Cuyamaca Backpacking

I did a nice little one-night backpacking solo trip to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park over the weekend. I left work on Friday night and drove to the Green Vally campground entrance. I parked there and headed out. I took the Harvey Moore trail the 4.5 miles to the Granite Springs primitive camp. It was a bit warm but not too hot; I had plenty of water and was constantly sipping from my hydration bladder. The camp was completely deserted. There is a pump for water but the signage warned it was for livestock only. The rangers said you could purify it and I did so with iodine tablets. I made 2L that way. The camp was nice but there were enough flies to annoy you. After dinner, I lied in my tent and read a book until the sun went down. I slept well and woke at the crack of dawn. I quickly packed up and was on the trail by 6:00a. I took the East Mesa Fire Road trail initially. I then took the spur trail that went up to the top of Oakzanita Peak. The morning views there were incredible. I wish I hadn't forgot my camera! Back down the peak and another few miles back to the parking lot for a total of 6.2 miles out. That made 10.7 miles. My pack was 33 pounds including food and water.

Books

A couple of unrelated books were read:
* 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart by Neal D. Barnard - vegetarian-focused diet which I won't be following
* The Ultralight Backpacker by Ryel Kestenbaum - a less radical to ultralight backpacking than Ray Jardine

Taxes Go Down. World Does Not End!

I know it is hard to believe, but a tax has actually gone down, in California no less.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Family Get Together

* Watson's at the Orange Circle
* Lots of swimming
* Playing games
* Fireworks!
* Independence Day Parade at Huntington Beach

Where in San Diego?

Found this nice hike somewhere in San Diego.

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