree above lunch rock.

Special thanks to this good beta which got me 80% there.

Disclaimer:  this is not a hike, but a steep, cross-country scramble with loose rock, slabs, large boulders and dirt slopes. There is considerable danger of injury or even death and many rescues have taken place on this route.  A GPS is useful but there are several places where you could become trapped with no ability to retreat. A good rule of thumb – if you can’t downclimb it, don’t climb it.  Cell service is good throughout but don’t rely on it as a substitute for good judgement.  Severe heat is an issue May – October and rattlesnakes are present in early spring in the tall grassy west-facing slopes.  A google search for El Cajon Mountain rescue returns plenty of examples of people getting in trouble.

Looming above the family friendly campground at Borrego Palm Canyon is one of the gnarlier class 2 scrambles in the desert. Spend a day dodging cactus and picking over boulders up one of the classic Borrego peaks.

Park at the day use area of the Borrego Palm Canyon campground and hike up the well-marked trail into the mouth of Borrego Palm Canyon. The second palm grove marks the terminus of the official trail, continue up the canyon, crossing the stream multiple times until you reach the third palm grove.   This section is pretty straightforward, follow well-tread footpaths but there is no official trail. Lots of flowing water and big pools of water here. At the third palm grove, gain the ridge coming in from the north and begin climbing over steep, loose dirt slopes and mostly small boulders, loose rock, agave and cholla.

Eventually you will reach the saddle which is a good spot for a break. From here simply follow the main ridge east towareds the always visible peak.  This section has the best scambling as the boulders are larger and there are some fun slabs to climb all the way to the summit which offers lofty views of the Peninsular Ranges, Borrego Valley, San Ysidro Mountain, Santa Rosa Mountains, and Salton Sea.  Return via same route, taking care of the loose rock and sandy dirt.

For most this trip will take 7-9 hours.   Pack water as there is none once you leave Borrego Palm Canyon.   There is no trail, this is a cross-country trip, so expect loose rock, pointy cactus, and some varied class 2 and 3 terrain. Route finding is pretty straightforward as you can see both your objective as well as your line of descent from everywhere on the route.  Hardy adventurers can continue north on the saddle towards San Ysidro Peak and Hellhole canyon and bag multiple benchmarks along the steep, rugged ridgeline.

Another great hike in the Pine Creek Wilderness, this is one of the best in the county with great views, sparse pine and oak-studded peaks, and big granite slabs galore.

Exit I-8 at Buckman Springs Road, about 1 hour east of Downtown San Diego.  Turn right on the well-marked Corral Canyon Road, with signage for the Corral Canyon ORV area.  The road is paved but rough, especially at the bottom, but is gets progressively smoother and more well-maintained as you ascend up into the valley.   Follow the road a few miles until you see a green gate and a forest service sign about the nesting raptors in the area.  Park immediately past the gate, in the small area off the road.

Passing through the gate, you’ll walk west on  a shady oak-lined road until you see a nicely marked garbage can which shows the terminus of the Espinosa trail.  Follow the Espinosa trail west, following the dry creek, then finally climbing to a road intersection where Corte Madera’s southeast face comes into view.  To the south, Los Pinos mountain rises up, topped with a fire lookout at the peak.

A handy sign points the direction to the summit trailhead, turn right and follow the Los Pinos fire road north, climbing steadily as chapparal becomes mixed with sparse oak and pine.   At another raptor nesting sign, turn left and begin climbing steeply up the ridge towards the Corte Madera summit.   The trail trends north past boulder slabs and shady pine and oak stands, with fantastic views of Corte Madera Valley, a private ranch property at the foot of the mountain. Mt Laguna and Cuyamaca are easily visible as you climb.  After about an hour you’ll reach a sketchy junction, stay left and continue past the first flat campsite.  You’ll continue climbing up the back of the cliff-face of the mountain, through waist-high chapparal, passing a fantastic campsite at the summit before reaching the cliff’s face and the summit register.  Enjoy far-reaching westerly views that stretch to downtown San Diego on a clear winter day.  Retrace your steps to return.

Note that this is in a very remote part of the county that which receives very high temperatures much of the year.  travel in this area outside of Nov – April is not recommended.  While the trail is remote, the Corral Canyon ORV area does get a lot of traffic, so be aware of Motorcycle and truck activity, especially in the lower sections of the road.