Stonewall Peak

Hey Friends,

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July. It was my brother's birthday and he turned 21 so we had a great day with family and friends grilling up Korean BBQ short ribs and drinking adult beverages :). Here is a quick update before I go into sharing my latest hiking adventure. Yesterday I got called back from the district I worked for this last school year for an interview! I'm so excited for this opportunity to have my own classroom again. My interview is tomorrow afternoon so wish me luck!




Today I went out for an easy day hike with a few friends, two of which I went to grad school with. I was shocked at how lovely the hike was given that we missed the trail head a few times and ended up starting the hike during peak heat. Stonewall Peak trail is extremely well maintained and is one of the most satisfying hikes I have completed as of late. 

I don't know what it was about this particular hike. I mean there were tons of burnt trees and even a swarm of termites at the summit that were devastatingly detrimental eye sores. Yet still, there was such an unexplainable beauty about this hike. Perhaps it was the incredible 360 degree view at the top. Maybe it was being able to see Lake Cuyamaca glistening in the distance as I strolled through the gentle switchbacks. Whatever it was, Stonewall Peak has found a special place in my nature-loving heart. Usually I am a pedant when it comes to hike difficulty. I tend to like the challenge of a more difficult hike, but it just goes to show that sometimes it's nice not to have to worry about the arduousness of a hike and just enjoy the scenery.

Tips and miscellaneous:

• Trail length: About 4.4 miles
• Duration of hike: 2 hours with ample time to hang out at the top and enjoy the view.
• Difficulty: Piece of cake.
• Season: It is summer and I went during peak heat and still found the hike incredibly enjoyable. I'm going to say year round on this one.
• Elevation gain: 1700 ft.
• Type: Out and back with switchbacks.
• What to wear: It's an easy hike. You can get away with casual exercise wear and running shoes.
• What to bring: Lots of water, energizing snacks like nuts and fruit/vegetables, good company, and your camera.

If you haven't already, get out there and give this hike a try. I'd love to hear about your experiences hiking to Stonewall Peak. As always thanks for reading!